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AIBU?

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Original poster

Taking light bulbs from old house to new house

325 replies

EasterBun2001 · 05/01/2020 09:46

When we bought our first home we invested in LED lightbulbs throughout which are not cheap but have paid for themselves in ridiculously low energy bills.

Now looking at moving, my sensible head wants to bring the bulbs with me but I feel like this would be unreasonable for anyone moving in.

What would you do?

OP posts:
Ginfordinner · 05/01/2020 11:02

As DH is tall we have on more than one occasion had to change light fittings as he just kept bumping his head on them. One house we bought had a light fitting with a spike at the bottom at the top of the stairs. After gouging several holes in his head we just opted for a plain light as close to the ceiling as possible. The previous owner was rather vertically challenged so it hadn't been an issue for them.

zoobincan · 05/01/2020 11:03

I know we all have different tastes and I'm probably in the minority but after seeing that hall photo I'd be quite grateful if the previous owners took both the bulbs and the actual light fittings with them to save me a job.

I agree, it actually looks like the sparky has hung some temporary lights!

But this just goes to show, all these stealth posts about lightbulbs and it absolutely is personal taste. Why do people think anyone is going to be remotely impressed?

recycledbottle · 05/01/2020 11:06

When we bought our first home the owner took all the light bulbs out. When we got the keys it was evening so we couldn't even see the house nor could our family that came with us. I was really pissed off. About two weeks later the owner text me directly with a smiley face and forwarding address for any post as she was expecting a letter re hospital appointment. I told her anything would be returned to sender, let relevant parties know her address and don't contact me again. In contrast the same happened when we bought our new house and I did forward no problem. It was the light bulbs that did it! Change to cheap ones.

Member984815 · 05/01/2020 11:06

You should have seen the state the house I bought was left in , filthy and sheds full of rubbish bulbs were not the first things I thought of , I scrubbed my old house top to bottom before I left and then had to tackle the new house . Replace the bulbs with cheap ones as long as there are bulbs people won't care

NotSuchASmugMarriedNow1 · 05/01/2020 11:06

I'm intrigued- exactly how much did these light bulbs cost you and how long have you had them?

You must have paid a serious amount of money to be worried about this

TigerOnATrain · 05/01/2020 11:07

Have to agree with the posters here, that on the pic @FlamingoAndJohn posted, (at 10.39,) those lights hanging up in the hall look a bloomin' mess. Blush

If they meant to impress us, they failed spectacularly!

Taking light bulbs from old house to new house
Marmite27 · 05/01/2020 11:07

Not unreasonable if you replace them with other bulbs. Mine are all hive bulbs and I wouldn’t leave those.

Emmelina · 05/01/2020 11:09

We have hue bulbs set up to control with Alexa, so if we do move we’ll replace with standard bulbs and take ours with us! Can you imagine being the new owner, stumbling in with a box in the dark, slapping your hand about the wall for the light switch and...nothing?

longtimelurkerhelen · 05/01/2020 11:15

Please replace with cheap bulbs and also leave them a roll of toilet tissue. Can't believe how tight some people are.

When I moved I left a welcome to your new home card and asked them if they wanted any blinds left as they wouldn't fit my new house. It costs nothing to be kind.

lottiegarbanzo · 05/01/2020 11:17

'Normal' is leaving a pile of useful takeaway menus and a bottle of fizz!

Cushycat · 05/01/2020 11:17

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Aridane · 05/01/2020 11:18

'Normal' is leaving a pile of useful takeaway menus and a bottle of fizz!

Blimey

wheretonow123 · 05/01/2020 11:18

I think it also depends on how the sale went - like did you get a good price for the house / did you make good money on it?

I think if I had made a decent amount on it I would not fret over it and buy an up to date set for the new house.

After all, the buyers could well have seen the bulbs and noted them and they could have contributed to the overall impression of the house.

If you had done well in the sale and then do something as obvious as replace with cheap bulbs then it doesnt look great. but, its up to you.

Cushycat · 05/01/2020 11:19

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BoneyBackJefferson · 05/01/2020 11:20

alwayscrashinginthesamecar1

But thanks for the heads up, I will make sure they leave them now!

Best of luck with that, There is no requirement for the type of bulbs to be left.

raspberryk · 05/01/2020 11:20

When I moved into my first house they had snipped off all light fittings flush with the wall Angry but left a fucking manky single bed and mattress on the top floor. When I moved out I left my buyer soap and loo roll in the bathroom and flowers in the kitchen, and of course bulbs.
I moved into rented I had 1 bulb, ridiculous but if course I left the bulbs there when I left.
Unless they were really very expensive it is small fry when you consider the cost of the house and can't believe people take them to be honest.

ipswichwitch · 05/01/2020 11:21

We have a motion detector light bulb in the hallway - badly positioned switches mean you can’t readily turn the light on as you come through the front door or down the stairs into a hallway with no natural light 🙄 With the sort of money you’re talking about when buying a house it comes across as penny pinching taking a bulb that costs £10 and would probably get smashed in the move.

Torchlightt · 05/01/2020 11:22

How tight. Leave the current bulbs.

GoddessOfTransformativeWrath · 05/01/2020 11:28

It is still mean @FlamingoAndJohn

@EasterBun2001 like you, I'd be thinking ''that's 8 euro per room!'' but I'd still just accept walking off and starting again.

SoupDragon · 05/01/2020 11:35

WTF is wrong with people? There aren't any "stealth boasts" about light bulbs - people were saying that they are cheap and posters were just pointing out that they aren't all cheap at all.

Then to start bitching about other people's choices in light fittings to the extent that you repost their picture to mock it? Seriously? Are you all 12?

Alsohuman · 05/01/2020 11:41

I know we all have different tastes and I'm probably in the minority but after seeing that hall photo I'd be quite grateful if the previous owners took both the bulbs and the actual light fittings with them to save me a job

You read my mind. All those flexes ...

Iminthewrongstory · 05/01/2020 11:41

There is a 1980s movie called The Chain about removal men trying to do a chain of seven moves in one day. One of the people being moved (played, I think, by Nigel Hawthorne) took all the lightbulbs and door handles. He was not a sympathetic character.

mrsbyers · 05/01/2020 11:41

Totally agree SoupDragon - it’s hideous

SpillTheTea · 05/01/2020 11:42

Leave cheap bulbs.

zoobincan · 05/01/2020 11:42

*WTF is wrong with people? There aren't any "stealth boasts" about light bulbs - people were saying that they are cheap and posters were just pointing out that they aren't all cheap at all.
**
*Oh come on, somebody actually said to 'google and see how expensive' their brand of bulbs was!

Then to start bitching about other people's choices in light fittings to the extent that you repost their picture to mock it? Seriously? Are you all 12?

I wouldn't repost but I did say it's personal taste and so I don't know why the poster thinks anyone would be impressed by it.

I think the 'look at me' element irritates people. And if those (myself included) are 12 for not caring someone has an expensive lightbulb then the posters who are mentions the cost/brand of their bike are equally 12.