Does the expression 'sold as seen' cover removable items such as furniture?

57taff

We are looking to purchase a property that forms the estate of a recently deceased woman who left the proceeds of the house sale to charity.  The company acting for the estate are selling 'as seen', which I understand is par for the course.  As the deceased had no close relatives, nothing has been done to clear her furniture, personal belongings etc.  The estate agent listing shows all of this.  The people acting for the estate are really dragging their heels about getting the house cleared.  Given that the property, as seen in the adverts and by the couple who went to inspect the property on our behalf was full of the late owners goods and chattels, if we complete with these items still in place, do we have any claim on them under this 'as seen' condition?  Just to add, the solicitor acting for us has been of little use in providing guidance on this.

UnderOffer

I would expect the executors or the company to indicate that the furniture is being left on the fixtures and fitting form which forms part of your contract when all the searches etc., have been completed and copy provided by your solicitor. 

It may be easier to ask this question via the estate agent, if one is involved, so that they can forward to company and get a response. 

Pok3mon

I would think only the vendor can answer this. They may mean no work will be done on the house and no one will be able to answer any queries. 

If it a charity selling anything of value would be taken and all you will be left with is skip fees. Ether insist nobody takes anything else or insist it is cleared. They cant have both.

They probably cant get it cleared because house clearance companies look at overall value, If there nobody will clear it there is no money left in the goods.

pumas

As our buyers wanted to complete so quickly, we didn't have time to organise the removal of big furniture and as we moved 300 miles away,  it was 'sold as seen' and left beds, settees and odds and ends. I don't think the buyers appreciated that they'd have to deal with it

Norman_Castle

Do you want the contents? Some furniture is worth little but can be very useable. Ask the seller, you may be doing them a favour

user1977

No, you don't have a claim on anything not included in your contract. So if you want to be sure, ask. 

p00hsticks

Pok3mon said:

They probably cant get it cleared because house clearance companies look at overall value, If there nobody will clear it there is no money left in the goods.

Is this true ? I'm probably going to have to use a house clearance firm in the near future for the first time. I was under the impression that house clearance companies generally charged for clearance - if they think they can make money from selling on some of the contents then they'll do so and adjust the price they charge accordingly, but even if it just needs to be disposed of they'll clear it for the right price....

Thrugelmir

p00hsticks said:

Pok3mon said:

They probably cant get it cleared because house clearance companies look at overall value, If there nobody will clear it there is no money left in the goods.

Is this true ? I'm probably going to have to use a house clearance firm in the near future for the first time. I was under the impression that house clearance companies generally charged for clearance - if they think they can make money from selling on some of the contents then they'll do so and adjust the price they charge accordingly, but even if it just needs to be disposed of they'll clear it for the right price....

A local auction house will identify anything of value and offer a route to sell the items. Otherwise it's what charities will take and what you'll need to pay the council to collect. Before deciding what to do with the remainder. 

EndlessStruggle

A friend of mine bought a house in similar circumstances.

Little old lady, no family and house being sold on behalf of a charity. 

The house price was reflective of the fact she and partner would have to clear it herself.

I think if they weren't planning on selling it without the property they would have cleared it before listing as surely it would look more attractive/gain more interest/up the price slightly once fully cleared.

I think you'll find what is left there would be in the inventory/contract.

As a plus point she did also find a few treasures left behind and made a few thousand selling some bits which helped towards the renovations.

They are probably using the vague language not to put people off too.

I would ask them but likelihood is yes you are getting everything that is left in there.

Can we see the listing? See if anyone spots some treasures 

Monsternextdoor

Im buying a repossession and its full of furniture which is included with the sale. 

I am responsible for removing all the furniture and white goods and also cleaning the entire property.

My sil to be is just in the process of getting a house and has nothing, so whatever is good out of this house she is taking it, It was going to go to charity, but charity starts at home IMO.

Titus_Wadd

The first two houses I ever bought were being sold by executors who lived miles away.  We pressed them about how soon they could clear the contents.  Then offered to do the clearance and keep whatever contents were left.  I was a FTB for the first house so having quality items of Victorian furniture was a bonus; we sold it off piecemeal as we bought furniture of our choice.  (This sort of big brown furniture has less value these days than in did in the 80s).  The best finds were many pieces of Suzy Cooper and Clarice Cliff which we still have.  I can't promise you'll find anything high value but you could offer a lower purchase amount in exchange for doing the graft yourself which worked well for me on the second purchase.  If you're not in a position to do the clearing yourself just keep pressing for the vendors to do the work; if they leave stuff or dump it in the garden on completion day your solicitor can contact them to finish the clearance or recover the cost of you hiring a clearance company or a skip.