All buyers want to know “what stays with the house?” In other words, what personal items convey with the sale, or, what the seller is going to “leave” at the property. In most cases your buyer’s agent will point out the items that “stay” and the items that may “go” as the seller’s pack up. Here’s what you need to know:
Read your Purchase and Sale Contract. This is the definitive source for contractual obligations between the buyer and the seller. In the Vermont Association of Realtor’s Purchase and Sale Agreement, for example, “curtain rods” stay but not curtains.
Appliances are personal property. This means that the refrigerator, range, washer/dryer, etc. may or may not convey with the sale. Be sure to have an addendum to the contract to list appliances if they are to “stay” with the house. Be aware that personal property is typically in “as is” condition. If the microwave has a loose handle, for example, it is not the seller’s obligation to fix it.
What about furniture? In the last few years buyers began to express interest in purchasing furniture and art from the sellers. This is becoming more and more common and sellers and buyers are working out this transaction on their own. We refer to it as “outside of closing” meaning that it is a private sale that is not part of the Purchase and Sale Contract. If you’re a seller, have your Realtor check with the buyer’s agent before you post on Facebook Marketplace, you may be able to sell directly to the buyer.
Have more questions about the buying or selling process? Feel free to get in touch, we’d love to help you out!
First, who doesn’t love a warm Frosted Brown Sugar Cinnamon Pop-Tart? Alas, I digress. Back to the topic at hand, what is a Pop-Tart agent? Whenever there is a hot seller’s market, as it has been the last few years in Vermont, buyers are eager to run out and see property. This means that a buyer would call an agent, and the agent would pop up at the front door to let the buyer into the house, thus the practice of “popping up” to show a house morphed into a “Pop-Tart” showing as Pop-Tarts, well, you know, pop out of the toaster when ready.
If you’ve been following the mainstream media you may have read that Sellers are no longer required to pay Buyer’s Agents. It’s an interesting headline unless you are in the real estate business and know that Sellers never were required to pay Buyer’s Agents, but that’s another blog.
It’s turning into a cruel summer for many buyers and sellers. Sellers and buyers are increasingly afraid that their house sale or purchase may be their next mistake.
Did you know that when you contact random real estate agents they are “not” working for you? While they may be friendly and accommodating, they do not have your best interest in mind. Until you sign a contract with a real estate brokerage firm you are an unrepresented buyer. While there is no requirement that you engage a professional to represent you in the purchase of a property you may get weary of not having “one” real estate agent as your fiduciary, someone to put your interests first. Here are three reasons to hire a Buyer’s Agent:
Grab a snack and a water and let’s go find a house! Yes, it’s almost that easy. We have relationships with local lenders and an extensive network of colleagues to assist you in your quest for a new abode. Here are some other tips to speed through your home search:
Vermont is small, our population hovers around 620,000. Yes, that’s the whole state – men, women, children. We have never had a housing “boom” like other states. Demand for housing has outstripped our supply over the last few years. In certain price ranges there are perhaps 40 – 50 buyers looking at the same house.
The Weaver Team 