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There is a basic assumption that a bathroom sink will have a mirror of some sort, so you cannot just move out and leave the wall blank. Therefore, have the buyer see what he is going to have if he buys. IMHO, the only value the mirrored cabinet has to you is in the context of the total cabinetry in the room (which is gorgeous BTW). I would not take it out of the house when you sell but rather leave it as part of the design unless of course you are taking the sink cabinetry as well (and you are not).
If I was a buyer, I'd appreciate the matching look if you left it there, and I'd appreciate the storage space as well, if the house is small to begin with.
You could always add a mirror that suites you in your new house. Avoid any potential small contract complications, and not have to move another bulky piece to the moving van.
There is a basic assumption that a bathroom sink will have a mirror of some sort, so you cannot just move out and leave the wall blank. Therefore, have the buyer see what he is going to have if he buys. IMHO, the only value the mirrored cabinet has to you is in the context of the total cabinetry in the room (which is gorgeous BTW). I would not take it out of the house when you sell but rather leave it as part of the design unless of course you are taking the sink cabinetry as well (and you are not).
Of course I would never leave the wall blank. I do have a plate glass mirror that can go right back up where it was before.
The cabinet set pictured is not mine, but was the closest thing I could find on the Internet when I posted. (Honestly, the one pictured is fancier than mine is. Also, my bathroom is not large enough to include the vertical cabinet on the left.)
If my mirrored cabinet will not add at least $500 to the sales price of the house (I'm in a very hot market, easy commute [by car and rail] to San Francisco, Berkely/Oakland, and to Silicon Valley/Stanford, etc.), then I will remove it. I'd rather take it with me than the plate glass mirror I've been saving.
The thing that I may not have conveyed well is that I do live in an area where buyers would be unlikely to jeopardize their losing the house just because I have clearly stated (by way of a sticker on the cabinet, in the advertising, and in the contract) that the cabinet does not convey, but that the original plate glass mirror will go up in it's place. It's not uncommon to see sellers put restrictions on what stays with the house and what goes.
I have no fear that my house would not sell quickly, even without a single open house.
But just to make things easier for buyers and perhaps a real estate agent, I'll put back the mirror, and probably won't even go to the bother of framing it. Buyers can frame it however they wish, or can leave it plain.
I appreciate all the comments I have received.
Last edited by SFBayBoomer; 05-25-2016 at 06:33 PM..
When I look at model homes, they state some items that are clearly permanently affixed are not included, and if I am careful to do the same in photographs, on the item and in the contract, I do not see why it would be conveyable.
I am very nearsighted and it would be a hardship to go without the mirrored cabinet for the entire time of selling and then escrow.
I boldly assume that some of the model home fixtures are decorations to be used again in another home/community. They might not even belong to the builder.
You'd definitely put another mirror in its place, so that you can see what you're doing in the bathroom. Or is this some specialized curved enlarging mirror? You didn't say that before.
I boldly assume that some of the model home fixtures are decorations to be used again in another home/community. They might not even belong to the builder.
You'd definitely put another mirror in its place, so that you can see what you're doing in the bathroom. Or is this some specialized curved enlarging mirror? You didn't say that before.
Actually, I did. I wrote "My strong preference is #1 because the cabinet mirrors come forward, making it much easier for this near-sighted woman to apply makeup, put on contacts, etc."
The following mirror is not mine, but it gives you an example of what I mean:
Location: Mokelumne Hill, CA & El Pescadero, BCS MX.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SFBayBoomer
If my mirrored cabinet will not add at least $500 to the sales price of the house (I'm in a very hot market, easy commute [by car and rail] to San Francisco, Berkely/Oakland, and to Silicon Valley/Stanford, etc.), then I will remove it.
It would be almost impossible to judge whether a fixture like that would add a number that could be valued. Homes aren't sold by adding up the cost of fixtures and assigning a value to them.
I think the item in question is perfect where it is and would add value in the mind of a buyer versus just having a flat mirror (framed or not) on the wall.
Now take the *$500* value and subtract what you might have to pay for that. Totally not worth it. Leave it be.
It would be almost impossible to judge whether a fixture like that would add a number that could be valued. Homes aren't sold by adding up the cost of fixtures and assigning a value to them.
I think the item in question is perfect where it is and would add value in the mind of a buyer versus just having a flat mirror (framed or not) on the wall.
Now take the *$500* value and subtract what you might have to pay for that. Totally not worth it. Leave it be.
Thank you for your comment. If I can find another wood-framed, mirrored cabinet that I like as much as the one I have now to install in whatever home I may find in the future, I will consider leaving this one here. However, leaving it up simply because it adds "some" value (such as in making the house more attractive to buyers) is not important in this hot market. The house will sell well one way or the other.
I also did not mention before that this cabinet is located in a small hallway bathroom that has the dimensions of 5 feet by 10 feet and the mirrored cabinet protrudes from the wall forward over the vanity approximately four inches (4"). The illusion of space is better with the original mirror in place, as the original mirror was flat against the wall. Since we have gone to the bother of protecting the original plate glass mirror for a couple of years already, and there is still a standard medicine cabinet on the entrance wall (in addition to the wood-framed mirrored wall cabinet that I want to keep), I think I will follow the advice of those in the poll and put the original mirror back up when I get ready to put this home on the market.
If you want it and want to take it with you take it down. Put up some generic mirror/vanity.
Truthfully less it's some custom made or my "grandma gave me this its 150 years old" most likely you can buy another. And carting stuff across the country it could be broken or damaged. And you may not be able to install it in your new place if you're renting.
I agree, if you want the piece, take it down and replace it with how you want to convey the property. Leaving it in place with a note "you can't have it" will only create tensions that need not be present. Make sure none of the photos contain the piece you wish to pack up and move.
Don't confuse the practices in a model home where upgrades and options are available. I have seen where sellers state the drapes in a certain room, yet it never fails the become part of the negotiations. I've seen the same thing happen in game rooms (with the exception of the pool table because it costs too much to move, so it conveys, lol).
If you don't want it staying, remove it now and show the buyer what they will really be getting when they buy your home.
Remove the one you want to keep and replace it with the plate glass mirror. Framing it isn't difficult. There are instructions on Pinterest. You don't even have to cut a 45 degree angle. The Pin Junkie: How to Frame a Bathroom Mirror
If you remove it before listing the house, it never becomes a point of contention.
I have a ceiling fan in the master bedroom that I am attached to and that is not replaceable. I have already purchased a fan to replace it when we get ready to sell this home. It actually matches the new lighting fixtures in the adjoining bathroom.
Good luck on selling your home.
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