It’s important that you clearly spell out and negotiate in your real estate purchase contracts what is included and what is not included in the sale of the home. It’s something that needs to be agreed upon by both parties to ensure a smooth transaction.
So, what stays in the house and what goes with you when you move?
Likewise, the most common gray areas with fixtures are mirrors and flat-screen TVs and their mounting mechanisms. Mirrors are considered fixtures if they are bolted to the bathroom or bedroom wall. But if they are just hanging on a wall, sellers could take them since they are considered personal property.
Flat-screen TVs, on the other hand, are considered personal property of the sellers, especially if they are expensive, high-definition type. Similarly, they can also take the television’s mounting mechanism, unless it is detailed in the sale that the TV will be part of the home sale or the buyer wants to include it in the real estate negotiations.
Take anything you want to keep with you before listing your home for sale. Then replace them with something else that might go as fine or acceptable. Don’t make a show-stopping chandelier a part of your home staging if you have no plans to leave it on the house and pass it to the new owner.
We understand the mixed feelings you have as you sell your home, but avoid giving any sentimental value on simple tools like doorknobs, 60-watt light bulbs, or pegboard hooks. Never take them with you when you vacate the property. Often, these are things that aren’t really worth chasing after but can annoy the new homeowner. Hiring an experienced local real estate agent can help you sell your home for top dollars so you don’t have to worry about leaving petty hardware behind.
