I’m Buying a Home – Do the Blinds Come With It?
BWS Design • May 07, 2019

If you are in the market for a new house, or are about to close the sale on your new residence, no doubt you are excited about exploring all of the chic and stylish interior decoration options that are available to you. But when it comes to blinds and curtains, you may wonder: “Do they come with the house?”

Some buyers want to imprint their own style on the new residence, and plan to swap out the old blinds with the new anyway. But maybe you’ve fallen in love with the current blind decor, and want to keep it as is. If so, here are some things to consider when answering the question:  Do the blinds come with the house?

Fixtures Usually Stay

The first thing you need to realize is that fixtures, or items of movable property that are affixed to a piece of real property, almost invariably come with the house. So blinds, plantation shades and shutters that are screwed into the wall would generally be considered fixtures.

Curtains, though, are kind of tricky. Curtain hangers and rods are often considered fixtures, because they are attached to the house wall; however, the curtains themselves are frequently  not classified as fixtures, since they can so easily slide off the rods. So then, how can you tell if the curtains are staying or going? That leads us into our next point:

Know What’s in the Contract

Some seller property disclosures actually stipulate that certain items normally considered as fixtures will not “convey” (or come with the house). Depending on the seller, these items may include both curtains and curtain rods, as well as any other drapes and blind treatments. Therefore, it’s important to know exactly what, if anything, the home buying contract defines as a non-conveying item.

In addition, contract regulations may vary from state to state. So even if the blinds are not specifically mentioned in the property disclosure or contract, it’s good to know if state legislation has any bearing on whether the blinds stay or go.

Communicate, Communicate, Communicate

This point cannot be overstated. It’s important to communicate with the seller early, communicate with the seller often, and communicate with the seller clearly.

The home seller may be planning to take his window treatments with him, for use in  his  new residence. So if you’ve developed a fascination with his blinds and curtains, you need to let him know this as soon as possible, and see if you can negotiate for their inclusion in the sale. Though you may feel shy about bringing it up, it is better to take the bull by the horns early on, then wait until later in the process and risk needless delays, or even the purchase of the house itself!

Here’s another key point to remember: verify everything in writing. Even if the seller verbally agrees to leave the blinds with the house, it’s always best to commit the agreement to writing, so that no misunderstanding or dispute will come up at a later time.

To summarize: while each case is unique, it’s always a good idea to remember these 3 points:

  • Fixtures generally stay with the house, and blinds are often (but not always) considered to be fixtures
  • You need to clearly understand the terms of the contract, and relevant state regulations, to determine if the blinds will stay
  • Communicate early, often, and clearly with the seller, and verify any agreements made in writing

It’s important to be well-informed in the home buying process, even with small (but significant) details like who keeps the blinds. If you’d like to learn more about how the right blinds can make your new place crackle with style, or want to check out our extensive catalog, contact us today at Just Blinds, Inc.

Expert Advice by Just Blinds

Up Your Home Office With These Inspirational Ideas

10 Apr, 2024
Up Your Home Office Game With These Inspirational Ideas As the the remote work trend grows, more people are working from home now than ever before. The home office has become an essential part of home design, and it's become more than just a spare room with a desk. Your home office is your personal workplace, one that you have complete control over. What began as a backup plan has become a permanent fixture, and you can design it any way you want. Whether you've always dreamed of a bright and sunny office, a light-protected focus zone, or an adaptive space that shifts with your mood, it can be yours. All that stands between you and your dream office is a little redecoration. Design Your Ideal Home Office Everyone has an ideal office environment. Each of us is happiest and the most focused under different conditions. It's one of the things that makes working from home so great compared to working in corporate-designed shared office. Envision the office environment you've always wanted. Do you want bright colors or stately elegance? Potted plants or mounted screens? A dedicated design table or extra space to move around? Your ideal home office is at your fingertips. Repaint and Refinish Your office can be any color palette you desire. All you need is a few cans of paint and wood finish to make it happen. If eggshell white isn't your thing, you can choose an all-new palette of colors and finishes. Design an office that makes you feel calm and focused, with an elegance that makes you smile every time you enter your inner sanctum. You can make your office feel light and airy or beautifully formal. You can design the perfect backdrop for video calls and create an uplifting work environment all at the same time. Consider a solid color for the walls, a nice accent for the trim and cabinetry, and a complimentary wood or metal finish for your desk and furniture. Rearrange the Furniture Speaking of furniture, this is your chance to optimize your ergonomics. Try an all-new desk design that perfectly supports your working style. Give yourself a wrap-around space with plenty of storage or a lightly furnished space where you can exercise and clear your thoughts. Place organizational features in the perfect locations for your reach and workflow and docking stations for all your devices. Give yourself the perfect number of screens, get your keyboard and mouse at just the right height, or even get a desk that converts between sitting and standing heights. Find the perfect office chair and enhance your comfort with a mini-fridge or kettle that makes your day complete. Take Control of the Light Levels Light levels play an important role in any working environment. You can install a brighter bulb or even a smart bulb in your overhead lights for clear, high-quality light to work by. You can add accent lights and task lights to illuminate specific areas of the room. If you love natural light, you can also take control with dynamic shades and blinds on the window. One of the best upgrades for a home office is adaptive light-filtering shades. You can set the light based on your mood and focus level any time of day. You can combine black-out blinds with cellular or Roman shades for an efficient and layered look, and even motorize your shades to control exactly how much natural light you let in depending on your task and the time of day. Integrate Smart Home Features Smart home features are a great update for your home office. A smart speaker can act as an intercom with the rest of the house, help you keep notes, and play music through linked Bluetooth speakers in the room. Smart lights and smart-home-connected motorized blinds give you complete control over the light levels in your office. You might also enjoy little extras like a voice-controlled fan, a smart thermostat to keep your office at exactly the right temperature, or digital frames to display your own album of artwork and photos. Enhance Your Home Office with Custom and Smart Blinds  Here at Just Blinds, we can help you transform your home office into your ideal work environment. Select your favorite design, fabric, and color of light-adaptive shades and blinds powered by smart-home motorized systems. Contact us today to find home office window treatments that are beautiful, uplifting, and delightfully versatile.

