Always ask about extra costs
The purchase price is not the only number that matters. Extra costs, agent fees, and reserves matter too.
Language for viewings, contracts, financing, questions for agents, and key terms around buying a home.
Short cues that help immediately in a stressful real-life moment.
The purchase price is not the only number that matters. Extra costs, agent fees, and reserves matter too.
Key documents like the floor plan, energy certificate, or meeting records help you ask better questions.
During a viewing or around a contract, it is completely normal to say that you want to review things or think about it.
Especially with older apartments, it is worth bringing up visible defects or renovation questions right during the viewing.
Short scripts for common moments you are likely to face on site.
You want to assess the apartment more carefully.
How high are the monthly building fees, and what is included?
Have there been any major repairs in the building recently?
You want to show that you are prepared.
The financing is basically in place, but I am still checking the final details.
By when do you need an answer from me?
You do not want to sign anything you do not understand.
I would like to read the contract carefully first and have it translated if needed.
Could you please send me the documents in advance?
You want to know which repair work may be coming soon.
Are any major renovations planned in the next few years?
Who covers the costs if work needs to be done on the building?
Short, useful lines you can actually say out loud.
We would like to view the apartment.
We would like to view the apartment this week.
How high are the additional costs?
How high are the additional costs per month?
When is the notary appointment?
Do you already know when the notary appointment is?
Do we need a down payment?
Do we need a down payment for this house?
Is the purchase contract ready yet?
Is the purchase contract ready for signature yet?
Which bank is financing the house?
We are checking which bank is financing the house.
How high are the additional costs in total?
How high are the additional monthly costs in total?
Can I get the documents in advance?
Can I get the documents in advance so I can review everything calmly?
Is there an energy certificate?
Is there a current energy certificate for the apartment?
I do not want to sign anything today.
I do not want to sign anything today and would like to look at everything first.
Does it need renovation work?
Does the apartment or the house need major renovation work?
How old is the heating system?
How old is the heating system, and has it ever been replaced?
Are pets allowed?
Are pets allowed in this house or apartment?
When can we move in?
If everything works out, when can we move in at the earliest?
Core nouns and terms that come up again and again in this situation.
viewing
The viewing is on Saturday at ten.
purchase contract
We are reading the purchase contract carefully once more.
down payment
We need a down payment for the house.
mortgage
The mortgage runs for twenty years.
additional costs
The additional costs are higher than expected.
notary appointment
The notary appointment is next week.
agent fee
How high is the agent fee for this apartment?
energy certificate
The energy certificate shows the building energy consumption.
floor plan
Do you also have a floor plan of the apartment?
reserve fund
How high is the reserve fund of the owners association?
living space
The living space is larger than in the listing.
renovation work needed
The renovation work needed is greater than we thought.
house rules
Please also read the house rules before the purchase.
owners meeting
At the last owners meeting, the heating system was discussed.
Natural wording for the follow-up questions people ask all the time in this situation.
Ask directly: Which additional costs come on top of the purchase price?
Say: Could you please send me the most important documents in advance so I can review everything?
A safe sentence is: I do not want to sign anything today and would like to look at everything carefully first.