On a forclosure, is it common for the bank to take things out of the home?

Question

We bought a forclosed home, and there were no light fixtures, and all of the shelving & everything was stripped out of the house. There were no appliances. The neighbor claimed that the bank came by with a flatbed truck & tore all the shelving out of the garage a cpl. wks. bbefore we moved in. However, there was no shelving in there a month before we moved in b/c we had saw it. I don't think a bank would come by & want to take light fixtures and shelving out of a forclosed home before selling it, would they? I am thinking that the neighbors took everything out of here. They were also acting really funny during the times we came to look at the house before we moved in, they were very snoopy and rude and would park in our driveway & have their friends as well. They also threw all their leaves in our yard. Would a bank take things out? I don;t see what they would want w/ shelving! I am aware that I can't proove anything or so anything about it, I am just wondering.

Also, the neighbor on the opposite side acted surprised when I told her there were no appliances in the house, she said that she had thought there were.

oh and also, we saw the house the 2nd day it was on the market, and the neighbor in question came over when the realtor was showing us the house and asked what was going on and she said that the previous owners asked her to watch over the house. And she was very rude to us, and said her reason for wanting to know is because they were concerned as to who might be moving in, all the while she wouldn't even look at us, just the realtor. Then other times I tried being friendly, she snubbed me and was extremely rude for no reason. It just seems to me that someething is up with those people.

Answer 1

Well, unfortunately, it looks like the neighbors probably did take the items out of the home. The bank won't waste their time on those items, especially since most of it isn't worth anything.

The two options you have are these: One, let it go and just replace what was there; Two, call the company who winterized the home and ask them what was in the house when they winterized it - have them put it in writing to the best of their memory. Also, the Realtor probably remembers a bunch of the items - again have him/her put it in writing. Thirdly, call the bank (sellers) and ask them to put in writing that they did not remove anything from the home. Next step, call the police and report that the items were burgled from the home. Make sure they prepare a written report about it.

In the future, if you ever have evidence that the neighbors have any of the items, then you can bring it to the police department's attention and maybe then you can make the accusation.

Good luck to you.

Answer 2

I have seen things like this myself. I am an appraiser, I see foreclosures at the start, at the end, in the middle. I have seen them sell full of junk (I mean the previous owners belongings :)), completely empty, completely stripped. I think all sorts of people get in and grab a handful.
Most foreclosures will be trashed out, the bank pays someone to go in an remove all the belongings. It would not surprise me if half of it ends up on ebay. I have seen where what appeared to be perfectly good appliances disappear during the trash out. I guess that is a perk of being the guy who trashes them out.
When I bought my home, a foreclosure too, there were no interior doors, only some plumbing fixtures, carpet ripped out, etc. This, I think, was the previous owners doing. That reminds me, I hear from agents all the time that these homes get broken into, and the usual suspect is the previous owner.
When my brother bought his, the day AFTER he closed someone went in and took some of his cleaning supplies. The bank lock box had not been removed yet. I am 100% sure the culprit was the outfit hired to cut the grass because in addition to taking his stuff, they cut his grass. Of course they denied it all and nothing happened of it. I bought him a new sander!
On a side note, the neighbors are always nosey. About half of the time when I go in there is someone looking out the window, walking over to check me out, and many come up ask what I am doing there. I am used to that at this point.
Sounds like you might have a neighbor that was buddies with the people that lost the house, did they take the stuff? Did they help the previous owner take some, who knows, since you never actually saw any of this stuff I would probably let it go. Chances are you got it below market so take your winnings and move on.
Happy new home and good luck!

Answer 3

The lender has no interest in these items whatsoever. My guess is that these neighbors conspired with the former owners to take whatever they could get their hands on.

I learned long ago that, when I write an offer on a foreclosed property, I also snap a pile of digital pictures as to what is there and what is not, and these pictures become a part of the offer. At least that way, if a pile of stuff is sold, stolen, or damaged, I have photographic evidence of the property's situation at the time of the offer.

Now and then, a lender will budge based upon items taken away.

Answer 4

The lender didn't take those items, the previous owner, the previous owners "friend", or a neighbor took them.

The lender has no interest in trinkety things, light fixtures or appliances. I have been in some REOs that have the hot water tank removed, the HVAC system is gone, appliances are of course gone, plumbing is ransacked - all in the interest of "getting what is theirs" or "sticking it to the man" - although the lendee did nothing but sticking it to themselves.

Be cautious of your neighbors, keep your friend close and your enemy closer.

Answer 5

No I think either the neighbors took the stuff or the previous owners came back and took it. The bank wouldn't take things out of the house.

Answer 6

I would agree with both previous answers. But you have to ask yourself what kind of a relationship do you want to establish with them?? I would be careful-sounds like you got a few "neighbors from hell".