When moving out of a house, do you take the light bulbs?

[PlatinumGold]

am i being a cheapskate here? whenever i move into a house i tend to put flourescents in whereever i can. some light fixtures are too small for the flourescents, but where i can i put in flourescents, now they usually last a couple of years, if i know i have more than a years life left in some of my bulbs do i take them with me? or do i leave them?

btw, these bulbs are usually like $7 to $8 per bulb.

incandescents obviously i leave.

 

[flot]

You're being a bit of a cheapskate, but more importantly a real PITA for the next resident. Go to a dollar store or wal mart or something, and buy the cheapest bulbs you can find, put those in in place of the fluorescents.

 

[LordJezo]

Take everything that you bought.

 

[Mucho]

Wow, now that would be cheap however, the last tennant of my apartment took the ice cube trays when they left.

 

[Geekbabe]

I'd never even consider it!

 

[PlatinumGold]

interesting results so far.

 

[MustISO]

For what we could sell out house for I'd leave the bulbs, and maybe the big screen TV.

 

[MercenaryForHire]

Originally posted by: flot
You're being a bit of a cheapskate, but more importantly a real PITA for the next resident. Go to a dollar store or wal mart or something, and buy the cheapest bulbs you can find, put those in in place of the fluorescents.

 

[PlatinumGold]

Originally posted by: MustISO
For what we could sell out house for I'd leave the bulbs, and maybe the big screen TV.

i actually sold my house about 10 months ago and DID leave the light bulbs but NOW we are in an apartment looking to buy a house. Everytime i put in a flourescent bulb this thought comes to mind.

i guess i am cheap.

 

[flot]

Well there is a more obvious answer, when you go around replacing all the regular bulbs with the fluorescents, why don't you put all the regular ones in a box so you can replace them when you leave?

 

[Kraft Single]

Originally posted by: Mucho
Wow, now that would be cheap however, the last tennant of my apartment took the ice cube trays when they left.

Would you really want to use those trays though? The previous residents probably froze up pee for all you know heh.

 

[PlatinumGold]

Originally posted by: flot
Well there is a more obvious answer, when you go around replacing all the regular bulbs with the fluorescents, why don't you put all the regular ones in a box so you can replace them when you leave?

so leave them with all dead incadescents??

interesting idea.

 

[dirtboy]

No, you don't take the light bulbs. If you want the bulbs you bought, then go out and buy cheap replacement bulbs. If you're unsure, check with your rental company or realtor. I'd say that's pretty low class to leave someone without lights when they moved in.

 

[Brutuskend]

No, but I do take all the appliances, carpets, plumbing....

 

[geno]

When moving out of a house my mother and I lived in (it was rented), my mom snagged all the lightbulbs she could, the landlord screwed us out of some money, so she was a little bitter

 

[EyeMWing]

Swap the flourescents for el cheapo incadescents

 

[Reel]

I think most sales contracts list that there must be light fixtures but unless the fixtures are explicitly specified, you can put in a $2 light socket from home depot in place of a nice fixture and take it with you. If you have some attachment to the light bulbs or the fixture, swap it out but I think it is proper that you leave lighting sources everywhere there is one when you show the house. If we are talking about renting, then I think it is between you and the landlord. You might be able to get away with no bulbs in the fixtures but be prepared for them to charge you outrageous fees for replacement of the bulbs. Your best bet would be to do as said above and put in the cheapest bulbs you can find. Hell, buy good new bulbs for a relative and put in their old used ones if you want.

 

[Savij]

I would go with replacing the bulbs with something cheap.

 

Lightbulbs are considered fixtures of the house.
Unless there is an addendum to the sales contract saying you can take the light fixtures, it is breaking the contract.

 

[PlatinumGold]

Originally posted by: ReelC00L
I think most sales contracts list that there must be light fixtures but unless the fixtures are explicitly specified, you can put in a $2 light socket from home depot in place of a nice fixture and take it with you. If you have some attachment to the light bulbs or the fixture, swap it out but I think it is proper that you leave lighting sources everywhere there is one when you show the house. If we are talking about renting, then I think it is between you and the landlord. You might be able to get away with no bulbs in the fixtures but be prepared for them to charge you outrageous fees for replacement of the bulbs. Your best bet would be to do as said above and put in the cheapest bulbs you can find. Hell, buy good new bulbs for a relative and put in their old used ones if you want.

i always thought that any improvement you made to the house where you put holes in the sheetrock etc, you had to leave. i changed the light fixture in my kitchen in the house i sold and i left them when we moved out, was nice too, they were halogen light fixtures. i like halogen lights.

 

[her209]

Don't forget to take all the doorknobs too!

 

[VTboy]

When I move into an apartment I take the light bulbs the gave me out. I place them in my closet. Then I install flourescents bulbs all over. When I move out I take the flourescents bulbs out and place the incandesent light bulbs back in. I paid for the flourescent light bulbs remember.

 

[VTboy]

Originally posted by: SampSon
Lightbulbs are considered fixtures of the house.
Unless there is an addendum to the sales contract saying you can take the light fixtures, it is breaking the contract.

It is not breaking the contract because he is talking about light bulbs he paid for him self. As long as he replaces the fixtures with the same bulbs that were in them when he moved in then it should be fine.

 

[her209]

Originally posted by: VTboy
When I move into an apartment I take the light bulbs the gave me out. I place them in my closet. Then I install flourescents bulbs all over. When I move out I take the flourescents bulbs out and place the incandesent light bulbs back in. I paid for the flourescent light bulbs remember.

I keep all my dead lightbulbs just for this purpose.

 

[PlatinumGold]

Originally posted by: her209
Don't forget to take all the doorknobs too!

this post is just ignorant. why would i take the doorknobs?? i didn't pay for them.