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Your Left Behind Treasures May Be Someone Else's Trash

By
Managing Real Estate Broker with Platinum Properties- (931)771-9070 TN Broker: 208698

Your Left Behind Treasures May Be Someone Else's Trash

 

Left behind treasuresThere have been several situations this year where the sellers have left behind some unwanted items that were not requested in the sales contract. Unfortunately the buyers didn't want these gifts and interpreted it as junk left behind by the seller. It almost queered the deal. 

An old grill, weedeater, mirror, extra lamps, building products and old flower pots are examples of the types of items that sellers think a buyer may want.  Sometimes a seller want to leave some furniture or a pool table. The right thing to do is ask and don't assume the buyer wants or needs these things. If they are left without asking then it may appear to be trash left behind and the buyer could request these times be removed or disposed of before they will close on the property.

If the seller has left town the job or getting rid of these unwanted items may fall to the agent. This could leave the agent scrambling at the last minute to find a truck and handyman to haul they off and eliminate the problem to keep the sale together.

Sellers, if you have items you don't intend to move, let your agent know so the proper arrangements can be made before these are discovered at the walk through. Occasionally a buyer is grateful for one of these treasures but most of the time they are not. Ask first and don't assume.

Your Left Behind Treasures May Be Someone Else's Trash. 

Posted by

 Centruy 21 Platinum Properties2130 Wilma Rudolph Blvd.

Clarksville, TN 37040

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Debbie Reynolds
"The Real Debbie Reynolds"

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Sheila Anderson
Referral Group Incorporated - East Brunswick, NJ
The Real Estate Whisperer Who Listens 732-715-1133

Good morning Debbie. Boy is this true. I can rember a deal that came very close to crashing over some yard supplies left behind. 

Nov 29, 2015 09:49 PM
Joan Cox
House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO
Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

Debbie, we do see this on occasion, and always good to have a discussion with Sellers and be sure they are not leaving personal items without permission.

Nov 29, 2015 09:58 PM
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

This is very good reading for home sellers. Get rid of the unwanted stuff before you move.

Nov 29, 2015 10:23 PM
Kristin Johnston - REALTOR®
RE/MAX Platinum - Waukesha, WI
Giving Back With Each Home Sold!

Great post...we just dropped off items for goodwill last night in fact too!

Nov 29, 2015 10:41 PM
Scott Godzyk
Godzyk Real Estate Services - Manchester, NH
One of the Manchester NH's area Leading Agents

I have had to pick up many a peice of trash over the years before a walk through Debbie Reynolds . I always have a talk with my sellers. Some do think it is indeed a treausre and how happy the buyer will be.

Nov 29, 2015 11:06 PM
Lawrence "Larry" & Sheila Agranoff. Cell: 631-805-4400
The Top Team @ Charles Rutenberg Realty 255 Executive Dr, Plainview NY 11803 - Plainview, NY
Long Island Condo and Home Specialists

Yes Debbie, we too have found that these left-behind items are a nuisance to get rid of. Sellers, this is a good reminder to leave your property broom clean and empty...

Nov 29, 2015 11:29 PM
Amanda S. Davidson
Amanda Davidson Real Estate Group Brokered By Real - Alexandria, VA
Alexandria Virginia Homes For Sale

Debbie, oh how I can relate to this post! Spent half of yesterday cleaning out items a seller left behind because the listing agent refused to do it. I find most buyers do not appreciate these "treasures" and think you're right - they're more trash than treasure.

Nov 29, 2015 11:37 PM
Olga Simoncelli
Veritas Prime, LLC dba Veritas Prime Real Estate - New Fairfield, CT
CONSULTANT, Real Estate Services & Risk Management

The house should be cleaned out, it should not be the responsibility of the agent. I have seen funds being held back in escrow when large items were left in the yard, to be paid out once removed.

