10 (Smarter) Questions To Ask A Real Estate Agent Before You Buy A Home In SA

Here we explore 10 'outside-the-box' questions to ask real estate agents when buying - ones that help assess whether a property is truly right for you.

Buying a new property often feels straightforward… until you’re at an inspection, nodding along as the agent talks up the property's "excellent potential" and "fantastic location."

But inside? You're thinking, "I have absolutely no idea if this place is actually right for me."

Sound familiar?

If you’ve found yourself Googling what should I ask a real estate agent before buying a home?, you’re definitely not alone.

Because when it comes to property purchases, most first home buyers, upsizers, downsizers and new investors all share the same worry: making a (potentially expensive) mistake.

The good news is, you don’t need to be a property expert to avoid one.

You just need to ask better questions.

Sure, the usual suspects are fine - "What's the neighbourhood like?" or "Is the price negotiable?"

But they won't tell you much about how this home will actually work for your life.

When you dig deeper, you uncover far more useful information that genuinely matters.

And better insight = better decisions.

So, let’s throw out the rule book and explore 10 smarter questions to ask real estate agents when buying – ones that help assess whether a property is truly right for you.

1. Who lives in the area?
2. What's likely to break or need replacing in the next decade?
3. What comes with the house?
4. What will it cost me to own every month?
5. What's changing in this area?
6. How strong is rental demand?
7. What government support might I qualify for?
8. What's the actual timeline?
9. What happens after I sign a contract?
10. Can you point me toward the professionals I'll need?

1. Who Lives in This Area, and was This House Designed for Them?

Before getting too excited about finishes and floorplans, step back and ask who this home was actually built for.

Every suburb has its own demographic.

Some streets are packed with young families and tricycles on footpaths. Others attract professionals who want low maintenance. Some are full of retirees who've downsized but preferred to stay in their community.

Ask who typically buys in this pocket, then look at the property through that lens.

If families dominate the area but the home has white carpet and no backyard, that's a red flag.

If it's marketed to downsizers but has three storeys of stairs, same problem.

Real estate agents selling in an established suburb might be a little broad with their answer here, while master-planned communities and newer estates tend to be pretty upfront with knowing who will typically enjoy living in an area.

They design specific home types for specific buyers, which actually makes your decision easier.

That way, you're not trying to force your lifestyle into a space that was never meant for you.

The takeaway: pay attention if an agent can't give you a clear answer about who this home suits. That's often a red flag that they’ll sell to anyone, regardless of fit.

2. What's Likely to Break or Need Replacing in the Next Decade?

This question moves you past the pretty ‘first impression’ stuff and into the practical reality of homeownership - because, let’s face it, every home needs maintenance eventually.

But there's a massive difference between "we'll probably need to repaint in five years" and "the hot water system is a 1987 original and the roof's been fixed up twice."

So ask the agent what big-ticket items might need attention over the next 5-10 years.

Because roofs, plumbing, electrical systems, air conditioning, fences, driveways - these aren't small expenses.

If you're buying a unit or townhouse, ask about upcoming body corporate projects too, because you'll be funding those.

Older homes often come with more character but bigger maintenance bills. That's the trade-off.

New and off-the-plan homes, on the other hand, typically cruise through their first decade without any major issue. With modern materials, new appliances and structural warranties in place, many future costs are easier to anticipate, which matters if you're stretching your budget, or would rather spend weekends doing literally anything else than managing repairs.

Of course, you're not expecting guarantees. You’re simply trying to understand what potential expenses you're actually signing up for beyond the mortgage.

3. What Comes With the House?

This might sound obvious until you move in and realise the seller took every light fitting, blind and garden shed with them.

So get specific about what stays and what goes before you agree to a contract.

Window furnishings, air conditioning units, built-in appliances, outdoor structures, security systems - even the landscaping - ask about all of it.

Because if you're budgeting for a deposit and moving costs, then discover you need to spend another $10,000 on basics just to make the place liveable, that's a problem.

