Questions worth asking before you buy

The stuff that can actually change whether a house makes sense.

• Inspection report has 40 things on it — sort routine stuff from problems that need answers.
• Old roof or HVAC? — age matters; condition, cost and timing matter more.
• Seller credit or lower price? — the same dollars can affect cash and payment differently.
• Can I add a shop later? — access, setbacks, septic, utilities and rules can decide it.
• Could this house be hard to insure? — ask early enough that the answer is useful.
• Is the fixer worth it? — repairs, surprises and financing can eat the discount.
• It’s been sitting. What can I negotiate? — days on market is a clue, not a coupon.