What Items Should I Expect to Still Be There at the Walk-through?
- Fixtures vs. personal property: The gray area where sellers strip your new home bare.
- Curtain rods stay, curtains go; TV brackets stay, TVs vanish.
- Petty sellers are reportedly stealing lightbulbs and leaving gaping holes in the drywall.
- Contracts are your only shield against a seller with a screwdriver and a grudge.
Brief Summary
The final walk-through is supposed to be the victory lap of a home purchase, but it is increasingly becoming a crime scene. Real estate agents warn that unless you spell out exactly what stays in the purchase contract, you might find yourself moving into a house stripped of everything but the studs. From lightbulbs being unscrewed to mirrors being ripped off walls, the line between 'fixture' and 'personal property' is a battlefield where the seller's greed meets the buyer's naivety.
Why This Matters
When you are buying a home, you are likely making the biggest financial investment of your life, yet you are vulnerable to the whims of a seller who might decide they need your bathroom mirror more than you do. Neglecting to clarify these details in your contract can leave you with unexpected repair bills and the headache of fixing wall damage, or worse, having to replace expensive fixtures you thought were included. Always assume the seller is petty and document everything, or you will end up paying out of pocket to furnish a house you already bought.