This is where new and off-the-plan homes have a genuine advantage over older homes.

Older or existing properties often have a large list of things that have been added on over the years, like extensions and upgrades… even a few things the old owners just simply got attached to and decided to take. This can create a grey area when it comes to what’s included in the sale.

But with off-the-plan homes, you get a detailed inclusions list as part of your contract, so there's no ambiguity. What's on the list is what you get.

This makes comparing properties much easier, too.

But the bottom line is, if something's important to you - that fancy ceiling fan, the garden shed, whatever - get it in writing before you sign on the dotted line.

4. What Will This Home Actually Cost Me Every Month?

Remember: your mortgage repayment is only one part of the story.

That’s why this question is so important.

Ask about council rates, water charges, body corporate fees (if they apply) and insurance costs.

Then think about your likely power bills, gas, wi-fi and that maintenance budget we just talked about.

Add it all up. That's your real monthly cost of ownership.

Newer homes with decent insulation, double glazing and efficient heating and cooling tend to perform better on energy bills.

Modern wiring and construction standards can also help keep insurance premiums reasonable. These things add up over time, so buying new can be a good option for those concerned about high ongoing costs.

Of course, you might love a heritage home with character, and that's completely valid. Just make sure you're walking in with your eyes open about what it costs to maintain that character.

5. What's Changing in This Area Over the Next Few Years?

When you decide to buy a new property, you’re committing to live with a suburb’s future, not just what it looks like today.

So, it makes sense to ask what might be changing over the next 5 – 10 years.

Think new roads, upgraded public transport, schools, childcare centres, shopping precincts, parks – the list goes on.

Some of these changes could improve your lifestyle. Others might mean more traffic or noise than you'd prefer.

So it pays to understand what your local government or council has planned.

While older suburbs may not have a lot in the pipeline, many newer communities are designed around planned but yet-to-be-built infrastructure - schools, parks, local shops, medical centres.

If you're raising kids, downsizing or investing for rental yield, that kind of insight can be valuable.

The selling agent should have a good handle on this, but you can always verify it yourself through council and state planning websites. Cross-checking never hurts.

6. How Strong is Rental Demand Here?

Even if you're planning to live in this home yourself, this question matters.

Why? Because life changes.

You might need to relocate for work, move in with a partner or have a family situation that means you need to move out.

If you need to rent your property out for a period, you probably want to know there's actually demand for it.

So it’s smart to ask the selling agent how quickly similar homes rent in your chosen area, what they achieve per week and who the typical tenants are.

Strong rental demand gives you options and financial flexibility when circumstances change.

For investors, obviously this one's critical. But honestly? It's useful information for everyone.

7. What Government Support Might I Qualify For?

It takes thirty seconds to ask this question, but could save you $15,000 or more.

While agents aren’t financial advisers - and they’ll always recommend seeking independent advice - they will know which government grants and schemes their buyers are accessing in order to secure loans, deposits and discounts.

In South Australia, that includes things like:

• The $15,000 First Homeowner Grant for eligible new homes (no property value cap on contracts from June 2024 onwards)
• Stamp duty concessions for first-home buyers purchasing new properties
• National schemes like the Australian Government 5% Deposit Scheme

The key to understanding what you’re eligible for depends on knowing whether the type of property you're looking at might qualify.

And it’s a case of ‘if you don’t ask, you don’t get’.

It’s worth knowing what’s out there, so you can go armed with this general information when speaking with your mortgage broker or bank who can give you a more detailed breakdown.

8. What's the Actual Timeline, and What Could Delay It?

"Settlement in 60 days" sounds straightforward, but understanding what actually happens during that period matters more than you'd think.

That’s because the timeline for sale affects real decisions.

For instance, if you're renting, you need to know whether to renew your lease or give notice.

If you have kids, you might be coordinating a move around school terms.

If you're selling your current home, you may need these dates to align or you'll end up paying two mortgages or scrambling for temporary accommodation.

So ask the selling agent what's realistic given current market conditions.

