In article >,
"jmcquown" > wrote:

> For some reason my middle brother thinks before we can sell this house we
> need to buy a new refrigerator.

Here's my understanding of the law in the US (I am neither a lawyer nor
experienced in real estate):

1. If it's attached to the house, then it's part of the sale. If you
unscrew something and take it with you, the buyer can sue and will win.

2. If it's not attached, then it isn't part of the sale. A
refrigerator that plugs in is not attached to the house.

3. If an item is specifically mentioned in the sales contract signed by
both the buyer and the seller, the rules above don't apply. If the
buyer wants the fridge in a house for some reason (maybe it's puke green
and matches all the other built in appliances), that can be negotiated.
It works the other way. I have known people who were very attached to
light fixtures, and excluded them from the sale, even though they were a
part of the house.

Of course, if you have a knowledgeable real estate agent, and they say
that you will have trouble selling the house or you'll get tens of
thousands of dollars less if you don't do XYZ, that's another
consideration.

--
Dan Abel
Petaluma, California USA