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?
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:
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.
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:
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.
All Rights Reserved | Just Blinds Inc