Whether you are looking for a new home or putting your existing property on the market, it's always important to know exactly what will be included in the deal and what the seller will be taking with them. It might seem simple, but there have been numerous complications over the years. Fortunately, it's quite easy to avoid these potential problems by simply taking the necessary measures.

Firstly, it's important to understand certain terms like the word fixture. The fixtures in your home include anything that has been attached to the property. Removing the item would, therefore, cause some kind of damage to the building structure itself. Fixtures are usually considered part of the package deal, and the new buyer will usually expect them to remain. Any built-in appliances (like ovens), light fittings, shutters, ceiling fans and so on. 

Another important term to consider is personal property. This refers to anything that can be removed without causing any kind of damage to the home. Personal property items are not automatically included in the deal but, if the seller is willing to negotiate and include them, this can sometimes increase the asking price. Some examples of personal property include non-fixed furniture (beds, tables, chairs, etc.), personal items (clothing, linen, knick-knacks and other decorative pieces), free-standing appliances (washing machine, fridge, and so on).

While these two types of property might be easy to differentiate, it can become complicated as far as particularly valuable or sentimental items are considered. While most homeowners wouldn't even consider removing solid fixtures, there have been cases where heirloom chandeliers and even full grown trees have been removed for sentimental reasons! Due to the confusion in the past, it's important for buyers and sellers to be prepared for the transaction and any gray areas must be dealt with.

Window treatments like cornices, blinds, curtain rods, shades, and shutters were often thought of as fixtures. However, this is a bit of a gray area since there are also curtains, liners, sheers, and valances to consider. Since the accessories are counted as personal property, why not count all window covers and accessories as personal property? Appliances that are connected to water or gas lines might be disputed as being fixtures even though they are not fully bolted to the property.

If you are ever in doubt about whether or not an item falls under the personal or fixture category, just ask your real estate agent. If your agent is not completely sure, they can check with the seller in order to prevent any confusion.

Finally, if you are selling your home, you should take the time to inspect each room before putting it on the market. Look around for anything that you definitely do not want to be considered as a fixture and remove it before your home is photographed or opened to viewings. It's best to remove these items before anyone sees them or they might base their purchase agreement on having this item included in the sale. If you wish to replace any fixtures, you should do so with items that are similar in appearance and quality. If you are planning on including a few items with the sale, you should make it clear to the realtor so that they can use it as a selling point.

Buyers are advised to take note of any items that they have their hearts set on. These items should be specifically documented and included in the agreement with the help of your realtor. When taking notes, make sure that the make and model and other details are all included. You might also like to ask your realtor to keep a photographic record of all of these items.

For expert assistance in selling your property or searching for your dream home, call Marina Rigenco at (647) 834-2292.