What Stays and What Goes?

If you are planning to sell your Gainesville area home, you may be starting to prepare and plan. You may have one big question about what stays and what goes with the sale of your home. There are several things that effect the answer to that question, so lets talk about a few details about getting your home on the market.

When selling your home this becomes the situation that you are selling real property. Here is the definition of real property: The term real property refers to land, and any buildings, structures, and equipment permanently attached to the building or fixed to the land.

The question about what stays and what goes falls into that previous term of permanently attached. As a home seller, you will specify exactly what stays with the home when you sell.

Certain appliances must stay and some might go. The normal expectation in our Gainesville/Alachua County area is that all the kitchen appliances stay. Leaving the washer and dryer do not have to stay with the sale, but remember this could be a good buyer bonus or marketing feature when your home goes on the market. All lights fixtures stay with the home. So if you have a family heirloom light fixture, you should remove it and replace it with a new light fixture. It’s best to remove and replace things like this PRIOR to your marketing photography.

Here is a good list for you to review:

All Kitchen Appliances: Normally all kitchen appliances built into the cabinetry or stand alone appliances for kitchen use will stay with the sale. But that 2nd fridge or freezer in the garage is personal property that may not convey with the sale. Discuss this with your agent.

Built-ins: Built-in bookshelves, benches, and pull-out furniture generally stays inside the home.

Landscaping: Trees, shrubs, and any flowers planted in the ground should stay in the yard. Also outdoor lighting will remain.

Wall mounted Items: If you have TV wall mounts that might damage the wall if you remove them, it is a good idea to leave them in place when you move. All ceiling fans normally stay with the home.

Custom-fit items: If you have custom-made curtains, plantation shutters, or blinds, leave them on the windows and doors.

Hardware: If you upgraded the knobs and drawer pulls in your bathrooms and the kitchen, you’ll either have to leave those behind or install replacements before you move.

Alarm systems: Wireless alarm systems are designed to be removed. Otherwise, leave the alarm monitoring station attached and either relocate or cancel the monitoring service.

Smoke detectors: Smoke detectors, Carbon Monoxide detectors, and sprinkler systems should stay in the house, especially if you plan to move before selling the house.

Pool Equipment: All pumps, filters, and heaters will stay with the home. It is assumed the pool equipment will convey with the sale.

A good rule of thumb is if you need a tool to remove it, then has become real property and unless excluded in sale, it needs to stay with the home.

Remember, you will discuss all of these things with your Gainesville Realtor. If you have any questions as to what stays and what goes with your sale, please give us a call and we can talk about Gainesville Real Estate!