Does that come with the house?
When a home is in the closing phase, a question one will often hear is “does that come with the house?” Sounds simple, but what is or is not included in the purchase price of the home can often cause unnecessary problems if not disclosed upfront. If this questio
n is being raised at the closing table, the listing agent, as well as the buyer’s agent, didn’t do their jobs. This issue should be clearly spelled out in the purchase contract. If there are enough items the buyer wants included, often these items will be continued on an addendum to the purchase and sale agreement.
The biggest confusion usually involves lighting that is attached to walls or ceilings such as chandeliers or decorative fixtures. Since they are attached to the home, they are considered “real” property, not personal, even if they were added to the home after it was originally purchased.
The “law of fixtures” clearly states that sellers must leave behind anything that is attached to the property. However, to avoid this becoming a sticking point, any attached fixtures that the seller intends to keep should be listed in the purchase agreement as such. An even easier way to remedy the situation would be to replace all fixtures the seller is planning to take with them with less expensive models before the house is shown to potenial buyers – out of sight, out of mind.
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