Step 6 - Valuing and Inspecting Properties
Around this time of the process (might be a bit earlier, might be a bit later) you will need to call the sales agent regarding the property. Yes I am sorry but you should call them if possible, not just text or email them… It is also important to remember that whilst you need to work with the sales agent in order to secure a good deal, they do not work for you - their job is to secure the best deal for the Seller.
Now the purpose of this initial call is not to make an offer just yet, this is just an information gathering exercise to confirm the following:
(1) if there are any red-flags you couldn’t identify in your due diligence which may deter you from making an offer or would alter what you were willing to offer; and
(2) any useful information about the Seller’s circumstances and the sales process which you can use to make your offer more competitive (which we will discuss in more detail in Step 7).
To assist you with this, I have outlined some common questions you can ask the agent below.
I also just want to reinforce that the purpose of all these questions is to gain as much information as you can, information is power in these situations - the answers to these questions will be very important for when you make your offer which we will discuss in Step 7.
This also most likely won’t be the last call you have with the agent if you are actually going to make an offer.
At the end of this initial call with the agent you will also want to ask about the inspection process if it isn’t already clear on the advertisement - how to actually perform the inspection and what to look for is what we will discuss next.