You can offer buyer furnishings, equipment
I’ve sold my place and will be moving out of the province. I’m not taking most of my furniture with me. Can I leave it for the new owners?
It’s common to think that because we like our things, other people will, too. In fact, sometimes buyers negotiate to include specific pieces in a purchase.
However, this is often not the case. Despite some people’s good intentions in leaving items for new owners, abandoned furniture is a frequent cause of complaints to real estate salespeople. In most real estate transactions, the expectation is that the new owner takes possession of the vacant property in broom-swept condition on closing day.
In those exceptions where the buyer and seller agree to have items included in a transaction, it should be noted in the purchase agreement — for instance, furniture built for a unique space. Or, when a home will be demolished, it is sometimes acceptable for sellers to leave unwanted items that will be disposed of as the existing structure is dismantled. Such exceptions should be negotiated and documented well in advance of the transaction closing date.
If you have items in exceptional condition that were not included in the sale, and that you think the buyer might want (furniture, electronics, a lawn mower, snowblower or curtains), ask your salesperson to offer them to the buyer. If they accept, your salesperson can have the purchase agreement amended to reflect the new inclusions and their agreed-upon price, or have the items documented in a separate written agreement.
If the buyer declines, it doesn’t mean that your unwanted items are destined for a landfill. There are many charity organizations that will happily take your gently-used furniture and household items to distribute to others. Alternatively, you may want to consider a content or estate sale to privately sell the items, or reach out to a consignment store or an auctioneer to see which items may be sellable. Please remember the need for safety protocols during the pandemic should you choose to sell items privately.
If you find that you still have items remaining at the property, I recommend speaking with your salesperson. They will likely have suggestions about having the items removed; some organizations and companies may require payment for the items to be removed.
The buyer of your property is expecting to open the door to a home they can either move their belongings into immediately, or begin any cleaning or work they have planned. The closing date is already a stressful day.
Lots of things need to happen, from getting keys to dealing with lawyers, movers, cleaners and perhaps even tradespeople or inspectors. The last thing any new owner wants is to deal with disposing of someone else’s stuff.
The best way to avoid unwanted friction or disagreement over the condition of the property is to review your obligations within the purchase agreement, and leave the home in the condition that you and the buyer agreed to.