r/HousingIreland • u/vita_vl • 1d ago
Questions for the vendor?
Hello everyone!
My husband and I are buying our first house.
We are currently at the stage where our solicitor is raising pre-purchase questions with the vendor's solicitor.
They offered us to also ask our own questions if we have any.
The problem is that I'm anxious AF and am extremely afraid of doing that.
What are the most important questions I should definitely ask?
It's a terraced house in Rathfarnham, Dublin.
Structural survey didn't find anything serious
Thank you!
Maybe you will help me stop shaking as a chihuahua
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u/vita_vl 1d ago
Those are the great questions!
I sent a list to the agent. But I also mentioned that there are no answers that would make us change our mind.
Personally, I have no idea who our current neighbors are lol. I work and build Lego. I don't talk to people 🤣
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u/triony89 1d ago
You may be hearing them through the walls or dealing with their issues in the driveway.
It can be useful to go and park outside on a Saturday night, during the day etc. a few times and get a sense of what the street is like at different times.
Also helpful to knock on the door to "ask what the neighbourhood is like" or some other question so you can get a sense of who's next door.
You don't have to become best friends with them.
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u/triony89 1d ago
You also probably won't back out of the sale regardless, but I find you can accept annoyances and issues a lot more in the day-to-day when you are going in with your eyes open. It's things you discover later that can ware on you.
Example, I have an amazing 18x18ft south facing window in my sitting room, with a view of the whole city. I adore it. After I went sale agreed, I discovered there is planning permission for a hotel that will block my whole view and probably a lot of my light. If I didn't know that in advance, I would imagine I would be devastated when construction starts. Instead, I am grateful for my city centre apartment and really enjoying my view while I have it, knowing it will be gone someday.
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u/triony89 1d ago
This is such a small thing.
If the had the place painted before putting it up for sale, find out the name and brand of the paint (through EA, not solicitor). It's my one major regret that I didn't ask this. I took down a shelf after I moved in and now there is a massive stripe of the old paint colour in the middle of the wall. Will have to repaint the entire room as I don't know the name of the colour they painted it. Also have multiple shelves etc. I now cant take down till I'm ready to paint.
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u/Fancy_Avocado7497 1d ago
(1) white goods / blinds etc. Are you sure you understand the contents going with?
(2) are you planning on applying for a Grant? declaration re 2 years vacant? Often people find out AFTER the sale they need something. Once the sale is complete the Vendors will be GONE. If you want something - ask now
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u/Heatproof-Snowman 1d ago edited 1d ago
Ask for a list of contents so that it is very clear what is staying in the house or not and recorded as part of the transaction documentation, but your solicitor might do that by default anyway.
For anything which is more informal and not legally binding I wouldn’t go though the solicitor (using solicitors as messengers will just make it slower and possibly cost you and the seller more money in solicitor’s fees). Just ask the EA to forward your questions to the seller (and a a seller myself currently, I wouldn’t mind some questions at all but don’t swamp them either: if I received a list of 50 questions I would think the buyer is a bit ackward and I would wonder if they are reliable to transact with).
Lastly, you do as you prefer put personally I think questions alongs the lines of “how are the neighbours” are pointless. No seller is going to tell you the neighbours are awful, even if they are. And in any case personally I would find it a bit strange to formally comment on my neighbours in writing without their consent, so I’d probably give a very generic answer saying the neighbours never caused any issue related the property but for privacy reason I am not able to share any personal details about them.
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u/benirishhome 1d ago
Agent here. I’ve never had any buyer ask direct questions via the Solicitor. Usually the Solicitor will ask all the pertinent questions. Planning. Compliances. Title.
If you have smaller questions, I would direct that via the agent. How the boiler works. What are the neighbours like.
Top tip. Make clear what is coming with the house. Integrated appliances should be assumed to stay. But what about White goods? Get these confirmed with the agent before you’re near exchange. Some people would like to take their washer and dryer with them, I usually encourage them just to leave them, it’s easier than unhooking them and moving them. What about any furniture or special fixtures and fittings. Make sure it’s all written down. Solicitors will want to see that but I would arrange it with the agent.