Is it Personal or Real Property? In other words, does it stay or go? Real estate
stays. Real estate is land and anything attached to it. Real estate is a house, fence,
detached garage, tree, etc. Personal property goes. Personal property is anything you can
carry away: the furniture, car, your clothing, dishes, etc.
Sometimes there are gray areas…
· Drapes
· Clothes dryer
· Built in furniture
· Lamp or chandelier
· Light bulbs
· Stove
· Refrigerator
· Shades
· Toilet Seat
· Clothes washer
In the purchase agreement, specify which items stay and which will go.
This clarifies who gets what. By doing this, you avoid later disagreements
that can cause a deal to fall apart. Typically, the washer, dryer, refrigerator, and
chandelier go with the house.
As a seller... If you really want to keep the
chandelier, remove and replace it with a different light fixture. Do this before buyers
tour your house. That way the deal won’t collapse because you won’t leave behind
a favorite light fixture. (Or include an allowance so the buyer can replace the chandelier
with a fixture of their choice. Remember: removing the chandelier is your best bet.)
Sellers, consider renting a storage locker to hold the questionable items
you plan to take with. Use this opportunity to clear clutter from closets, basements, and
the "storage" room. Your house will look more spacious and sell faster. Buyers
will really get a feel for whether they can live happily ever after in your home when they
can truly see all nooks and crannies. |
