People are wondering which should stay in the house and which can be brought after a foreclosure. Personal property which is not real estate can be removed and brought by the previous owner. However, fixtures like chandeliers, built-in cabinets, windows, and wirings should stay as they are affixed to the land, to the house, which means fixtures stay with the house.

Even with that in mind, still some desperate home owners are still from smashing walls to rip out wiring or copper pipes and selling them for scrap in back alleys. Some misguided home owners, angry at the bank for foreclosing, think it's somehow permissible to turn the home into a total nightmare.

They don't stop to think about the consequences for the next set of first-time home buyers who have pinched, saved and worked hard to qualify to buy a home priced at the bottom of the market, in "as is" condition, from a lender who couldn't sell it on the county courthouse steps because the home was trashed by its previous occupants.

But that is not the last thing that could happen. The previous owners may be liable and can be sued. It's the home owner's insurance companies that are most likely to pursue and prosecute sellers who vandalize or strip their homes while in foreclosure. When the bank receives title to the home through foreclosure proceedings, many banks submit an insurance claim to the existing insurance company to cover damage and missing real property items.

Insurance companies then actively go after the sellers because the company has faced a loss due to the seller's intentional behavior. Believe me, insurance companies are relentless, committed to collection and will prosecute to the fullest extent of the law.

Vandalism of Homes in Foreclosure

It's not all right to spray paint the walls or windows with graphic images or tagging. I've seen homes where every window looked like it had been whopped by a baseball bat. Some previous occupants deposited feces on counter tops or in the middle of the living room floor. One can only imagine where other odors originated from. Sometimes home owners turn on all the water faucets and plug up the drains before departing.
People who vandalize a home they are losing through foreclosure are not harming the bank by their illegal actions. They are harming innocent home buyers who, just like they once were, are hoping to achieve the American dream of home ownership. In short, owners who trash their homes are hurting themselves.
It's senseless, it's stupid and above all, vandalism is against the law.

Here are some things that can not be removed and not removed.

Can not be removed:

• Cabinets and counter tops
• Appliances such as stoves, built-in microwaves, dishwashers, etc. 
• Furnaces and air conditioning units 
• Plumbing and copper pipes 
• Romex or other electrical wiring 
• Light fixtures and ceiling fans 
• Doors and hardware 
• Flooring, ceilings and walls 
• Windows and vents 
• Medicine cabinets, sinks, tubs, toilets and showers 
• Sink drains and faucets 
• Built-in shelving / bookcases 
• Landscaping, fencing, built-in pools and spas

Can be removed:

All personal items brought into the home by the owner such as furniture, clothing and common household items such as dishes, pans and silverware

• Mirrors 
• Personal artwork and photographs from walls 
• Stationary lamps 
• Pets and pet-related items such as dog houses, aquariums, bird cages 
• Easily removable window coverings such as drapes or curtains 
• Refrigerators, televisions, computers and stereo equipment 
• Throw and area rugs 
• Indoor plants 
• Portable fans and heaters