Are Plantations Shutters Still a Solid Option?

06 Mar, 2024
You are looking to change your windows, but you have some questions. Would plantation shutters look good in my house? Are they still in style, and how long do they last? New shutters are not permanent, but they are an undertaking, and plantation shutters will last a lifetime if you want them to, so you want to ensure that you get them right the first time. The good news is that plantation shutters never go out of style, and there are many benefits to dressing your windows with this durable option. What Are Plantation Shutters? Plantation shutters are window coverings that instantly add an air of elegance to any room. They are usually made of wood, but some newer versions use faux wood to achieve the same look. They are installed on the interior of the window and function much like regular blinds since you can angle the wood slats like you would traditional blinds. Not only do they look amazing, but plantation shutters also come with significant benefits. What Are the Benefits of Plantation Shutters Of course, plantation shutters have many benefits. Otherwise, people wouldn't talk about them as much as they do. Here are just a few of the more talked-about benefits of plantation shutters. Pure Aesthetics Plantation shutters' solid look instantly gives them a high-class aesthetic that people will love. Adding these shutters can instantly enhance the look of a room like a fresh coat of paint. Privacy and Light Control These heavy shutters will completely block outside light when fully closed. Since you can adjust the shutters to be fully horizontal or vertical, you can easily adjust how much light enters a room and from which direction. If no light gets in, that also means that no one can see through your blinds, making these the best shutters for total privacy. Sound Suppression Again, since these shutters can be closed and are made of thick material, they are an incredible sound barrier. This is a fantastic option for those living near noisy streets and highways. Durable and Easy-To-Clean One more reason people love switching to plantation shutters is their ease of care. They last a long time, don't get brittle or break like traditional blinds, and are way easier to clean. They also take less time to finish and look better. Energy Efficient Since these shutters are so thick, they act as insulators, preventing air exchange through the windows and keeping sunlight from heating surfaces in the house. What to Consider When Choosing Plantation Shutters Not all plantation shutters are the same, and there are a few things you should consider before buying. Work With a Reputable Company Unfortunatley, some companies see shutter installation as a job and not part of someone's home. Plantation shutters need precision installation to reach their full potential, so you want to work with a company with proven results and reviews. DIYers may be considering installing these shutters themselves, but it takes professional tools and experience to get them exactly where they need to go. The Size of the Shutters Sometimes called louvers, the slats of the blinds come in many sizes. The size of the louvers will impact how the room looks, so it is essential that you try different looks to see how they transform your room before you make a final decision. Materials You will want to decide if you want a more traditional look with wood or a more contemporary look with faux wood. Other materials, such as locks, invisible hinges, and shutter pulls, can also upgrade your shutters. Are They A Good Investment?  Plantation shutters cost a little more, but they are one of those home improvements where you get what you pay for. They last a lifetime, so over the lifetime of your plantation shutters, you would probably end up buying the equivalent cost, if not more, in traditional blinds. Finally, their energy efficiency means that these blinds will likely pay for themselves in energy costs over time. For a long-lasting, quality product, choose plantation shutters. Contact us today to schedule an appointment and give your windows the love they deserve.
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