Three Questions to Ask One of the last hurdles for would-be Sellers and their agents to surmount before signing a listing contract often is how to handle prospects who’ve already expressed interest in the home. Sometimes, what appears to be very serious interest. The conversation usually goes something like this: Homeowner: “My neighbor’s daughter/son-in-law’s best...Read More
Promises, Promises: “Integration Clauses” . . . in Plain English “Those train tracks are only active a few times a week.” “We’ll leave the mounted flat-panel TV in the Amusement Room.” “Of course we’ll replace the rusty water heater before closing.” “The sale includes a one-year home warranty.” Somewhere, someplace, prospective Buyers have heard some version...Read More
Avoiding Personal Property “Tug of War” The general rule in residential real estate is that fixtures stay, personal property goes. Which, I suppose, just begs the question: ‘what’s a fixture?’ (See, “How to Tell if Something is a Fixture“). But a good corollary is, “when in doubt, better to be explicit.” So, the Sellers in...Read More
“The Moving Van Test” One of the friction points in a house sale can be what does — and doesn’t — come with the home. The general rule is that fixtures come with, personal property doesn’t. Which begs the question: what’s a fixture? Definition The standard definition is that a fixture is something that’s permanently...Read More