Right now in Australia, finance approvals are taking longer than they did 12 months ago.

These things push timelines out, and if you're planning around a non-negotiable date, you need to know.

For off-the-plan homes, this becomes even more important because you could be committing 12-18 months before you move in.

Understanding the realistic timeline means you can plan properly instead of hoping everything magically aligns.

9. What Happens After I Put in an Offer or Sign a Contract, and What Support Will I Receive Post-Settlement?

Most buyers are so focused on getting to settlement that they forget to ask what happens once they put in an offer or sign a contract.

Start by asking questions that clarify the immediate next steps.

For instance, what's the cooling-off period in SA?

In South Australia, you have a two-day cooling-off period after you receive a Form 1 - that's your opportunity to back out if you need to. Ask the agent to walk you through what happens between your offer being accepted and settlement day.

Then think about after you've actually got the keys.

What if something's wrong - the hot water system doesn't work, there's a leak you didn't spot or something that was meant to stay with the house is missing… who do you call?

For established homes, you're largely on your own once settlement goes through.

For new homes, ask about the structural warranty period and how the defects process actually works.

For instance, if you notice something in the first few months, how do you report it? How quickly does the builder respond? What's covered and what's not?

In fact, most developers have dedicated customer care teams who exclusively handle this stuff.

Knowing what support exists - or doesn't - after you move in helps you understand what you're really buying.

10. Can You Point Me Toward the Professionals I'll Need?

If you’re new to buying property, finding a good mortgage broker or conveyancer can sometimes feel like throwing darts blindfolded at the telephone book (remember those?).

You don't know these people, and a dodgy Google review from 2021 doesn't exactly inspire confidence.

So to help cut through the noise, why not ask the agent who they see most buyers working with.

They won't give you financial advice - that's not their job - but they'll know which brokers and conveyancers their clients actually use and trust.

You’ll still need to do your own research and get multiple quotes – that’s non-negotiable. But starting with a few names that other buyers have had success with is a clever move.

Another thing worth mentioning?

If you're looking at buying an off-the-plan property or house & land package, make sure whoever you choose has experience handling those types of contracts. Mainly because the paperwork and timelines are a bit different, and you want someone who knows what they're doing.

So, What Should You Actually Do With These Questions?

You don't need to rattle off all ten at every open inspection.

Just pick the ones that matter for the property you're looking at and where you're at in your journey.

Jot down the answers in your phone. Follow up anything important by email so you've got it documented.

If an agent gets annoyed by any of them? They’re probably not the ones you want to buy from anyway.

A good agent will expect questions like these because they know buyers who ask more are usually the ones that are serious about buying the property they’re selling.

We know that buying property can feel overwhelming at first.

That's normal - it's a complex process with big money involved, and most people only do it a few times in their entire life.

But we also know that people who ask the right questions when buying don't just make better decisions. They make confident decisions.

Again, you’re not trying to become a property expert overnight, but it’s important to understand that every property comes with compromises.

The trick is figuring out the compromises you can actually live with, and which property is going to best support your budget, family, timeline and lifestyle by asking relevant questions before committing.

If you're ready to explore what that might look like for your situation here in SA, especially when it comes to buying off-the-plan, we’d love to walk you through your options, from apartment living at Glenside to townhouse living at Fletcher’s Slip, and have a genuine, no-obligation conversation about how Cedar Woods can support your next move.

Cedar Woods Properties is a leading, national developer of residential communities and commercial developments.

We strive to create quality homes, workplaces and communities that people are proud of.

With award-winning projects in Western Australian, Victoria, Queensland and South Australia, we continue to place great importance on understanding our customers and their lifestyle, producing design solutions to enrich their lives.

For more than 30 years we have worked hard to think ahead, evolving our designs to always respond to the changing world in which we live and creating meaningful places that inspire connection and help us grow.

We work with our customers every step of the way to create a solid foundation for their future.

Because at Cedar Woods we know we are developing tomorrow, today.