What to Ask (and What NOT to Ask) When Buying a Home
The short version: Smart home buyers ask about the things that actually matter — the roof, the foundation, the HOA, the permit history — before they get distracted by paint colors and staging. And they know better than to reveal too much about their budget or urgency too soon. These lessons come straight from a decade of real open house questions, now collected in my book, Keys to Nothing.
After more than 10 years hosting open houses across Silicon Valley, I’ve heard just about every question a buyer can ask. Some were sharp enough to save someone from a costly mistake. Others… not so much. One buyer once stood inside a garage and asked, “Is this the garage?” True story. That’s page one of the book.
But behind the laughs is a real takeaway: the questions you ask — and the ones you don’t — can shape the outcome of your entire home search.
Why the Right Questions Matter So Much
Buying a home is one of the biggest financial decisions most people will ever make, yet so many buyers walk into a showing focused on the wrong things. They notice the paint color and the staging instead of asking about the roof, the foundation, or why the sellers are really moving — the details that actually affect resale value, safety, and long-term cost.
At the same time, some questions can quietly work against you, especially in a competitive market like the Bay Area, where the wrong words at the wrong moment can cost you leverage.
What Every Buyer Should Ask
What’s the age and condition of the major systems — roof, HVAC, water heater, electrical panel?
Are there any pending assessments, HOA issues, or open permits?
How long has the home been on the market, and has the price changed?
What’s included in the sale, and what isn’t?
Why is the seller actually moving?
What Buyers Should Be Careful About Asking Too Soon
Your maximum budget, before you’ve made an offer
Anything that signals urgency or desperation in a multiple-offer situation
Questions you could easily answer yourself through public records first
How Keys to Nothing Can Help
Keys to Nothing is built around 100 real questions I’ve heard at real open houses over the years — some hilarious, some surprisingly insightful. Woven through the stories are practical, real-world takeaways on what to ask (and what to hold back) so you can walk into your next showing feeling confident instead of caught off guard.
It’s a quick, entertaining read that doubles as a genuinely useful guide for anyone about to start — or already in the middle of — a home search.
A great fit for:
First-time home buyers
Anyone who’s ever set foot in an open house
Real estate agents who want a laugh, and a few good talking points for their clients
📖 Free with Kindle Unlimited, or available on Amazon. 👉 Grab your copy here
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Keys to Nothing about? It’s a collection of 100 real, often hilarious questions asked by home buyers at open houses over a decade in Silicon Valley real estate — paired with genuine home-buying insights.
Who wrote Keys to Nothing? Avil Soleiman, a Silicon Valley real estate agent with more than 10 years of open house experience.
Is Keys to Nothing useful for first-time home buyers? Yes. It’s written to entertain, but it’s packed with real insight on what to ask — and what not to ask — during a home search.
Where can I buy Keys to Nothing? It’s available on Amazon and free with Kindle Unlimited. Order here.