After purchasing a home, the Johnsons installed a dishwasher into the kitchen cabinets. What is this item now considered?

When the Johnsons installed the dishwasher into the kitchen cabinets, it became a fixture. A fixture is defined as an item that was once personal property but has been attached to the real estate in such a way that it is considered a permanent part of the property. In this case, the dishwasher was installed and is now integrated into the kitchen’s infrastructure, which affects how it is regarded in terms of ownership and transfer during a sale.

Fixtures are generally considered to be included in the sale of the property unless specifically excluded in the sales agreement. This contrasts with personal property, which is not attached to the property and can be removed without causing damage. As a permanent installation, the dishwasher retains its functional relationship to the home, making it part of the real property rather than a movable item that could be easily taken out at any time.

While an appliance could roughly describe the dishwasher in terms of its use, it does not convey the legal implications of its attachment to the property. Hence, labeling it simply as an appliance would overlook its status as a fixture upon installation.