Smart home but tech & house sale

freeman3030

Hi all, we will soon have our house on the market and I'm really looking forward to moving home. However over the past 3 years of living at this house we've bought lots of Phillips hue light bulbs, nest cameras etc. When someone comes to view, the lights will come on automatically on the landing as it's quite dark and depending on whether it's an overcast day or not the kitchen and hallway lights may come on. I intenend to take the bulbs with me but is that something to declare in the paperwork? Likewise, the video doorbell. Because it's fixed to the wall outside is it expected that it would remain if not stated otherwise?

DCFC79

Just mention in the paperwork what your taking or leaving behind, jobs a good in.

Linton

I think it would be better to uninstall the equipment and replace it by basic but decent kit that works and fits in with the house decor prior to putting the house on the market. At least replace the bulbs with ordinary ones and put in a simple doorbell. Dont leave dangling wires, non functioning light switches etc.



A buyer would have every reason to believe that what they see is what they get in the case of light fittings and doorbells, unless you make it very clear that this is not the case both during the viewing and in the fixtures& fittings form. You avoid any subsequent hassles and ill feeling by uninstalling the smart stuff first.

freeman3030

I thought that might be best, it's a fine line sometimes to know where you stand. At least if it's not there, they don't know what they were missing.

Many thanks

G_M

If I viewed the property with this kit, and decided to buy, I'd expect the kit to be included.


Sure,during conveyancing you can make clear on the F&Fs form that the kit is excluded, but I'd be pretty miffed and might even reduce my offer - not so much because of the loss in value to the property (I imagine pretty insignificant) but because I'd feel misled/cheated.

xylophone

Why not just price the property to include what you clearly regard as valuable add ons?

getmore4less

Don't bother taking it with you it is old tech.
(All tech is old by the time it hits the market)

Start from scratch at the new place.

This sort of stuff is the new carpets & curtains that won't fit the new place.

googler

If you REALLY want to take stuff with you, why can't you just type up an A4 sheet with these items listed, and give a copy to every viewer?

FWIW, if you were selling in Scotland, you wouldn't need to ask this, because the contract terms covering such items would be included in the buyer's offer, as part of standard clauses, such as

"The Property is sold with:
(a) all heritable fittings and fixtures;
(b) all items of whatever nature fixed or fitted to the Property the removal of which would materially damage the fabric or decoration of the Property;
(c) all items stated to be included in the sales particulars or advertisements made available to the Purchaser; and
(d) the following insofar as any were in the Property when viewed by the Purchaser: garden shed or hut, greenhouse, summerhouse; all growing plants, shrubs, trees (except those in plant pots); all types of blinds, pelmets, curtain rails and runners, curtain poles and rings thereon; all carpets and floorcoverings (but excluding loose rugs), stair carpet fixings; fitted bedroom furniture; all bathroom and cloakroom mirrors, bathroom and toilet fittings; kitchen units; all cookers, hobs, ovens, washing machines, dishwashers, fridges and freezers if integral to or encased within matching units; extractor hoods, extractor fans, electric storage heaters, electric fires, electric light fittings (including all fluorescent lighting, external lighting, wall lights, dimmer switches and bulbs and bulb holders but not shades); television aerials and associated cables and sockets, satellite dishes; loft ladders; rotary clothes driers; burglar alarm, other security systems and associated equipment; secondary glazing; shelving, fireplace surround units, fire grates,
fenders and associated ironmongery. "


The unspoken implication of clause (c) all items stated to be included in the sales particulars or advertisements made available to the Purchaser is that if you specifically wish to exclude something from the sale, you explicitly say so in the sales material.

MysteryMe

Honestly in the big scheme of things how much are second fancy bulbs and a video doorbell worth. This stuff is likely to be able to be bought new for less than you originally paid so why not put the latest tech in your new house if that is what floats your boat.

Or if you must take, as already said, remove everything like that before you market the place because showing someone around and then being told, oh by the way the door bell and fancy hall lights are all going would create a really negative impression.

Marvel1

Make it clear to viewers what you are taking, otherwise my offer would be based on what I seen and assume they are staying. I wouldn't be happy wasting my time finding out after.

oystercatcher

It might be best to remove them. If you start listing what you are going to take it could sound like you are one of those people who leaves the house bare with no light bulbs and loo roll holders and curtain tracks gone.