10 questions to ask the estate agent selling a property you want to buy

Sometimes I get frustrated at journalists writing about property. I feel they are happy to take "top line" ideas from press releases without getting to the nitty gritty of what's actually happening in the market.

Fiona Reddan in The Irish Times isn't one of those journalists. Whenever I see a property article written by her, I know I'm going to find an exhaustively researched article answering the questions I actually want answered. I truly rate her journalistic integrity and skill.

So I felt chuffed when Fiona phoned me for a lengthy conversation about an article she was writing to help property buyers.

With my assistance and that of Shane O Connor, another great buyer's agent, Fiona wrote an article outlining the 10 questions a buyer should ask the selling agent.

In a nutshell, here they are. If you want to know the reasoning behind the 10 questions, then read the full article here

1. What exactly am I looking for?

2. Why is the house being sold?

3. When did it come to the market?

4. Was it sale agreed before?

5. Is there a bid on the property?

6. When was that bid placed?

7. Are the other bidders, cash buyers, loan approved, subject to sale?

8. Have the other bidders shown proof of funds?

9. What's it really like living here?

10. Will they take it off the market if I offer the asking price?