Fixtures and Chattels
When you tour a house for sale, it’s often staged, complete with appliances, window dressings, furniture, and decor. These items can certainly make a place look appealing, but the reality is most of them won’t come with the house if you decide to buy.
What exactly do you get when you purchase a house from its previous owners? Do you know which items stay, and which ones go? Check this out.
1. 'Attached' Inside Items
Fixtures like ceiling fans, security systems, built-in appliances, window screens, storm doors, blinds, and similar items should remain part of the home. Removable items - like curtains or furniture, aren’t attached and probably wouldn’t be included.
2. 'Attached' Outside Items
Fixtures like the mailbox, a built-in fire pit, plants, shrubbery, and an in-ground pool would all be examples of items that stay. Portable things, though - like a hot tub or unattached grill - typically would not come with the house.
3. 'Loose' Items
Chattels are the 'loose' items that a Seller owns but you might want - fridge, stove, washer, dryer, etc. If there’s a certain item you saw and loved in the home, we can discuss it to negotiate with the Seller and their agent. Depending on how in-demand the property is, and how special the item is, the Seller may ask for more money - but, in some cases, they may be willing to throw it in for free.
Sometimes, Sellers will specifically call out items they don’t want included in the sale — even some attached items. There is a large section in the Agreement of Purchase and Sale to list the fixtures and chattels. This area needs full attention, and is a vital component in negotiations, so there is no misunderstanding.
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