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How can you tell when you've stumbled upon your ideal home? Is it the sheen of the designer fitted kitchen, the lure of the lush furnishings, the glorious landscaped garden?

Or is it the combination of every eye-catching detail falling into place that let's you know this home has the whole package?

Unfortunately, as research by online conveyancers Convex.net suggests, the whole package may be what you see when you view, but it might not be what you find when you move in.

It would appear that as the market has slowed and house prices fallen, sellers are becoming increasingly desperate to make up for the losses and are using every inch of their home to achieve it.

Which means that those stylish curtains, that plush carpeting, and maybe even the garden shed, won't necessarily be there come moving in day.

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Bargaining Tools

According to Convex's figures the tendency to squeeze more money from buyers in exchange for fixtures and fittings has increased as the market downturn has deepened.

In the first half of last year 60 per cent of sellers were willing to let go of some curtains and blinds and all the light fittings as part of the asking price.

A further 45 per cent could also afford to be generous when it came to offloading the fridge and freezer.

But six months on and the numbers dwindled to just 35 per cent and 24 per cent respectively.

No Stone Left Unturned

And don't think that oh-so-useful garden shed is safe either. Convex reports that several sheds and even a treehouse have gone walkabouts before the new owners ever made it across the threshold.

Buyers are beginning to wise up to the situation that if it isn't nailed down it could be fair game, as Duncan Samuel, Managing director at Convex.net, comments:

"We noticed that we were getting more questions from sellers about what they could and could not take and looked back on our records.

"They showed that people were certainly getting tighter about what they were willing to include on the fixtures and fittings form probably because they were not getting what they hoped for the property.

"Technically all the light bulbs could be taken, although I have not heard of anyone doing that yet.

"With garden sheds they can be taken if they are free standing and don’t have foundations. However I think most people would come to the conclusion that taking it away is more hassle than it is worth."

The bottom line with this is clear – even if there's a verbal agreement that X or Y stays, be sure it’s on the fixtures and fittings form, otherwise you could well turn up and find that they’ve rolled up the lawn and taken it with them.

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Convex is the trading name of Arquebus Limited which complies with the Solicitor's introduction and Referal code published by the Law Society | © 2009 Arquebus Limited: Telephone 0870 99 11 030. Registered in England with Company Registration number 6772691. We may record and/or monitor telephone calls or intercept other telecommunications between us. This is to protect both of us and for training purposes.

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