Buying an apartment is a responsible and rather complicated business. For real estate you have to lay out considerable amounts, and therefore it is worth approaching the issue thoroughly. Buying real estate is fraught with considerable risks, especially when it comes to the secondary market. What questions to ask when buying an apartment to protect yourself?
Algorithm for buying an apartment in the secondary market
Before deciding what questions to ask when buying a secondary apartment, you need to study the transaction algorithm. Here's how it goes:
- search for a suitable object;
- inspection of the apartment;
- conclusion of a preliminary transaction (deposit agreement) and making an advance payment; preparation of a package of documents;
- conclusion of a contract of sale and notarization;
- state registration in the UFRS.
List of documents
To complete the purchase and sale of an apartment in the secondary market, you will need a certain set of documents. Namely:
- title documents confirming the seller’s ownership of the apartment;
- passports of participants in the transaction;
- BTI data sheet with explication;
- extract from the accounts of HOAs and Housing Companies;
- the consent of other users of the apartment or interested parties to its sale;
- notarized power of attorney (if the transaction is conducted by a third party).
Who is the owner of the apartment?
What questions to ask when buying an apartment? The first thing you should ask is who owns the apartment according to the documents? Ideally, you should deal directly with the property owners, and not with their representatives (relatives, friends, neighbors, and so on). Ownership must be registered with Rosreestr. Of course, the sale of apartments by proxy is provided by law, but this scheme is often used by scammers, so it’s better not to risk it.
It is important to clarify on what basis the owner owns the apartment (which should be confirmed by relevant documents). The history of the emergence of rights needs to be studied in order to make sure that after buying an apartment you will not encounter someone else's claims to own it. The most risky options are:
- certificate of inheritance;
- property sharing agreement;
- life-long dependent contract.
How long has the seller owned the apartment?
Among the list of what questions to ask when buying an apartment, the question of the length of ownership occupies an important place. Ideally, the owner should own the property for at least three years. The longer this period, the less risk that someone will be able to challenge the ownership of the apartment when it is already bought by you. Even if it comes to litigation, the duration of ownership by the previous owner will be an argument in your favor.
If a person resells an apartment, for example, after six months of ownership, this should alert you. Such schemes are often used by scammers. Also, a quick resale can be carried out in order to hide the violations that were committed in the course of the sale. And it may also be that a person has discovered a fraud (the housing has been mortgaged or he has other owners) and simply wants to get rid of the problem real estate without financial losses.
Who is registered in the apartment?
When making a list of what questions to ask when buying an apartment, it is important to clarify who is registered in the apartment. Here are the essential points:
- Minor children.It is important that their rights are not violated during the transaction.
- Spouse of the main owner. He (she) must agree to the sale. You may need permission from the board of trustees to sell the apartment.
- Persons undergoing military service. Without their consent, it is impossible to sell an apartment.
- Persons serving sentences in prisons. Their permission to sell the apartment is also necessary.
Are there any encumbrances (restrictions)?
Are there any burdens - this is another significant item from the category of "what questions should be asked when buying an apartment." For example, real estate may be seized by a court order. In this case, the seller may offer you to make an advance so that he can pay off the debt, due to which the property has been seized. But this is a very risky deal. And not the fact that the seller will not try to hide the arrest from you.
Another burden may be the fact that the apartment is collateral for mortgage lending. In fact, such transactions are permitted. But the risk of fraud and fraud is also high. Litigation may also be considered an encumbrance in relation to this property.
Another pitfall is the source of funds for the purchase of an apartment by the previous owner. Namely, if the property was purchased with maternity capital, then the right of ownership applies to all family members, including children. When selling real estate, the latter must necessarily be issued in another apartment. If the seller has not fulfilled this condition, there is a risk that the purchase and sale transaction is invalidated.
Was there a redevelopment?
What questions should I ask when buying an apartment? Be sure to check if there was a redevelopment. But do not take a word. Ask the seller for a data sheet and carefully examine it for compliance with the real condition of the property. If you find inconsistencies, check if the changes in the BTI are consistent.
If it turns out that the redevelopment is not legalized, the purchase will be a big risk for you. Firstly, the regulatory authorities may impose a fine on you, and secondly, there is a risk that you will be required to bring the property in proper condition, which corresponds to the data sheet.
What is the technical condition of the apartment?
In addition to legal issues, it is worth paying attention to the technical condition of housing. Here are some questions to ask when viewing and buying an apartment in order to understand how comfortable it will be for you:
- What material are walls and floors made of? Prefabricated houses do not hold heat well in winter and are very hot in summer. In this regard, brick is more acceptable. It is also worth paying attention to the internal and external wall insulation.
