Buying a Home in Mississauga

20 Questions You Need to Ask Yourself Before You Purchase A House !!

Weather your purchasing a house in Mississauga or anywhere in the Greater Toronto area, take a note of some of the pertinent questions you need to ask yourself before making a purchase.

What is the neighbourhood like? Are there certain area features that would affect the value of this property in the future? How do the surrounding properties look? Are they well maintained? Is the perspective property amongst larger houses or smaller ones?
Is the layout of the home functional for you in your day to day living? Picture yourself living there.
What issues are stopping you from purchasing the home, are these concerns that can be addressed?
What are the prices of the homes that have sold most recently in the area? How long did it take to sell those homes? Is this house compatible?
What are the realty taxes on the home?
What are the utility costs . . . ?
How far do I have to travel for schools, shopping and recreational facilities?
How close am I to public transit? What modes of transit?
What home repairs have been made in the past 2 years?
What direction is the house facing? How will it affect lighting in the home?
Are there any upgrades you would like to make to the home, how much would they cost?
How old is the furnace and the air conditioning system?
Did the property have a home inspection done when the present owners bought that you could check to see what minor and major problems there were? Does the vendor have a list of those problems that were fixed?
Is there a recent survey conducted by an accredited land surveyor that shows all the buildings and additions on the property, and that shows all setbacks?
Are there any utility easements or encroachments on the property?
Are there any environmental concerns within the surrounding area?
Has the house been stigmatized in any way through circumstances such as the growth of illegal substances or other illegal occourences?
How is the snow removal, who will be responsible, will you be able to manage?
Are there problems with drainage or runoff after a heavy rain or in the spring?
Does the basement show any signs of moisture? Can it be fixed simply by cleaning/repairing the eaves trough or is it a more serious problem?

What you should expect from a Realtor!

A Realtor should listen to your needs.

One of the most important things is for realtors to listen fully and "actively" to your needs so they have all the background available to assist you in realizing your future home. Your needs will be their key priority when you sit down to plan this important step. Reflective listening is the key!

A Realtor should pre-qualify you financially.

A vital step in the purchase of a home is to make sure you are pre-approved for a mortgage. If you require assistance, they can help you find a local institution who will pre-qualify you at a rate which can be fixed for up to 120 days. This means you know exactly what price range in which you are searching, and when the time comes to put in an offer, you can negotiate with confidence often obtaining more favourable terms since the seller is given additional confidence in your ability to close the transaction

A Realtor should update you on what's new.

Through the Multiple Listing Service they can keep you up to date with all the new listings of homes that come onto the market and meet your needs as soon as they are listed. They can then make appointments to look at those homes, which have carefully been selected for you or with you.

A Realtor should prepare the Agreement of Purchase and Sales on your behalf.

When you have found the home you love that best meets all of your needs, your Realtor will write up the Agreement of Purchase and Sale (offer) and go over it with you. They will guide you through the offer process, making sure all of your concerns and conditions are reflected in the offer.

A Realtor Should Negotiate hard for you!

When presenting your offer your Realtor should negotiate hard for you. Utilizing negotiating techniques and by knowing current and past market trends, your Realtor should work hard to get you the most favourable terms! This is where it pays to select your Realtor carefully!

A Realtor should find “other” professionals to assist you.

Once the agreement is in place, they can refer professionals who can assist in any areas you may need prior to moving. These might include Home Inspectors, Mortgage Lenders, lawyers, insurance brokers, Surveyors, movers, or anyone else who will ensure your concerns are taken care of.

A Realtor should follow up with you until you are fully moved in.

There are many things that must be attended to after your agreement has been signed and accepted. Your Realtor should stay with you through all of the stages until you are safely moved in. After the move there may be little things that also have to be attended. Your Realtor should always be available to resolve any of those problems with you.