What's the most petty thing a home owner has taken with them?

[MarvellousTimeRuiningEverything]

We completed on our house yesterday. Sellers have been a nightmare, very difficult and tried to increase price by £12k the day before exchange. So we knew they'd probably screw us over and we haven't been disappointed. Lightbulbs, toilet roll holders, some handles from cupboards etc... but the most petty thing has to be the clock. They had one of those god awful clocks where you stick the numbers to the wall then screw in/add the arms. They've left the numbers, but removed the arms and taken them with them!

I think taking the carpets used to be a thing in the 80s - maybe older vendors think it's still the norm? I can remember a posh friend of mine moving house when I was about 16; I was secretly amazed and horrifed that the monstrous lozenge patterned carpet in her bedroom was going with them and being recut for her new room.

Shared pathway with a gate, they took half the gate!

In Australia you have an Inspection 3 days prior and everything must be the same as viewing. Owners can not take fixed items. If dryer is fixed to wall it stays lightbulbs etc.
New owners sue past owners thru settlement lawyers. I am a housing consultant and sold over 10 of my own homes. Everything stays, except furniture I have house professionally cleaned and have carpet cleaned , oven, windows all cleaned, window treatments cleaned. But I did have some people past owners remove all Plants from an autrium because they were in pots, which is allowed. I can’t believe people would take lightbulbs. I had some tennants take batteries out of the smoke alarms On moving out but it was eviction not sale.
Good story

@Galatine that's so interesting! Thanks for sharing. Maybe Granny is less of a CF then 😆

When we last moved, which was over 30 years ago, The vendor left the house in perfect condition. He was insistent that one of us went up a few days before completion so he could explain how everything worked etc.
I cannot understand the pettiness of taking light bulbs etc and if this sort of thing happened to me, all of their mail that arrived after they left would be returned to sender. Even if you get the post office to redirect some always gets missed.

Flossflower That would be me.

I am still fascinated by this discussion! I come back every day to see what else has been taken!

It’s not likely I’ll ever buy a house in the UK but may buy one in Ireland, so I need to find out what’s the norm there.

Where I live, it’s stated in the contract that things that are attached, such as light fixtures, door handles, definitely toilets, carpets and flooring, washing machine, dryer, cooker, fridge, freezer etc etc Also all blinds on windows stay, and curtains are usually negotiated, but not usually extra to the purchase price. Also all landscaping, trees flowers etc would stay unless the seller specifically negotiated that they go. You basically take your furniture and personal belongings when you leave.

and as I mentioned upthread, you inspect the morning of completion to ensure nothing has been removed or any damage done.

It boggles my mind that people can get away with essentially stealing stuff.

Generally these days it is assumed (unless specifically stated otherwise) that anything fixed to the property is included in the sale price. So a fitted kitchen is included but a free standing one might not be. Curtain rails are included but curtains aren't.

@Nanaof1

As I already stated, I wouldn't be leaving a "junky substitute" and the replacement sinks and toilet cost a great deal more than the ones I'm taking with me. I would be utterly clear about it and in all likelihood, switch them before marketing to avoid confusion.

I would be utterly clear about it and in all likelihood, switch them before marketing to avoid confusion.

I would be very sure to make any changes to fixtures and fittings before the photos are taken, or viewings take place. You can't let people view one product and tell them they'll be receiving another.

Well quite. Hence saying I'll swap them in advance!

So … you’re not really taking something that’s at the house then? If you’re planning to swap it ahead of time

We got asked whether we wanted to buy the fitted blinds at a house we were buying for a few hundred quid during the conveyancing process. Fitted blinds that most likely wouldn’t fit any other windows if they took them down. We called their bluff and refused, and never did find out whether they’d have taken them as the sale fell through.

No, you said you might do it beforehand.

They tore up the stair carpet leaving little bits of carpet around each tack. They moved to a bungalow!!!!

Because I was thinking out loud as I was typing.