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Informative Articles

Branded Email In The Real Estate Industry
You’re in the real estate industry, and that means you’ve got a brand. Chances are, you’ve spent quite a bit of money to build that brand, whether it’s through franchising fees, marketing, websites, business cards, other print materials,...

First-Time House Buyers Still Finding It Tough To Get Into The Market
Buying a house in the current housing market is tough. Becoming a first-time house buyer is very tough. Recent research by the Chartered Institute of Housing Cymru (CIH) ( http://www.cih.org/ ) has show just how difficult it has become for people...

How To Conduct A Home Inventory
How To Conduct A Home Inventory *Quick Quiz* Name the brand and model of the television(s) in your house or apartment. How much did your computer cost, and where did you purchase it? What is the serial number on your camera? ...

Is Now A Good Time To Sell Your Home?
If you own a home in a real estate boom market, you are probably richer now than you ever thought you could be–on paper. Even if your house is in a real estate market that's rising more modestly, you may still be feeling pretty flush–on paper. But...

Your Dream Home In France - Moving Money To France
If you already live in France, or intend to finance your property purchase from equity in your UK home, chances are you'll want to move some money abroad. Transfering money from the UK to France requires someone to handle the transfer on your...

 
Selling A Home – What Attachments Stay or Go?

The home selling and buying process can be confusing. This is especially true when it is a FSBO (for sale by owner) operation. It’s even tougher when neither the seller nor the buyer is in the real estate business. This article sorts through what stays in the house or condo when it’s sold.

Attachments – Literally!

In most states, the term “attached” takes on a unique meaning in real estate. Essentially, it boils down to this, “If it’s attached to the real estate, it’s no longer personal property.” Practically speaking, anything attached to the home stays with it when ownership is transferred. Applying this concept, it’s easy to see why chandeliers, doorknobs and kitchen cabinets stay.

To determine whether something stays or goes, focus on the attachment issue. Plants can often be a confusing item. Generally, it they are planted in the ground, they stay. If they are in planters, they go. With other items, just look to see if they are attached to the property.

I Am Seller – Hear Me Roar!

If you’re a seller, you’ve probably spent a good bit of time and effort on the property. What if you want to take a few attached items with you? Can you legally keep it? What if you’re thinking, “That fixture hanging over the breakfast table has a real Tiffany shade? It was a wedding present from Aunt Elizabeth. I’m


keeping it!”

Keep your shirt on. There are a couple of ways that typically work when you want to keep an item or two of this sort. The first is to simply state in your offering “blah, blah, and blah do not convey.” (If it really matters, call an attorney to get the language right) This approach has one drawback. Human nature being acquisitive as it is, your buyer will probably immediately want at least two and the items will become a bone of contention.

There is a better way to deal with this situation. Before putting you home on the market, remove all items that have become attached to the real estate. Buy another hanging lamp, hang it and pack your Tiffany lamp. Do that for all items of this sort. Be sure to replace each with something attractive and do it well enough that it’s not obvious that a change has been made. When prospective buyers look at your home, everything they see will stay with the home. You are happy, they are happy, everyone is happy! Life is good.

Analyze your home for attachments before you put it on the market. You wouldn’t want to make Aunt Elizabeth angry by losing the wedding present she gave you.


About the Author
Raynor James is with FSBOAmerica.org - sell and view homes for sale by owner online. Sellers list your home for free the first month.