According to surveys conducted by Convex, in the first half of 2007, 60% of sellers agreed to give future residents curtains, blinds, and various light fixtures; 45% gave up refrigerators, freezers, and washing machines. In the second half of the year, when prices began to fall, only 35% of sellers were willing to include these items in the price of the house, and now that figure has fallen to 24%.
Duncan Samuels, executive director of Convex, noted: “Sellers are increasingly asking questions about what they can and cannot take from the house. The survey shows that people are becoming more 'tight-fisted.' This is likely because people are not getting the expected money from the sale of their house.”
As Lenta.Ru notes, they are taking even things that cannot be removed without damaging the house. For example, by law, light fixtures can only be dismantled if they do not damage the ceiling, and the kitchen sink must stay. “Of course, you can take everything, right down to light bulbs,” say Convex. “But it hasn't come to that yet.”