Does the Fridge Stay?

One of the most common questions we get asked is: Does the fridge come with the house? … and the answer is maybe. A standalone fridge is considered a non-realty item and is not automatically part of the contract. And what about the perfectly-sized patio furniture? Also a non-realty item. In this post we give you a primer on non-realty items and how to approach them in your transaction.

Non-realty items are anything that is not the house and is not attached to the house. That includes: furniture, the refrigerator, washer/dryer, backyard swing, porch furniture, a well-placed mirror, etc.

The first thing you should consider a home is to think the home is worth and how much you want to offer. Focus on the negotiation of the home first, before moving on to non-realty items. This keeps the negotiation cleaner.

There are two approaches though if you want to include non-realty items in your home purchase. First is to do a non-realty items addendum to the contract. This goes to the lender and the value of the items could affect your appraisal. The second approach, which I prefer, is to do a side deal, with a separate bill of sale. It keeps the lender and appraiser out of it, and keeps the negotiation and contract a little simpler.

With all of the complications of buying a home, it is important not to add complications to the process - and non-realty items have the potential of doing that. All things are negotiable, furniture, too. We’ll help you determine the best approach for your transaction.

We want your home purchase to be a fun, enjoyable process. We’ll help you steer clear of any added complications and to close on your new home with ease.