When you put your home on the market, you’re not just selling the physical house – you’re also selling certain items that are part of the home and the surrounding property. And there’s a few surprising things you cannot take when you sell your home…
Though it might seem tempting to take your favorite ceiling fan with you when you move, if you haven’t specifically negotiated to keep that item and you remove it anyway, the sellers could theoretically back out of the sale. In some municipalities, they could even sue you!
And while a ceiling fan might not seem like a huge deal, it’s technically part of the home because it’s attached to the property. Anything that’s physically attached has to stay.
That’s why you’ll often see property listings that have “curtain rods” and “mini blinds” listed as features of the home. This isn’t because these items are necessarily expensive, but because they’re attached to the house, they’re considered part of the home’s amenities.
Photo by Nadia Valko on Unsplash
The list of things you can’t take with you when you sell your home also includes outdoor items.
The rose bush your husband bought for your anniversary and planted by the front door has to stay behind, again, unless you specifically negotiate to take it with you.
Likewise, items like basketball hoops or swing sets that are anchored into the ground must stay behind as well. However, things like an above-ground pool, a trampoline, and patio furniture are yours to take!
Where it gets a little confusing – and where negotiations often take place between buyers and sellers – is with items that are kind of attached to the property but kind of aren’t at the same time. Things like window air conditioners and swamp coolers might fall into that gray area in which the item isn’t permanently attached. Oftentimes, sellers might request that those items stay behind as part of the negotiations.
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If you truly have things in and around your home that you want to take with you, the easiest thing to do is remove them before you list the property for sale.
Just take down the ceiling fan you love (and replace it with something else) and dig up your rose bush and temporarily plant it in a pot. If the items you wish to take aren’t part of the property when it’s listed, you won’t have to worry about leaving them behind or negotiating with the buyer to take them with you!
Selling your home can be a stressful undertaking, especially if you’re a first-time seller. But that’s why having a Realtor at your side is so beneficial – we can help clear up confusing parts of the process like what you can and can’t take with you, that way you get your home sold as quickly as possible, for the most money, and with the fewest hassles.