When a home is up for sale, the seller will usually stage the home with furniture, appliances and other home decor items. This allows the buyer to envision what the home would look like when they finally move in. While this is helpful from both the seller’s and the buyer’s point of view, the buyer may buy the home thinking that the items come with it. To help you understand which items may not be included in the home purchase, we have compiled a list of six of them so you aren’t left wondering.
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Appliances
Although it may be customary for the seller to keep some of the appliances in the home after purchase, such as the refrigerator, stove, wine fridges, washers, and dryer, this is not always the case. If the appliances are not permanently affixed to the property, then they can be removed. These types of appliances can be considered the seller’s personal property so ensure that you know exactly what is being sold with the property before purchase.
Window Fixtures
Blinds and shades that are attached to the window can usually stay in the home but curtains and drapes that slide off are considered personal property and therefore do not need to stay in the home after they sell. It must be clear whether the window treatments are staying or going because they will need to be custom-fitted.
Above Ground Hot Tub and Swimming Pool
With an above-ground hot tub or swimming pool, they can easily be disconnected and considered personal property. Sometimes the seller may want to leave the hot tub or pool on the property when selling because it can increase the price of the home, but if the buyer does not want it, it should be removed by the seller. When purchasing the property, and you don’t want the hot tub or pool, you should include this in the purchase offer.
Furniture
The furniture in a home, which can include everything from mirrors to sinks, typically goes with the seller because it can be removed and is considered personal property. If you love the furniture that is in the property at sale, you can make an offer for the home which includes the furniture, but you would have to make that known in the purchase offer. Most things are negotiable when a house is being sold as long as it’s in the purchase offer and contract.
TV’s
It is a misconception that the TV’s in the property are staying when a buyer purchases a home. TV’s are technically considered personal property because they can be removed and are not permanently on the wall. This, along with everything else, needs to be mentioned in the purchase contract whether the TV’s are staying or going. Some sellers leave the brackets from the TV mount and take the TV, while others leave everything to up the price of the home.
Water Softener and Water Filtration Systems
Again, because these can be removed, the water softener and filtration system are not guaranteed to stay in the home unless specified in the purchase contract. It is important to know if these are staying or going because they can be quite costly if you have to buy one. Water softeners average around $1,500 while filtration systems can be around $500.
In any case, carefully reviewing the purchase contract, adding to it or asking more questions if anything is unclear is important to have a smooth transition into your new home!
If you’re preparing to enter the winter market, whether that’s through buying, selling, or both, it’s important to speak with a local realtor to learn about market conditions in your specific area. If you’re ready, give us a call today to speak with a qualified agent!
