1. Why are the sellers selling?

 

This question on the surface seems harmless. However, when a home looks and sounds almost perfect the prospective buyer may be thinking and wondering: This home looks amazing, I wonder why they’re selling?  So, unless there’s a problem, why not openly share one of the following reasons:

 

• Downsizing

• Moving closer to family

• Personal health reasons

• Personal circumstances

• Investment property (e.g., it’s a flip)

• Just want to cash out our equity, and now seems to be an opportune time

• The market is hot

• The community has changed and all our friends have left

• The HOA dues keep rising

• The club dues / fees, assessments keep rising

• Just want a change of scenery

• Respectfully, I’d rather not say

• Other

 

Personal circumstances means just that.  No need to furnish or offer details. The seller’s property disclosure may or may not reveal house or lot issues.  That’s why property inspections are important.

 

 

   2.  Is there a floor plan available?

 

Homes in developments or master planned communities often share similar designs.  A builder may have several model homes to select or choose from.  The models often have names, like the “Chesterfield”, the “Avalon” or the “Avalon 2” models.  When actual construction begins and progresses, tweaks and changes to the original plans are very common.

 

Asking for the final or most recent floor plans are sometimes helpful to supplement MLS photos.  Asking for a floor plan of a model home or cookie cut property may not really be an issue.  The difficulty may come with a custom built home, which is understandable. For some reason this question is often interpreted: “Can I have a copy of your custom building plans so that I can replicate your incredible home please?”

 

Opening an account at a banking institution then asking the teller or account representative for a floor plan of that branch would be highly inappropriate.  Yes, even if you expressed that having a copy would help you to feel safe knowing where your money was being kept.    

 

True, some homes have hidden safe rooms.  But is it possible that there are only a few photos, no video tour, no Matterport or 3D tool available and the buyer is simply trying to figure out what is where?  Yes, an in-person tour will help greatly but what if the prospective buyer suddenly forgets what they saw in person?  Here are just a few reasons why a floor plan could be helpful: 

 

• offers an aerial view of the overall layout and flow

• will show rooms and closet sizes compared to other rooms and closet sizes

• may show hidden pantries and 12” solid block hurricane safe or panic rooms

• if future alterations are desired, adjacent rooms, spaces and areas can be easily identified

• a PDF of an actual or original blueprint will often show room dimensions and ceiling heights

• If there’s an elevator or need for one, the ideal location for one can be identified

 

• A supplemental site survey will often highlight other essentials such as property setbacks, easements, preservation or protected areas, wells, septic location(s), drainage fields and lot dimensions

 

Of course there are other questions that seem to stump, confuse or bother sellers.  Hopefully, this will help both buyers and sellers bridge the gap and explain why these questions are asked.