Curtains in House Sale

Catbells

westlondonbuyer wrote: »

Catbells, if you're selling after 20 years, are you not getting an absolute FORTUNE for your house? Why are you fretting about curtains when you could be laughing all the way to the bank?:)

I would tell you: suffice to say there is an ex husband rubbing his hands together over this sale!!!;)

Catbells

Errata wrote: »

If curtains are curtains why didn't you go to your local charity shop and buy a couple of paris for a fiver ?
I suspect it may because you're hoping your buyer won't notice the curtains they saw are no longer there.

I bought inexpensive replacement curtains because they are going to be temporary. The original ones would fit my rental windows as they are longer and therefore would cost more. You are right - I hoped the buyers would not notice. I doubt I would have noticed especially if I were going to get new curtains pretty quick.

I didn't think this was that important but can see from the many answers here that its a big issue.

When I evenutally move house I will get new curtains of my choice. So long as there are curtains there IMO I honestly don't think it matters.

Catbells

westlondonbuyer wrote: »

I should also say, it's worth clearing with your buyer what s/he *doesn't* want of the fixtures and fittings.

When we sold my husband's flat, that never occurred to us. We were just delirious with relief to have got the place sold.

We left behind everything, including a white stone elephant doorstop the previous owner had left behind, even though I LOVED that white elephant. It just felt like bad karma to remove it from his "resting place".

Two weeks after the sale, I strolled by the old flat, and in front of it was a skip containing my husband's 18 month old cast-glass bathroom sink, his 12 month old custom-made fitted cupboards, and the white elephant. With his trunk broken. I'd have cried if it wasn't for the fact I only had myself to blame.

I hope they don't do that with some lovely Christopher Wray light fittings and chandeliers which are here. I'll be lurking outside next to the skip. But to be truthful this is like a new beginning for me - apart from the curtains if I ever get to keep them

Errata

Just be a little cautious. If your list of fixtures and fittings included curtains the buyer will assume that refers to the curtains they saw, not replacements. Look at it this way, if the fixtures and fittings were to refer to a cooker and a top of the range cooker was replaced by the seller with one from freecycle - hell would break out.

Chinkle

Fixtures and fittings can be sore point. I do believe that if you list something it should be what is already there and seen by the buyer not an inferior replacement. Or its made abundantly clear its an alternative.

What doesn't happen and I think should is the ability for the buyer to respond to say they don't want certain things, in which case they should be removed by the vendor when they go.

Nothing worse than having to clear out the vendors old junk, just because they couldn't be bothered to take it, but leaving it under the pretense that they thought you would like to have their flea-bitten curtains, rusty garden tools, etc.

I once had a vendor say they were going to take the fitted carpet from the lounge, cut a neat rectangle of it leaving all the odd shaped bits around the alcoves, bay window. Then obviously changing their mind at the last minute and leaving the rolled up rectangle of carpet propped up against the wall.

No accounting for what some people do when they vacate a house!

Catbells

Errata wrote: »

Just be a little cautious. If your list of fixtures and fittings included curtains the buyer will assume that refers to the curtains they saw, not replacements. Look at it this way, if the fixtures and fittings were to refer to a cooker and a top of the range cooker was replaced by the seller with one from freecycle - hell would break out.

I take your point but the COST of cookers far exceed what the curtains cost.

Re the caution : I will (now) be up front with them and if they insist will reinstate the said curtains. Will let you all know although feel like I'm going on an Oblivion ride at Chessington except it will last the next week.

MOVING IS A HASSLE!!! (and stressful)

harrup

westlondonbuyer wrote: »

I should also say, it's worth clearing with your buyer what s/he *doesn't* want of the fixtures and fittings.

When we sold my husband's flat, that never occurred to us. We were just delirious with relief to have got the place sold.

We left behind everything, including a white stone elephant doorstop the previous owner had left behind, even though I LOVED that white elephant. It just felt like bad karma to remove it from his "resting place".

Two weeks after the sale, I strolled by the old flat, and in front of it was a skip containing my husband's 18 month old cast-glass bathroom sink, his 12 month old custom-made fitted cupboards, and the white elephant. With his trunk broken. I'd have cried if it wasn't for the fact I only had myself to blame.

Good point!

But ya know......chances are high that even IF you had asked your buyers whether they actually wanted any of those articles they so gleefully ditched soon afterwards...they would have said "yes, we do".

Something to do with "getting the most for ones money". Has got little to do whether the item is of interest or not. Or in other words -"it's MINE to ditch!"

Weird, but true.

Catbells

When the buyers came yesterday with kids and mother in law I was in such a state regarding the clearing of a large shed (another thread) that I had to go and seek comfort with tea and sympathy from friends down the road and let my lovely EA show them round and measure up.

It is all getting to me as I'm moving on Saturday and still too much to do re the shed. Anyway I didn't mention the curtains and when I opened my emails this morning there was an email from the buyer. I winced with horrible anticipation at what was going to be in it re the curtains. It was a lovely email saying how much their kids loved their new home and much more like this. I cried. Nothing of curtains. Very emotional time as its been my family home - kids all brought up here - for over 20 years. Can't see to write any more.:(

westlondonbuyer

Sending you hugs.

My parents are divorced so my flat was the first time I'd ever lived anywhere with all my stuff in one place. I was a wreck when I sold it, and I'd long outgrown it and it wasn't very nice anyway. Can't imagine how it must feel to be leaving your house (Christopher Wray chandeliers and all!)

If you need help sorting through stuff, consider getting in a clutter consultant before you pack. It cost me £600, but the money I saved selling the extra stuff on Ebay and not having to pay storage fees for it, meant she paid for herself in the end. And to be honest it was worth it for saving my sanity alone. But I'm like one of those oddballs you see on the 'Life Laundry'!

Catbells

westlondonbuyer wrote: »

Sending you hugs.

My parents are divorced so my flat was the first time I'd ever lived anywhere with all my stuff in one place. I was a wreck when I sold it, and I'd long outgrown it and it wasn't very nice anyway. Can't imagine how it must feel to be leaving your house (Christopher Wray chandeliers and all!)

If you need help sorting through stuff, consider getting in a clutter consultant before you pack. It cost me £600, but the money I saved selling the extra stuff on Ebay and not having to pay storage fees for it, meant she paid for herself in the end. And to be honest it was worth it for saving my sanity alone. But I'm like one of those oddballs you see on the 'Life Laundry'!

Thanks for the hug. So nice to receive your kind note today. I think my sanity is playing up at the moment so I'm just trying to roll with the punches of house moving and am trying to be positive about the future living in the rented vicarage (another thread) until I find somewhere I can call home again. Daughter and boyfriend coming today to help take a lot of stuff to the recycle depot.

I didn't know there was such a thing as a clutter expert. Do you have any more info on that please.