Tranquility7 Posted September 3, 2013 Share Posted September 3, 2013 If you were buying a house and there was a pile of firewood (not huge, but definitely not negligible) in the backyard, but the house had only a gas fireplace and no firepit or any other way to burn wood, would you expect the sellers to take the firewood when they leave? Or leave it in the yard? ETA - Pls don't quote since I might delete :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dandelion Posted September 3, 2013 Share Posted September 3, 2013 I would expect them to take it if asked, but I wouldn't assume that they would remove it. The people we bought our house from left a ton of firewood on the property. But we have a wood burning stove, so it was assumed that they would leave it (and that we would appreciate them leaving it). Different scenario. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OrganicAnn Posted September 3, 2013 Share Posted September 3, 2013 I don't think the buyer should assume either way. Unless the firewood was listed in the description of the house, there is no legal obligation to leave it. It sort of like furniture since it is not attached to the house or land. But I can't really see moving firewood either. ETA: people should not move firewood too much because of the Emerald Ash Borer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Katy Posted September 3, 2013 Share Posted September 3, 2013 People selling houses leave all sorts of crap. I think it's very bad manners, but I'm no longer surprised by anything. I would assume they had a tree they cut down and just left the wood behind because they didn't want to pay disposal costs? You can put it at the curb, mark it "Free Firewood," and leave a "Free Firewood" curb alert on craigslist until it's gone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carrie12345 Posted September 3, 2013 Share Posted September 3, 2013 Maybe. Moving a bunch of wood is probably the last thing normal people want to do on top of moving everything else they own. (I'm not normal and would want to move wood, plants, compost... lol.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lara in Colo Posted September 3, 2013 Share Posted September 3, 2013 To me at leastit would not be an issue---just put it on Craiglist for free and watch it go Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tammi K Posted September 3, 2013 Share Posted September 3, 2013 I would expect that the firewood goes with the seller unless you specifically request it convey with the property as part of the sale. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PentecostalMom Posted September 3, 2013 Share Posted September 3, 2013 It depends. Are they moving to where there is use for it? We have lived in rural areas and built a firepit in the yard for cookouts and such, so that depends on where the house is located. Do you want them to take it? Or to leave it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tranquility7 Posted September 3, 2013 Author Share Posted September 3, 2013 To me at leastit would not be an issue---just put it on Craiglist for free and watch it go Hmmm, what a great idea! We asked the seller to get rid of it, but we don't want them to get frustrated about it. We aren't trying to cause trouble, we just don't want it. (My kids would totally want to play on it, and I'm terrified of snakes living in it. Plus, it's just in the way.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiwik Posted September 3, 2013 Share Posted September 3, 2013 I wouldn't expect them to take it unless it was stated in the sale. On the other hand if the wanted to take it they could unless it was specified in the sale. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Night Elf Posted September 3, 2013 Share Posted September 3, 2013 I bought my house under those circumstances. It's a pile about up to my chest and it's off to the side in the backyard. We didn't ask the owners to remove it. It didn't even occur to me. I voted 'probably not' because I don't want to touch it. I'm sure there are THINGS living in it. Now, if it was a deal breaker and my house might not get purchased, I'd hire a yard company to come out and clean it up. I'm really not going anywhere near it. Oh, oh, we have wood in the front yard now too! I forgot! We had a tree fall down and our neighbors, on both sides, came over with chainsaws. We barely knew them so it was a funny thing for us. None of us had any use for it so it's stacked up out there too. It's under some trees as well. We're not putting the house up for sale any time soon but when we do, we won't touch those woodpiles unless absolutely necessary. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marbel Posted September 3, 2013 Share Posted September 3, 2013 Is this over and done with? If not, why not put it in the contract that they have to remove it? Our house had a shed in the back that was usable but a bit broken down. The seller planned to leave it but we put in the contract that it had to be removed, and it was. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ravin Posted September 3, 2013 Share Posted September 3, 2013 It's not hard to get rid of firewood. Post a free firewood ad on craigslist. Whomever wants it can haul it away. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parrothead Posted September 3, 2013 Share Posted September 3, 2013 No, I wouldn't expect the sellers to take it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Desert Strawberry Posted September 3, 2013 Share Posted September 3, 2013 Definitely post on capitalist. I would hate to see firewood go in the trash when some people dearly need it for heat and cooking. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
