What you see is not always what you get. This is especially true for those house hunting and looking at open houses. Before you fall in love with a particular feature or appliance, you must check if it will be included in your home purchase.
The things in a home are categorized into two types: fixtures and personal property. You should always check with the real estate agent what the inclusions of the home are. Fixtures include kitchen cabinets, cupboards, or even ceiling fans. They are typically things that stay attached to the house. On the other hand, items like carpets, curtains, etc., can be the owners’ personal property. Depending on the owner, there are times when they will include certain personal items in the sale if you negotiate with them, so it never hurts to ask.
What You Need With Your Home Purchase
Some sales contracts are very specific on what items will remain for the new owner, whereas others are quite vague. For this reason, it would be good for you to catalog or point out what items are interesting to you so that you can easily negotiate them with your home purchase. Nevertheless, three things will not necessarily be included in the house.
- Appliances – It may come as a surprise, but a kitchen isn’t always included in the house. In fact, major household appliances like the stove, refrigerator, dishwasher, etc., will not be included in the sale. Consequently, you should make sure to get a highly qualified and experienced real estate agent who will know which houses to look for if this is a deal breaker. Because imagine if you already fell in love with a home and it manages to fit your budget, only to find out that the kitchen was not included in the price. This means you will have added costs that you may not have factored into. Not to worry, there are also many houses on the market that already offer stainless, top-of-the-line kitchen appliances, so make sure to consult with the real estate expert on this.
- Outdoor Accessories – Even things that look fixed into the home may not actually be included. This is particularly true for outdoor items, such as planters, water features, patio furniture, hot tubs, and many more. Aside from that, there have been cases where home buyers were left disappointed because they fell in love with a pond, for example, and it turns out the fountain and other accessories were omitted. So as you walk through the house, don’t forget the outside.
- Furniture – This typically goes with the seller when they move, but you should still check because some sellers like to include furniture that they may find too challenging to bring. There’s always room for negotiation.
Now that you know all these things, you will be more prepared for your home purchase process.
