I'm Selling My House - What Items Do I Have to Leave?

So you've decided to put your house on the market for prospective buyers.  You've painted, made some repairs, completely de-cluttered, signed your paperwork, and you're ready for the buyers to start rolling in.  However, there is something that is oftentimes not discussed in length with your REALTOR - what items in your home are "included" and what items are you supposed to take with you?

The short answer is a boring one, but it's absolutely true - EVERYTHING IN REAL ESTATE IS NEGOTIABLE.  From the price to the closing date to the earnest money to the inspection timeline and on and on - the items that are "included" in the sale are absolutely negotiable, and should be negotiated with the buyer upfront to prevent any future confusion or problems.

However, although every item is technically negotiable, our Purchase Agreement does provide some guidance to buyers and sellers as to what is included.  Below is a screenshot from page 1 of our Purchase Agreement, which addresses generic items that are generally expected to stay for the new buyer(s). 

Screen shot from page 1 of our Purchase Agreement, which outlines many items that are generally included.

As you can see, this list covers a lot of ground and generally includes items that are attached or affixed to the property.  Many of these items would be intrusive to remove, and thus are included.

You'll notice that certain common items are NOT included on this list - for example, no sign of washers or dryers on the list.  To cover these types of items, we typically use a form called a "Personal Property Agreement."  This form covers items not included in the above list that sellers and buyers have agreed will be a part of the sale. 

My general advice to sellers is the following - if there are items that are on the above list that they do NOT want to be part of the transaction, simply remove the items from the home prior to letting a single buyer through.  Those living room drapes that you want to take with to your next property?  Take them down before the listing goes live on MLS.  Want to take your refrigerator because it's new and you REALLY want it?  Either remove the refrigerator, or do something to very clearly articulate that that item is not included.

I could probably write another 6 paragraphs on this topic, but this seems like a decent start.  Have a specific question?  Feel free to call or email me!

Why You Should Meet With Your REALTOR Before House Hunting

It happens ALL the time:  I get a call from a new buyer client, and they've found a house online and they want to go see it immediately.  I completely understand why - they've found something exciting, and it's piqued their interest enough to start house hunting seriously.  However, I always try to get my clients to pump the brakes and hold off on house hunting until I have a chance to sit down with them. 

In my opinion, particularly if it's your first home purchase ever, it is absolutely critical to meet with me so we can discuss the process, some of the issues we might encounter, and set some ground rules/expectations for the home buying process.  Buying a home is a huge investment, and it's crucial to know what you are walking into instead of just "winging it".  As a REALTOR, it is very hard to guide the process and educate my clients when we are out looking at houses - it just never seems to work out like it should.

Most of my initial appointments are 75-90 minutes, and we cover a lot of ground.  We talk about the reasons buying a home is a good investment, what the current status of the housing market is, what the step-by-stop process is that you'll encounter, a little bit about mortgages, a timeline of when you will be expected to spend your money during the process, and a bit about my experience/real estate background.  Many loan officers do something similar to this - in the homebuying process, knowledge is power!