10 Questions You’ll Wish You’d Asked Before Moving In To Your New Home

You and your agent have searched the Nanaimo BC real estate listings and finally found the home that’s perfect for you and your family. Once you close escrow and move in, the seller will disappear forever – and so will their treasure trove of information about your new home.

Here are 10 questions to always ask before moving into your new home in Nanaimo.

1. What has happened with the house since you’ve owned it?

Think of this question as a supplement to the seller disclosure statement you received. It’s a perfect way to dive deep into little things you should know about your new home, such as quirky ways to turn items on or off, or where they bought the new paint for the living room.

2. Have you ever had a plumbing leak or broken pipe?

Water pipes can and do break. It’s a fact of homeownership. Ask this question to learn about the possible need for more insulation or an extra shutoff valve. While we’re on the subject of plumbing, if your new home has a septic tank, find out when it was last emptied and what company the seller recommends.

3. Did you ever have an unusual number of pests?

Bees, ants, spiders, termites, squirrels and raccoons are all part of nature. But a previous pest infestation can also create serious long-term damage to your new home. If a certain pest has come once, the odds are they’ll come again. Be prepared by asking the seller for the name of their trusted exterminator.

4. What should be know about the neighborhood?

This is a great open-ended question – one that can’t be answered with a “yes” or “no” – to find out things you should know about the other houses in the neighborhood but may not have thought to ask.

5. Where are the switches and how do they work?

Today’s homes on the Nanaimo BC real estate listings have a surprising number of things that turn on and off, and sometimes there’s a quirk to make them work. Have the seller show you any hidden secrets about the home. Things like where the water and electric shutoffs are, breaker and utility boxes, and landscape lighting timers and sprinkler switches.

6. What are the monthly utility bills like?

You probably already know what the average utility bill is, but in Nanaimo there can be a big difference in utility costs between summer and winter. Asking the seller what their most expensive peak months are can help you plan your household budget in advance.

7. Will your car fit in the garage?

SUVs, pickup trucks, and boats sometimes don’t fit in today’s new homes or in houses where the garage has been added on. Use a tape measure to calculate the fit, or better yet, ask the seller if you can try their garage ADU on for size.

8. Where are the best places for . . . ?

Instead of trying to figure out which of the six nearby dry cleaners are the best, or which nursery has the best and freshest flowers and plants for the front yard, ask the seller instead. The seller has already gone through the learning curve so that you don’t have to.

9. What was the seller’s biggest surprise when they moved in?

Good surprises or bad surprises, the choice is up to you. How friendly the next door neighbor is, or the best way to keep the living room warm on cold winter nights. If they were surprised (or shocked) about something you probably will be too.

10. Is the listing information accurate?

Show the seller a copy of the MLS listing printout and ask them if everything is correct. Sometimes mistakes are made when the system data entry is done. Items like the wrong school district or utility company can have a surprisingly large impact on monthly expenses and home values in Nanaimo.