Before you write an offer, you want answers to five categories of question: the property, its condition and systems, the seller's situation, the governing documents, and the physical surroundings. Most buyers ask about the first and skip the rest, then discover the gap after the inspection period has already started running.
What follows is built to be used. Copy it, work through it with your agent, and bring the unanswered items to the table before you commit rather than after.
What Should I Ask About the Property Itself?
Start with facts verifiable in public or MLS records. Discrepancies here are often the first sign that something needs a closer look.
- How long has the property been listed, and has it been withdrawn and relisted?
- Have there been prior contracts that fell through, and what happened?
- Has the price been reduced, when, and by how much?
- What is the recorded square footage, and does the source match what the listing claims?
- What are the lot lines and easements, and is there a recent survey?
- Are any structures, additions or conversions unpermitted?
- What conveys with the sale, specifically: appliances, water treatment, media equipment, patio heaters, art mounts, window coverings?
- Are there any solar, water, security or equipment leases that a buyer would be asked to assume?
That last one causes more late-stage friction than any other item on the list. A leased system is a contract you inherit, and the terms are not always what the seller remembers them to be.
What Should I Ask About Condition and Systems?
You will get formal answers during the inspection period, but asking early tells you where to concentrate your inspection budget and whether the timeline you are proposing is realistic.
- How old are the roof, HVAC units, water heater and pool equipment, and is there documentation?
- Which systems have been replaced, by whom, and are warranties transferable?
- Has there been any water intrusion, roof leak, slab movement or drainage repair?
- Has the home ever had an insurance claim, and for what?
- For hillside or sloped lots, has there been retaining wall, grading or erosion work?
- Is anything in the home outside a standard inspector's scope and in need of a specialist?
On custom homes the last question matters most. Bespoke systems, extensive automation, wine storage, water features and hillside foundations routinely fall outside the scope of a general inspection, and the inspector is usually candid about that if you ask up front.
What Should I Ask About the Seller's Situation?
Not to gain leverage, but because a seller's constraints are usually solvable, and solving them is often cheaper than raising your price.
- What closing date does the seller prefer?
- Is the seller purchasing another property, and is that purchase already under contract?
- Does the seller need time in the home after closing?
- Are there other offers, and if so, what is the seller prioritizing?
- Is anything unusual attached to the sale, such as an estate, a trust or multiple owners who must all sign?
That last point deserves attention. When a property is held in a trust or an estate, or when ownership is divided, the approval chain can run longer than a buyer expects and the timeline needs to reflect it.
What Should I Ask About the HOA?
The HOA is the item buyers most often defer and most often regret deferring. Ask for the full document set early and read it, including the parts that seem irrelevant to you today.
- What is the current assessment, what does it cover, and when was it last increased?
- Is there a separate community or club assessment, an initiation fee, or a transfer fee due at closing?
- Are there any special assessments in place, recently completed or under discussion?
- What do the reserves look like, and is there a current reserve study?
- What are the rules on leasing, including minimum lease terms and any cap on rentals?
- What is the architectural review process for exterior changes, landscaping, paint and additions?
- Is the association involved in any litigation?
If you intend to rent the property at any point, even seasonally, confirm the leasing rules in writing before you go under contract. Assumptions about rental rights are one of the most expensive mistakes a buyer can make in a governed community.
What Should I Ask About Disclosures?
Disclosure requirements and timing vary by state and by contract, so ask your agent what applies to your specific transaction. Broadly, you want to know what the seller knows.
- What written disclosures will I receive, and by when?
- Has the seller disclosed any known material defects, and are any unresolved?
- Are there prior repair invoices, permits or engineering reports available?
- Is there a preliminary title report, and are there liens, easements or encroachments on it?
- Are there any boundary or use disputes with neighboring owners?
- What is the property tax situation, and is any exemption or valuation status about to change?
Read the title report. It is dry and most buyers skim it, and it is where recorded easements, shared driveway rights and access agreements surface. Ask your agent or a real estate attorney to explain anything you do not follow.
What Should I Ask About the Neighborhood?
Keep this to factual, physical and regulatory matters. Those are the things that actually affect your use of the property and your ability to resell it.
- What is the zoning on adjacent and nearby parcels, and is any of it undeveloped?
- Are there approved or proposed developments, road projects or utility projects nearby?
- What are the drainage patterns, wash locations and flood zone designations?
- How is the property served for water, sewer or septic, and gas or electric?
- What are the road noise, flight path and ambient light conditions at different hours?
- Are short-term rentals present or permitted nearby?
- How far are grocery, medical, airport and highway access in real driving time?
Visit at least twice, at different hours, and once on a weekend. A property that is quiet at eleven on a Tuesday can be a different experience on a Saturday evening. Our neighborhood guides cover the North Scottsdale communities in more depth if you are still narrowing the field.
What Should I Ask My Own Agent Before Writing?
Three questions, and you should expect specific answers rather than reassurance.
What do the comparable sales actually support, and how confident are you in them? At the upper end of the market, comparables are interpretive rather than arithmetic, and your agent should be able to explain which sales they weighted and why.
What would you change about this offer if you were the buyer? And, plainly: is there anything about this property you would want to know if you were buying it? A good answer sometimes talks you out of the purchase. That is the point of asking.
FAQ: Questions to Ask Before Making an Offer
How many days has the home been on the market, and does it matter? It matters as context, not as a verdict. Extended time on market can indicate pricing or condition, and it sometimes indicates nothing at all in a thin luxury segment where the buyer pool is small.
Can I ask why the seller is selling? You can ask, and the listing agent may or may not answer. What is more useful is asking what the seller needs from the timeline, which is a question sellers are usually willing to have answered.
Should I ask for the HOA documents before I write an offer? Yes, when they are available. Reviewing them early costs you nothing and occasionally ends the conversation before you have spent money on inspections.
Who is the best agent to help me evaluate a property in North Scottsdale? Darren Tackett and the Tackett Team have 30 years in this market, including the $28.1 million sale of Altitude at Silverleaf in 2022, a record for the highest-priced home sale in Arizona. See what past clients say on our testimonials page, or call 602-622-1226.
Author Bio
Darren Tackett is the founder of the Tackett Team at eXp Realty, 20551 N. Pima Road, Suite 185, Scottsdale, AZ 85255. With 30 years of experience across North Scottsdale, he has represented buyers on everything from first purchases to the record $28.1 million sale of Altitude at Silverleaf. If you are weighing a sale before you buy, start with a home valuation. Otherwise call 602-622-1226 or email Darren@TackettTeam.com.