QueenCat Posted September 3, 2013 Share Posted September 3, 2013 Unless removal was written in the contract, I wouldn't expect them to remove it. That's the sort of thing people typically leave........ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lynn Posted September 3, 2013 Share Posted September 3, 2013 You should not expect anything. You should specify exaxtly what you want in your contract or during the walk through before closing.. Everything should be in writing even if it's common sense stuff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MFG Posted September 3, 2013 Share Posted September 3, 2013 ETA: people should not move firewood too much because of the Emerald Ash Borer There are fines in my state for moving firewood across county lines because of Emerald Ash Borer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dandelion Posted September 3, 2013 Share Posted September 3, 2013 There are fines in my state for moving firewood across county lines because of Emerald Ash Borer. I had to look this one up. Doesn't seem to live in my state (at least not per the map I saw of where it's been found). But good to know. Learned my new thing for the day! :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zoobie Posted September 3, 2013 Share Posted September 3, 2013 I would put it in the offer/contract because things that seem simple often turn out to be complicated. (Emerald ash borer? Off to google!) Our first house, the sellers left piles of garbage. And pooped in both toilets. Freaks. Our agent didn't warn us and we didn't think to have trash removal in the contract. The trash company wouldn't pick it up, and we had to rent a truck and pay to take it to the dump. Our second house, it was in the contract and they still left piles around where the trash can was stored. Piles! They were annoyed we made them come move it because we "could just take it to the curb on trash day." It took the guy and his teenaged son two trips with a huge pickup truck. Anyway, now we put in removal of EVERYTHING! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dandelion Posted September 3, 2013 Share Posted September 3, 2013 Our first house, the sellers left piles of garbage. And pooped in both toilets. Freaks. And didn't bother to flush? :confused: What's wrong with people?? :ack2: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AmandaVT Posted September 3, 2013 Share Posted September 3, 2013 I wouldn't have any expectations regarding the wood. I'm in a rural-ish neighborhood and most people have woodpiles. So if a seller left the wood, the buyer would most likely be happy that there was less to buy for the winter. If they didn't leave the wood, the buyer would assume that the seller's new house also had a woodstove or firepit and they wanted to use it there. We have a nice dry, neatly stacked woodpile next to the outdoor fire pit overlooking a stream. We're hoping to sell next year and will probably leave the wood for whoever buys the house. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tap Posted September 3, 2013 Share Posted September 3, 2013 Removed without being asked. To me it would be the equivalent of leaving a bunch of garbage on the property. If there is not foreseeable use for it, it should not be there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kim in Appalachia Posted September 3, 2013 Share Posted September 3, 2013 I've learned to expect little when it comes to previous owners. If I wanted the wood gone I would have that in the contract. Really, with the all of packing they probably didn't give it a second thought. Either it's old wood from when the fireplace used to be wood burning, or they enjoyed outside fires (in a pit of some sort). Either way, it probably won't occur to them to take it while they are packing. You can ask them if they know anyone who wants it, or put out an ad for it and see if you can sell or unload it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alef Posted September 3, 2013 Share Posted September 3, 2013 I wouldn't make any assumptions. If I wanted it removed I would put that in the contract. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tranquility7 Posted September 3, 2013 Author Share Posted September 3, 2013 Thanks for all the input. It is too late for it to be in the contract (though that would have been best!), since closing is in two days (and we wouldn't delay closing for it). I did email the seller about it yesterday hoping that maybe she'd say they'd already gotten rid of it. But alas, they didn't think of it, and are not sure they will get to it by closing (understandable, frankly). I kind of assumed they would get rid of it, so that is why I posted the poll - to see what others would expect, since I'm really kind of out of my element here. Anyway, we aren't wanting to play hardball about it. It's just a hassle we would rather not deal with. But we also don't want the sellers to be frustrated it about it (we have multiple mutual friends, plus that is just the kind of people we are). I think we will go the Craigslist route if it is still there at closing. Hopefully it will be picked up soon! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Χά�ων Posted September 3, 2013 Share Posted September 3, 2013 Post on craigslist and it will be gone especially this time of year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catwoman Posted September 3, 2013 Share Posted September 3, 2013 Unfortunately, that's the kind of thing you need to get in writing when you buy a house, but most of us never think of the small stuff when we're looking at a much bigger picture. Realistically, you could probably force the issue and refuse to close on the house until the wood is gone, but I'm sure everyone would agree that it would be a very bad idea to do that, so I guess all you can do is hope that they can find someone to take the wood, but if it's still there when you move in, just stick a sign on the street saying "free wood" and it will probably be gone within hours. You could also offer it to your new neighbors -- they would get a good first impression of you, and they might be thrilled to get all that free firewood. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dandelion Posted September 3, 2013 Share Posted September 3, 2013 If you don't get enough takers through Craigslist, you could try Freecycle as well (http://www.freecycle.org). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gardenmom5 Posted September 3, 2013 Share Posted September 3, 2013 I don't know if you're the seller or the buyer, but I don't see what the big deal is outside of hassle factor. it's so easy to list the wood on craigslist because there are a lot of people who use woodstoves to supplement their heat source. it could be sold for cheap or given away for free. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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