As a novice homebuyer, you might be doing as much research as you can to avoid any purchasing mistakes. However, there are questions that are often overlooked by those who aren't experienced real estate professionals. Read the following questions and ask them before you agree to buy.

Where Are the Property Lines?

You are probably going to spend less time outdoors when looking at a property than you will inside the building. You'll probably ask questions about the indoor appliances and think about whether the rooms are big enough for your family. However, you'll have to ask important questions about the outside of the house as well. In particular, you might want to find out as much as you're able about the actual property lines.

It's one thing to glance out at the backyard and see a fence in place, but you need to be sure that the fence represents an official boundary. There could have been informal, neighborly agreements that go back some years; a problem might arise if a neighbor or your family chooses to erect structures in the future and there are property line disputes. Ask a professional surveyor to take a look at the property's description on past deeds to know for sure how big the property is and where exactly lines are drawn.

Do Any Repairs Have to Be Done?

Current owners of the different houses you look at are more than likely going to be as honest as they can about the condition of their house. However, you have to know that it's possible that there are plumbing, HVAC, or other problems that even they are not aware of right now. Hiring a professional home inspector will be able to let you both know how the house is doing and whether you'd have to tackle various repairs once you're the homeowner. If issues are found, it's likely that you may ask the current owner to handle some or all of the problems before agreeing to buy. You might instead ask for a discount so that will help you save on the purchase price while being able to set money aside for whatever has to be fixed.

These questions allow you to gather more information on any house before you place a binding offer for purchase. Tackling these issues with an experienced real estate services company will ensure you're more than well prepared to buy a specific property.