It’s a story we’ve all heard before. A friend of a friend buys a home, moves in and much to their surprise, the fixtures they thought they had purchased with the home are gone. Previous owners have taken light fittings, window coverings, dishwashers etc leaving new owners feeling cheated and betrayed. The line between who is entitled to take what is a fine one. Here are some things to consider when purchasing a property and ways to avoid this situation.
So what exactly is a fixture? A fixture is something considered irremovable from your property. The most common fixtures in a home are light fittings, ovens, dishwashers, floor coverings, plants, tress etc.
It is ok for the sellers to remove fixtures but this must be listed on the contract of sale. If the items are not listed then it is assumed that the fixtures are a part of the sale and therefore belong to you, the buyer. Here are a few things you can do to guarantee a smooth contract of sale with no confusion regarding fixtures included in your agreement.
1. Be sure that you are clear on which fixtures are included in the purchase of the property. Talk to your agent and confirm the information.
2. Write a list of what is and isn’t included in the sale as confirmed by your agent and check this with the final contract of sale information. If there are any discrepancies be sure to bring this up with your agent as soon as possible. Make sure you completely understand and are happy with the agreement before you sign the contract.
3. Keep a clear record of what is being sold with the property. A camera is a perfect way to do this. Take photos of all items included in the sale and keep them as a record.
If you follow these tips you should not have a problem with missing fixtures when you finally move into your new home.