What to Leave for the Buyers
Date: Saturday November 8, 2008Posted in: real estate, Realtor, real estate buyers, buying a home, homeownership, close of escrow, home selling
When I represent sellers in a transaction, they often ask me what they need to leave with the house. Unless negotiated otherwise, all fixtures attached to the house must remain, as according to contract. Most Realtors have a story about the dining room chandelier “accidentally” disappearing or the $1000 custom copper kitchen faucet that is replaced with a shiny new stainless steel faucet from Home Depot just before close of escrow. Obvious no-nos.
Beyond this, I always hope that the sellers and buyers can briefly meet at the property shortly before close of escrow. I have attended many of these meetings with my clients and it is very advantageous for the buyers to hear all of the seller’s tips regarding the care of the home and the property. Sellers like these meetings also because if they have a prize rose bush, for example, that needs special care, this is an opportunity to give the special instructions to the buyers. Then I recommend that the sellers never return to the property just in case that rose bush is replaced with a built-on barbecue….
I always give my buyers the necessary utility and media numbers they need to get everything up and running right away. But in addition to this it’s nice if the sellers can leave the following for the buyers of their property:
- Owner’s manuals and warranties for appliances left in the house.
- Garage door opener.
- All sets of house and mailbox keys.
- Code to the security alarm and phone number of the monitoring service if not discontinued.
- Any personal property that the seller and buyer agree on such as paint, spare tiles, etc. that the buyer may need in the future.
