Selling house: Did you leave the curtains?

AimeeDyan

Do buyers expect a house to have window coverings in addition to the blinds? Will it help my house show better if I did leave them all? Or will the hardware + blinds be enough? My realtor just told me to take down any I wanted before listing and taking pics... which we hope to do in the next week. But we're in a bad market and I'm willing to do just about anything to ensure the house shows well.

Jhawks482

I would not take them down before taking photos and listing- I've never heard of a realtor suggesting that. Though, if you plan on taking your window treatments, you'll need to disclose that info. They are yours and it's your choice whether they stay or go, but any fixture that doesn't stay needs to be noted- shower curtain, a special bathroom mirror, a custom wall cabinet, etc.

TarHeels&Rebels

If the house is furnished and you're living there while it's on the market, of course leave the curtains up.  If the house is going to be vacant, please remove the curtains.  This is regionally dependent: in the northeast, they often stay with the house, in the south, they go; I don't know about other parts of the country.

One person's taste in curtains is not another's.  When I'm looking at a vacant house, I want it to be vacant, not mostly vacant.  That "hey look at me" item is a reminder of what your style is like.  The people aren't looking at the view, they're looking at your window treatments and wondering what kind of people you were.  Even if it's not distracting to them, they probably aren't going to want them; they're probably going straight in the trash on move in day, so keep them if you like them.  (And my personal reasoning: other people's curtains have their skin cells and dog hair and what all in them and are rarely if ever cleaned - ew, no thank you.)

 

If you have custom curtains that were made for a specific spot or that perfectly coordinate with some architectural detail, I'd leave them. 

Monica D

I took my curtain rods and panels with me...our realtor let the buyers know. With the exception of one sliding door, each window had blinds or shutters (they were purely decorative). I've actually reused all of my curtain rods in my new house!

glittergal73

I left all of them except for the master bedroom curtains which coordinated with the bedding.  Our realtor noted that in the listing information along with one special chandelier we wanted to keep.

VMRRN23

Unless they are excluded in the MLS listing, then yes I expect them (per my realtor, curtains, rods and blinds are assumed to be included unless specifically excluded). Now, the person we are buying the house from is a smoker, so we told our realtor they can take them, because we are just going to throw them out. Its actually kind of a shame, because I like the roman shades in the kitchen. 

I would just exclude them in your listing, but take pictures with them (especially if you are still living in the house when you take pictures).  

+PuppyWuppy+

Leave them up while you are showing.  I am not sure why the realtor would request that you take them down. 

 

 We left everything when we moved because the sellers asked that we do so.

kaylie622

Our agent said that she tells her sellers to take down any window treatments and light fixtures that they definitely don't want to sell, because sometimes buyers will want to use the items as a negotiating point. Like pp mentioned, unless it's listed as an exclusion it is expected to stay.

lmdbww

I left everything up but when we move, I'm taking the few curtains and rods but leaving the roman shades downstairs and the shades upstairs.

DANGERUSS & MITTENS

I've always taken my curtains with me but left them up when showing the house (we've never moved before our home(s) were sold). The only thing we had to compromise on once was leaving a refrigerator. I do leave blinds and light fixtures/etc. but consider curtains to be my own personal decor (although if I were selling this house, I would swap out a light fixture or two before showing since I'm in love with a few that we have). I believe some buyers will see curtains as a negotiable item though.  

tbridetobe

In my state, curtains are typically included with the house unless specifically noted otherwise.  We only have one pair of curtains that I really liked and could think of a use for in our new house, so I noted on our seller's disclosure that they were excluded.

EssBe

I think we'll plan on leaving them.  I made them custom length for the windows in our house and chose the fabrics for those rooms, so I'm sure I'll want new ones in our new space anyway.

emoflamingo

I am planning on it, just because I bought some cute inexpensive curtains and I'm not sure the house we move into next will have the same number of windows and I would rather start with a blank slate vs. try to get more of what I have already.

The only fixture on the walls I'd consider taking are my rods in the bedroom (which I'd replace with something before we moved out) but only if I knew I would have enough of them for my new room. (I wish I remembered where they came from!)

Susie Derkins

We haven't sold yet, but when we took possession of our house after closing, some were left and some weren't.  For the most part I didn't like the window treatments that were there, so I didn't get into it ahead of time re: what was staying and going.

Photos from home inspection day:

White drapes stayed.  I can't remember about the patterned valence:

In all 4 bedrooms + full bath, the curtains went with the sellers; the blinds stayed with the house:

Both the LR & DR had these matching cream, green, & pink valences with vertical blinds.  Regrettably, they all stayed with the house:

shesthetoast

Don't take advice on what contractually stays and goes from the nest, LOL.

This is entirely dependent on your state's sales contracts. In mine, rods, blinds, and shades stay (attached) - curtains go unless specified (personal property). 

Ditto T&R advice about leaving them up to show better if you're still living in the home; take them down if you'll have already moved. 

jacksjerseygirl

I don't agree with you agents advice. Do not take down window treatments before pictures / your window treatments are a finishing touch to the space - removing them might make the space look aesthetically unfinished and ppl judge that in pictures when deciding if they want to see a home. 

 

Have your agent do her job and update the listing with any items not included such as washer/dryer or fridge etc.

 

If your not attached to your window treatments then just leave them.

 

It is typical to leave hardware, blinds, shutters etc. but if it isn't apart of the sale then simply put that in the listing.  

jacksjerseygirl

kaylie622:

Our agent said that she tells her sellers to take down any window treatments and light fixtures that they definitely don't want to sell, because sometimes buyers will want to use the items as a negotiating point. Like pp mentioned, unless it's listed as an exclusion it is expected to stay.

Um how can they use them as a negotiating point if the cant see them? Sounds like one of the dumbest things I have heard a realtor say.  

Magdala9

shesthetoast:

Don't take advice on what contractually stays and goes from the nest, LOL.

This is entirely dependent on your state's sales contracts. In mine, rods, blinds, and shades stay (attached) - curtains go unless specified (personal property). 

Ditto T&R advice about leaving them up to show better if you're still living in the home; take them down if you'll have already moved. 

I have lived (and sold houses) in two states and this is so true.   In one state if it was affixed to the house, it should stay unless the listing specifically stated other wise. In another state, everything was negotiable at closing.