- How good is sound insulation? In complete silence, listen for sounds coming from neighboring apartments (especially a weak spot - a bathroom). Also compare the noise level in the apartment with open and closed windows. Find out if there are any industrial facilities, busy transport routes or noisy nightlife nearby.
- Is the wiring quality? Old aluminum wiring is vulnerable to power surges, which can cause damage to modern electrical appliances. Well, if the wiring is replaced by copper. It is also good if a separate RCD machine is connected to each branch. To verify the quality of the wiring, ask the seller to turn on several electrical appliances at the same time.
- In what condition is the water supply? Independently check how good the water pressure in the taps is, whether the sewage is clogged. Visually assess the condition of pipes and plumbing. Check how long the pipes changed (not only in the apartment, but also in the riser).
- Is the apartment heated well? The most reliable information can be obtained if you buy an apartment in the heating season. It is good if an independent heating system is installed. But it is important that it be framed accordingly.Pay attention to the condition of the pipes and radiators, check when they were replaced (both in the apartment and in the riser).
- Are there any counters? Well, if all the communications have been installed appropriate meters. This will save you on utility bills.
Are there any hidden defects?
What questions can I ask when buying an apartment? Ask the seller if the room has any defects? Are there any holes or cracks in the walls (most likely they are hidden under the wallpaper), if the roof is leaking, the corners are getting wet, and so on. Of course, the seller is hardly recognized, so you have to check everything yourself. Perhaps this will be the reason for the rejection of the purchase. And if you really like the apartment, the identified defects can be an argument for you during the auction.
What is the contingent of neighbors?
What questions should the seller ask when buying an apartment? No matter how good the apartment is, the quality of life in it largely depends on its neighbors. Ask the seller if loud music lovers, scandalists, people who abuse alcohol or drugs live nearby. If you cannot tolerate tobacco smoke, ask if heavy smokers live in the neighborhood and so on.
Particular attention should be paid to the identity of neighbors who live directly through the wall, above and below. Are there any fans among them who knock on batteries, will they flood your new repair, and so on.
Advance or deposit?
And what questions should you ask when buying an apartment? Of course, financial. As a rule, if the buyer likes the apartment, he makes a deposit or an advance in the amount of 5-10% of the total cost so that the seller removes it from sale. This is a bit of a prepayment. If the transaction breaks down (regardless of the reasons), then the advance payment is returned to the buyer in full.
The situation is different with the deposit. If the purchase and sale transaction breaks down due to the fault of the buyer, he loses the amount paid. If the transaction fell through the fault of the seller, he returns the deposit to the buyer and the same amount. Therefore, formalities are very important. They need to be discussed in advance and clearly stated in the contract.
Organizational moments
If you liked the apartment and you intend to buy it, it is worth clarifying a number of organizational issues. Here are some questions to ask when buying an apartment for a realtor or owner:
- How long will the owner and other users of the apartment be discharged from it?
- How long can tenants be able to physically move out of the apartment?
- What things (furniture, appliances and so on) are transferred to the property of the new owner?
How not to fall for the tricks of scammers?
Having figured out what questions you need to ask when buying an apartment, take a few more recommendations on how to protect yourself from scammers:
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Avoid working with people who make you suspicious. This applies to both direct sellers and realtors. Also, do not buy a secondary apartment from a legal entity.
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Check documents carefully. If in doubt, seek the assistance of a lawyer for an in-depth examination.
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To draw up a contract of sale, contact specialists.
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Do not flatter yourself at the low price. Of course, there is a possibility that the value below market is caused by the urgent need for a quick sale of an apartment (for example, for family reasons). But in most cases this is a sign of fraud.
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Take your time with payment. Make it only when the transaction is recognized as legal in the Federal Reserve Service. To do this, you can use bank cells with the option of blocking.
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Pay in the presence of witnesses. So you protect yourself from fraud.
- Make sure the buyer's legal capacity. If you buy an apartment from an elderly person, you will need a certificate from a neuropsychiatric dispensary. This is a guarantee that scammers do not try to deceive you and the owner of the apartment.
Conclusion
Knowing what questions are asked when buying an apartment (resales in our case), you need to take care of additional sources of information. What could be better than talking with neighbors? It really doesn’t make sense for them to hide information from you regarding the cleanliness of the seller, the owners of the apartment, the technical condition of the house, the reputation of the district, and other significant points. Perhaps the most sociable audience is the grandmothers on the benches. From them you will probably receive the most reliable information.