What Comes With The House?

In a past post we discusses the topic of what a person can take with them when they leave a property after the sale is closed. The short answer for that post was anything that was not affixed to the house or the property after the property was officially listed for sale. But this time we are going to take a look at what things a buyer might expect to acquire with the property when they take possession of the keys and the deed.

There are rare occasions when buyers and sellers will casually discuss items around a property that are not actually part of the property itself, such as how great a mowing rider works around the property or how great a new washer/dryer set fits in a utility room. But, later on, these two people can walk away from the same conversation with two very different thoughts about the conversation that took place. Which can cause some alarm and discontent when, after the sale closes, the buyer notices that there is no longer a riding mower in the shed or a new washer/dryer set in the utility room.

This situation more commonly occurs when pictures, listings, and details of the property sale are vague and sparse, as well as assumptions being made by a buyer rather than asking specific questions of the Realtor concerning items that may or may not come as extras with the sale of the property.

The very first step to avoiding this type of misunderstanding, and the arguments that will invariably follow, is to simply make sure that there is a simple and clear understanding when it comes to anything of interest at the property location. This begins with a buyer never making assumptions. Ask about something if you are interested in knowing its status or the possibility of it staying with the property. Your Realtor can often present this question to the other agent and get a clear answer for you. Even better, by inquiring about something, there are many times that a seller will offer to throw something in with the property just to sweeten the deal and ensure a sale.

Now, the next (and best) step to make sure that everyone is clear on the status of any material items agreed upon between the buyer and seller is to have them included in the purchase agreement. This alone helps to avoid any misunderstandings or disappointments later on. Technically, a person leaving a home that they just sold is not required to leave behind anything that was not featured in the property listing and is not mounted, affixed, or otherwise naturally a structural part of the property. However, a seller is (obviously) required to leave behind anything that may have been included in a purchase agreement. Therefore, rather than relying on memory and informal agreements, instead, get it in writing.

It has always been my experience that sellers can be pretty accommodating when it comes to keeping a potential buyer interested in a property. So, do not be timid when it comes to asking about things that interest you or that might make hew home ownership a little easier for you. As the old saying goes, “You never know until you ask.” And, the worst possible thing that come of it is the seller saying no to something. On the other hand, you may just get the thing that you want, if only you ask for it (and get it in writing.) Hopefully that will come in handy the next time you are looking at a property and something catches your eye. Until the next time, take care and be well!