By Barry Stone
Dear Barry,
We were surprised when our home inspector didn't mention the refrigerator or the washer and dryer in his report. But our surprise turned to shock when we moved in and found that those appliances were gone. Are these items supposed to be included in the sale of a home, or are they considered as personal property, to be taken by the sellers when they move? -Mary
Dear Mary,
When appliances are freestanding, rather than built in, they are not regarded as components of the property and are only included in the sale if there is a specific agreement between buyers and sellers. This is why such items as refrigerators and laundry appliances are not included in a home inspection. On the other hand, built-in appliances such as cooktops, ovens, and dishwashers are regarded as fixtures. These are generally included as part of the sale of a home and, accordingly, as subjects of a home inspection report.
. Questions of a Do It Yourself nature should be submitted to our "