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 of an offer to list the fixtures and chattels, and is vital that it is filled in completely, so there is no misunderstanding. We'll talk about negotiating and comparing these elements of an offer as we go.
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