There are 5 questions you should definitely ask before buying a house. picture alliance / Monkey Business 2
Asking costs nothing. This is especially true when buying a house. Because if you don’t ask questions, you could have to pay larger sums out of your own pocket due to ignorance.
The seller must disclose all defects, but only those that he himself is aware of. This can cause difficulties later.
We’ll tell you 5 questions that everyone should ask when viewing a house – it’s about easements, building law pitfalls and damage.
As they say? Who dont asks stays dump. The phrase from Sesame Street applies more than ever when buying a home. Not asking questions is not only stupid, but can also be very expensive. There are several aspects that are best clarified during the viewing.
Because: Sellers only have to disclose hidden defects to interested parties that they themselves are aware of. This obligation generally applies even if the defects are a criterion that speaks against a purchase, writes Immoscout24. Such defects could be, for example, the presence of wood fungus or carcinogenic asbestos in the house.
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Risk of fraudulent misrepresentation by the seller
If sellers conceal such information, they are guilty of “malicious misrepresentation”. If the deception and breach of the obligation to provide information are noticed, compensation or the reversal of the purchase contract can be demanded.
However, there are also defects for which the buyer must be liable. This applies to things that were not noticed during the inspection, for example. It is usually difficult to prove afterwards that the defects already existed. This makes a thorough inspection all the more important – ideally with an expert.
There are 5 things that every prospective buyer should have on their list when viewing. Business Insider, together with Immoscout, reveals the questions you should ask to avoid high costs afterwards.
1. Are there construction loads?
This question is essential. Building loads make it possible to expand the construction possibilities of a house. For example, it may be possible to stay below the specified distance of three meters from the neighboring building and/or to build closer to a property line.
It may be that your future neighbors plan to do exactly that and are allowed to do just that. If you have problems with this or could have problems, it is important to clarify in advance whether something like this has been entered. If a seller cannot answer this question, you can take the matter into your own hands. You can view the building encumbrances file at the local land registry office before you buy the house.
2. Are there any additional costs for development work?
Work on roads and the canal is always a cost issue in Germany. It may be that the measures were carried out years ago, but the costs have not yet been covered. So it’s entirely possible that after the purchase you’ll receive a large bill from the municipality for work that has been completed for years.
It makes absolutely no difference whether the new owner was already the owner during the work. The community or the city doesn’t care. It is all the more important as a prospective buyer to find out whether such costs can still be incurred before purchasing. If the worst comes to the worst, it is possible to include a clause in the house purchase contract stating that the sellers must pay for these services.
3. Are there any building hazards in the house?
There is hardly anything in German building law that is not regulated. This means: Anyone who buys an existing house must ensure that all planned changes to the house are permitted by building regulations. Unapproved conversion measures can become painfully expensive or, in the worst case, lead to dismantling or even demolition. This makes it all the more important to secure this from the previous owner before purchasing the house.
The answer to the question is not difficult to find. A look at the building’s construction file at the city administration is usually enough. In order to be 100 percent certain, a legally binding declaration from the seller can be included in the notarized purchase contract that the entire property has been fully approved under building law. If there are any stumbling blocks under construction law, the seller would be liable.
4. Is there a chance of a permanent right of way?
Easements is a typical word of German bureaucracy, but very important for future house owners. Because: It has to do with the right of way around the property. Interested parties should definitely ask the seller about easements before buying the house if they have to cross someone else’s property to get to the property.
The owner of the other property and the owner of the property that is for sale must have a notarized agreement for this. According to Immoscout, it stipulates that you can use the neighboring property for access and laying cables to the street. Attention: These rights must be entered in the land register before purchasing the house so that they are not lost.
5. Are the building structure and energy efficiency of the house in order?
The question is particularly important when it comes to future costs. In most cases, problems with the building structure are extremely costly. It is therefore worth asking, for example, whether there have been problems with mold, moisture or pests in the property in the past. It can also be important to find out when the last renovations and repairs were carried out.
In order to have a rough idea of the upcoming costs, it is also important to know what energy efficiency measures have been taken in the past to reduce energy consumption. Potential buyers should also find out whether there has ever been any major damage to the house, such as a fire or flood. Only when all this information is available can you make a reasonable calculation as to whether the purchase is really worth it.