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I Paid for it - CAN I Take it with me? Short Sale Questions 101 - Susan Goulding

By
Real Estate Agent with Mountain House Real Estate

Short Sale Sellers 101 - as a Realtor who has specialized in short sales as part of my business for the past 6 years I hear this question a lot.

"I Paid for it, Can I take it with me?"  short sale seller questions

1) Appliances - stove, oven, dishwasher - DID you upgrade from the one that came with the house when you bought it?  If NO, then it should stay, if yes, then REMOVE and REPLACE prior to you photos of the interior of your house, or putting it on the market for showings.

2) Window Treatments - blinds, plantation shutters, curtains, etc.  The California Listing Contract states that the window treatments are considered attached and there fore would be required to stay.  However, if you want to take them -- see above -- REMOVE and REPLACE prior to your Mountain House Home have photos taken of it, or a single showing.

3) Ceiling Fans - If you have that all time special fan, that you can't replace, can't live without then REMOVE and REPLACE PRIOR to any photos or a single showing of your house that is for sale in Mountain House.

4) Refrigerator, washer, dryer - These you CAN TAKE unless the buyer's agent has specifically included them in the short sale purchase contract.

5) Water Softener  -- if you are leasing this, return it, have the company come remove it properly - AGAIN this is prior to a single showing or a single photo being taken.

The list goes on and on..... towel racks, drawer pulls, face plate covers, anything that would be considered ATTACHED to the wall.  (There is an exception now in the contract for TV's, Stereo speakers, etc.)

Do you see a pattern here..... The California Purchase contract states that the property needs to be maintained in the same or like condition as when the buyer's put the offer in.  I realize that you as the seller are not benefiting monetarily by the short sale.  However, the contract is still enforceable

You never know what it is that the buyer is going to ask "Hey, where did that go?"  A simple item - drawer pulls that are no longer in the property could be a deal killer fo a buyer.

Please if you are going to Short Sale your property, prepare it BEFORE you start showing it, before you REALTOR takes photos.  You will have a much smoother transaction and you won't end up in small claims court after the sale.

 

 

Show All Comments Sort:
Tish Lloyd
BlueCoast Realty Corporation - Wilmington, NC
Broker - Wilmington NC and Surrounding Beaches

I think this is an excellent explanation to questions which arise constantly.

Jul 29, 2010 10:10 PM
Michele Miller ~ REALTORĀ®, LMC, HSE, CHS, SRES, CMRS
ERA Key Realty~Worcester County Realty Group - Worcester, MA
'Helping You Make the Best Move"

Susan,

Great post! My sister-in-law owns a flooring company and had someone call asking if she could come remove new carpeting and get refunded for it. The house ended up in foreclosure shortly afterwards.

Jul 29, 2010 10:57 PM
Dan Edward Phillips
Dan Edward Phillips, Humboldt and Del Norte Counties, CA - Eureka, CA
Humboldt and Del Norte Counties, CA

Hi Susan, very good point to keep the seller out of trouble!

Jul 29, 2010 11:05 PM
Wade Kawahara
Dominion Real Estate Partners, LLC - Phoenix, AZ

Thanks for the post.  The seller should be aware of what he can or can't take to avoid any conflict at closing.

Jul 29, 2010 11:15 PM
Susan Goulding
Mountain House Real Estate - Mountain House, CA
Short Sales, Mountain House Homes for Sale

Tish  -  IT'S A START and certainly not complete.

Michelle - that's incredible.  1st why put in new flooring if you thought.... oh well.... never mind.

Dan - We keep trying to keep sellers out of trouble.  It doesn't always work

Wade - Yes and we need to do our best by telling them upfront what they can and can't take.

Jul 30, 2010 06:01 AM