9. Has the home had any major repairs or renovations? If so, who did them?
Bad renovations, sketchy plumbing and mediocre construction can end up costing you – financially and emotionally, and even in terms of your health. It’s important to ask if any major repairs and renovations have been done to the home – and who did them: Was it a licensed contractor a DIY project?
See whether the seller can produce a building permit for repairs and renovations that require one. Such improvements include any structural additions, installing a new roof, adding/relocating electrical outlets, adding/relocating plumbing fixtures, and installing/replacing an HVAC (heating, venting and air conditioning) system.
If the seller doesn't have the building permits (perhaps the work was done by an earlier owner), double check with the local building department. If a permit should have been issued – but wasn’t – the building office may have the authority to force the current owner (which could be you, if you buy the house) to obtain the permit and satisfy the current code requirements. This could turn into a very costly project.