Buying a house is one of the most important and expensive financial decisions you'll ever make. Because it's such an investment, it's important to ask as many questions as possible. Here are the five most important questions you should ask about every property you're considering:

1. How old is the roof?

This is an area where you need to make sure your realtor knows their stuff. You'll need to know what kind of roof the home currently has and how old it is. Check to see if it will need any repairs or if it will need to be totally replaced soon. It is important to consider the condition of the roof over the finishes in the home. Replacing a roof can cost $5,500-$11,000+ so be sure you are fully aware of the current condition of the roof before putting in an offer on a home.

2. How old are the appliances?

Appliances are an important part of home ownership, but unfortunately, they don't last forever. When you move into a new place, be sure to check the age of the stove and refrigerator because they can be pricey to replace.

To figure out how old your appliances are:

• Open the appliance door and look for a sticker with numbers on it (usually located near the top or bottom). The number will indicate when the appliance was manufactured. For example, if you see "1/2014" written on your refrigerator's sticker that means it was made in January 2014. You can also check inside each appliance by looking at any visible serial numbers—these should match up with those on any accompanying paperwork or manuals.

3. What all comes in the sale?

When you buy a house, the seller will often include certain things as part of the sale. These could be items like furniture, appliances and more. It’s important to know what all comes with your purchase so that you can decide if it fits within your budget or not.

What is included:

• Existing appliances (stoves, refrigerators, dishwashers etc.)

• Appliances that are under warranty-furnaces and water heaters are common examples of these types of items

• Security system

4. How much do utilities cost?

Utility costs are a big expense for any homeowner. It’s important to know what the utility costs will be, so you can plan for them and perhaps even reduce them. Ask about the following:

• What are the average monthly utility bills? -- This will help with your budgeting and determine how much you might want to offer.

• What do utilities cost in this area? -- The idea of paying more than $100 per month for water or electricity is enough to make anyone shudder! Know beforehand if your city has unusually high electric rates before you even start looking at homes so that you can plan accordingly.

• Are there any ways we could lower our utility bill? -- If possible, ask your real estate agent if there are ways they have seen people save on their utility bills while living in their properties—whether it be through changing out light bulbs or installing solar panels on the roof. You may find that something as simple as turning off lights when they exit a room can save big bucks over time!

5. What are comparable properties selling for?

When you're looking at homes, it's helpful to know what other properties are going for. Comparable properties are similar to the one you're considering buying. It is important to know what other properties are selling for so you can determine what type of home you can afford in your area.

The best way to find out how much comparable properties are selling for is by talking with your realtor and asking them to show you what's currently on the market in your target area. Once they do this research for you (or if they already have it), ask them about it! Find out what comparable sales tell us about the housing market in general and where we might expect prices to go over time.

When you have more information about a situation, you are equipped to make better choices. You can find the answers to these questions and more by talking to your real estate. They are a valuable asset during your home search.