2019-2020 Minnesota Real Estate Contract Changes
[Editor’s Note: The views expressed here are solely those of Ross Kaplan, and do not represent Edina Realty, Berkshire Hathaway, or any other entity referenced. If you need legal advice, please consult an attorney.]
Every August 1 (today!), the annual changes to Minnesota’s standard real estate forms go into effect.
What’s on tap this year?
Thankfully (at least to veteran agents), nothing momentous.
The big little change addresses smart devices — specifically, the disposition of any Nest thermostats or Ring doorbells currently in the home (note: Nest and Ring are owned by Google and Amazon, respectively).
Apparently, at least a few Minnesota Sellers removed the items prior to closing, much to their Buyer’s chagrin.
Now, those items are explicitly included in the list of fixtures that stay with the home.
Sellers can still negotiate to remove the items, but starting today need to contractually exclude them from the Purchase Agreement.
See also, “Sneak Peek: 2018-2019 Minnesota Real Estate Contract Changes”; “Sneak Peek: 2017-2018 Minnesota Real Estate Contract Changes“; “New Homeowner “To Do’ List: Change Locks, Meet Neighbors, Reprogram Nest (Huh?!?)”; “Fixture Confusion”; and “How to Tell if Something is a Fixture.”
