It's easy to overlook things when you visit a home you may purchase. You start envisioning your future there sometimes without asking the probing questions you should ask before you make a major purchase. The following are some questions broken down room by room that you should ask the realtor during your visit or open house...

Questions to Ask About The Kitchen
When was the last remodel?
How old are the appliances?
Do all of the appliances work?
Know that on average refrigerators last 11 years; gas ranges, 16 years; electric ranges, 14 years; range hoods, 14 years; ovens, 14 years; and dishwashers, nine years.
Questions to Ask About the Living Room
How old if the flooring?
If carpet flooring then... What's under the carpet?
Is what's under the carpet in good shape?

Questions to Ask About the Bedrooms

What are the dimensions of each room? Will your furniture fit?
Measure the rooms yourself if the dimensions on the listing sheet feel unreliable.    
Question ...

At one point during the last great housing boom, home buyers were looking for media rooms, wine cellars, and large expansive bonus rooms. Those days are gone and present day homebuyers are looking for more practical things like energy efficiency and storage per a new study released by the National Association of Homebuilders called “What Home Buyers Really Want.”

New Homebuyers Want Affordable Utility Costs
Energy Rated Appliances - 94% of homebuyers in the study say they want energy-rated appliances
Energy Star Home Ratings - 91 percent want an energy-star rating for the entire home
Energy Star Window Ratings - 89 percent say they want energy-star rated windows
Ceiling Fans - 88 percent want ceiling fans to better circulate air in their homes

Homebuyers Want Storage Space
Bathroom Storage - 90% of homebuyers want a linen closet in the bathroom to store towels and other bathroom supplies
Garage Storage - 86% of homebuyers want space in the garage for s ...

When you own a home, you want to make it your own. You want it to fit your lifestyle. Maybe you want a pool outback? Maybe you want a two car garage? Maybe you want building in shelves. These updates can cost you a pretty penny but not all of them will get you your investment back when it comes time to sell. According to the Home Features Survey by the National Association of REALTORS(R) you can expect the following on home upgrades and features... 
Home Features That Homebuyers Are Willing To Spend Extra For...

Waterfront - Willing to pay $5,420 extra for a home that was on the waterfront.
Home Less than 5 Years Old - Willing to pay an extra $5,020
Basement - Willing to spend $3,200 extra
In-law Suite - Willing to pay $2,920 extra
Air Conditioning - Willing to spend $2,250 extra (#1 wanted feature/upgrade)
Den / Home Office - Willing to spend $1,920 extra
New Kitchen Appliances - Willing to spend $1,840 extra (#2 wanted feature upgrade)
La ...