Fixtures Basics

• Many things can be considered fixtures in a home. Any part of a building fixed in one place but not part of the original building construction constitutes a fixture. This definition excludes all things brought into a home by the buyer. Curtains, for instance, remained fixed in one place but don't constitute a fixture. Neither do appliances or furniture of any kind. Fixtures constitute those things attached to a home before a buyer moves in.
  
  

All the Fixtures

• Common fixtures in foreclosed homes include faucets, light fixtures (wall- or ceiling-mounted pieces like chandeliers), cabinets, doors, doorknobs, light switches, ceiling fans, sinks, bathtubs, toilets and countertops. Though such items constitute the most visible fixtures in foreclosed homes, various other fixtures exist, and many are valuable. Plumbing pipes often prove expensive, particularly when made out of copper. Other fixtures common to homes include outlets and tubes and conduits for systems like ventilation, heating and cooling.
  
  

Fixtures and Foreclosure

• According to a 2009 article in the "New York Times," areas with high levels of foreclosure commonly see homes completely stripped of fixtures by the owners. Some homeowners use networking sites like Craigslist to sell all fixtures in a home before entering foreclosure. The criminality of this behavior varies from state to state. In Nevada, a state with a high foreclosure rate in 2009, stripping homes breaks no laws and therefore does not constitute criminal behavior. However, it may violate the terms of a mortgage, giving rise to a civil suit. In Arizona, laws prohibit the stripping of fixtures before foreclosure.
  
  

Fixtures and Buying Foreclosed Homes

• Banks commonly sell foreclosed homes at reduced prices. Some individuals or couples take advantage of this practice as a means of earning money through buying and reselling or as a way to get a nice home at a discounted price. However, sources such as "Buying a Home: The Missing Manual" and "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Buying a Home" report that fixture stripping presents a serious danger when purchasing a home in foreclosure. According to these books, if a previous occupant strips fixtures from the home, the cost of replacing fixtures may negate money saved by purchasing a house at a discounted price.