When I started looking for my first home, I nodded a lot. The agent would say things like “the carpet area is a bit less but the loading is standard” and I’d nod like I understood. I didn’t.
I think most buyers do this. We don’t want to look stupid in front of the person selling us the biggest thing we’ll ever buy. So we keep our questions to ourselves and google them at 1 a.m. instead.
Here are the questions I was too shy to ask. If you’re a buyer, I hope this gives you the courage to ask yours. And if you’re an agent, these are the questions sitting quietly in your client’s head.
“Is this price actually fair, or are you just saying that?”
This was the big one. Every agent told me the price was “very reasonable for this area.” But how would I know? I didn’t want to sound like I didn’t trust them, so I never asked for proof.
What I wish I’d done: ask to see what similar homes nearby actually sold for recently. Not the asking price. The real selling price. A good agent will happily show you.
“What’s wrong with this house?”
Every house has something wrong with it. I knew that. But asking felt like I was insulting the place. Turns out it’s the smartest question a buyer can ask. Why is the owner selling? How long has it been on the market? Has there ever been a water leak?
The agent I eventually bought through told me the flat had a seepage issue in one bedroom that had been fixed two years ago. She brought it up before I asked. That honesty is the reason I trusted everything else she said.
“How much money do I really need?”
I knew the price of the house. I had no idea about the rest. Stamp duty, registration, agent fees, legal checks, shifting costs, the fan and light fittings that apparently don’t come with the house.
I was embarrassed because it felt like admitting I didn’t have enough money. But knowing the full number early would have saved me a lot of stress later.
“Are the papers clean?”
I didn’t even know what “clean papers” meant at first. I just knew I’d heard horror stories about people buying property with disputes or missing approvals. I was scared to ask because I thought the agent would think I was accusing the seller of something.
Now I know: it’s a completely normal question. Ask for the title documents, approved building plan and any loan or dispute history. Then get a lawyer to look at them. Always.
“Can I come back again before deciding?”
I felt pressure to decide on the spot. The agent said there were “two other parties interested.” Maybe there were. But a home is not a pair of shoes. I wanted to visit again in the evening, check the traffic, and bring my parents.
A good agent won’t rush you. If someone makes you feel guilty for wanting time, that’s useful information about them.
“Whose side are you on?”
This is the question I never asked out loud, but thought about constantly. Is the agent working for me, or for the seller, or just for the commission?
The agent I chose answered this without me asking. She explained exactly how she gets paid and what she would and wouldn’t do on my behalf. That one conversation did more for my trust than ten property visits.
No question is too small
If you’re buying a home, ask everything. The silly ones, the awkward ones, the ones you think you should already know. A good real estate agent has heard them all, and the best ones are glad you asked.
Got questions about buying a home that you’ve been holding back? Send them my way. I’ll answer every one, no judgement.