Nov 30, 2015 04:36 AM
Jeff Dowler, CRS
eXp Realty of California, Inc. - Carlsbad, CA
The Southern California Relocation Dude

Debbie Reynolds 

Yep been there done that a few times. Sellers should take the responsibility of getting rid of everything in the house, unles there are items included in the contract, and not assume buyers want this stuff. The most common "left behind" seems to be paint but also all the other haazrdous waste in the garage, without asking.

Jeff

Nov 30, 2015 08:20 AM
Lou Ludwig
Ludwig & Associates - Boca Raton, FL
Designations Earned CRB, CRS, CIPS, GRI, SRES, TRC

Debbie

The sellers should clean out the house as agreed in the contract.

Good luck and success.

Lou Ludwig

Nov 30, 2015 10:49 AM
Debbie Reynolds, C21 Platinum Properties
Platinum Properties- (931)771-9070 - Clarksville, TN
The Dedicated Clarksville TN Realtor-(931)320-6730

Thank you all for your input. It is challenging for the agent to deal with these situations.

Nov 30, 2015 11:24 AM
Amy Lopez
Clarksville Property Solutions LLC - Clarksville, TN
Clarksville Property Solutions Founder

I agree Debbie, clean out the house and don't think you are doing the buyer a favor. Generally you are not.

Nov 30, 2015 12:30 PM
Debbie Reynolds, C21 Platinum Properties
Platinum Properties- (931)771-9070 - Clarksville, TN
The Dedicated Clarksville TN Realtor-(931)320-6730

Rarely do I see a buyer who thinks this is really a nice gesture. Clear out the stuff.

Nov 30, 2015 12:52 PM
Nancy Laswick
United Real Estate - Phoenix, AZ
Your REALTOR® For The Valley Of The Sun

Unfortunately this happens far too often Debbie Reynolds. I had to get rid of a very large children's playground set. The original cost was several thousand dollars but the new owners demanded it be removed before closing. I put it on Craigslist for free with the caveat that it had to removed that same day. Boy did my phone light up! The set was removed that afternoon.

Nov 30, 2015 05:19 PM
Sandy Padula & Norm Padula, JD, GRI
HomeSmart Realty West & Florida Realty Investments - , CA
Presence, Persistence & Perseverance

Debbie Reynolds I must agree with what Rob D. Shepherd mentioned about the fans of paint. A big pain to dispose.

Dec 01, 2015 06:35 PM
Debbie Reynolds, C21 Platinum Properties
Platinum Properties- (931)771-9070 - Clarksville, TN
The Dedicated Clarksville TN Realtor-(931)320-6730

Those cans of paint are a nightmare and many no longer match. Thank you for the comments, friends.

Dec 01, 2015 09:28 PM
Rob D. Shepherd
RETIRED - Florence, OR
RETIRED

When confronted with the cans of paint they are usually latex. In our area if they are harded up they are legal to put in regular trash. Pop the lids off to harden a few days. If you want them to harden faster add kitty litter.

Dec 01, 2015 10:06 PM
Debbie Reynolds, C21 Platinum Properties
Platinum Properties- (931)771-9070 - Clarksville, TN
The Dedicated Clarksville TN Realtor-(931)320-6730

We used the kitty litter to fill up our old paint cans and then threw them in the regualr trash. All was well.

Dec 02, 2015 10:47 AM
DEANNA C. SMITH CERTIFIED MOBILE NOTARY
Certified Mobile Notary Signing Agent - Smith Mountain Lake, VA
Highest Ranked Certified Mobile Notary in Virginia

I hear stories from my buyers all the time about left behind items.   This is another reason for a thorough final inspection Debbie Reynolds 

Dec 03, 2015 03:59 AM
Debbie Reynolds, C21 Platinum Properties
Platinum Properties- (931)771-9070 - Clarksville, TN
The Dedicated Clarksville TN Realtor-(931)320-6730

You are right Deanna Early and when a buyer says they don't need one I insist.

Dec 07, 2015 11:23 AM