There are several situations where an addendum can be used. Most often, addendums are added when there physically is not enough room on the space provided in the agreement to clearly spell out the terms. Long lists can be printed out on these forms, such as lists of affixed items being removed from the property. Some affixed things that a seller may want to remove are:
Gazebos
Plants
Blinds
Sheds
A built in microwave or appliance
Curtains can be a grey area, and it is helpful to have them resolved and noted on the original contract. Awnings that are attached to the house are part of the structure as demonstrated in the outdoor space graph.
Other times the form may be necessary is if there are a lot of inspections and cleaning that the seller or buyer is going to pay for. The document could keep track of what needs to be done, and who is going to pay for it. Some people may want the heating unit’s filters changed. This HVAC infographic explains why. Some more examples of inspections and cleanings that could be on the addendum that are not on a traditional real estate contract are:
Duct work cleaning
Carpet cleaning
Gutter cleanout
Automatic sprinkler inspection
What are the Consequences for not Using a real estate addendum form PDF?
One of the consequences for not using the form is an illegible contract. If the items you are trying to describe that are part of deal are lengthy and you try and squeeze them all into a tiny space, it could cause issues down the line. Either party could say they could not read the words, or they thought the word was something else or just a blob of ink. If this happens, it could cost legal fees. In the end, a judge may have to decide what the illegible document says, and it could not be in your favor.
As discussed previously if the buyer or seller have long names an addendum can help fit them on the agreement. Leaving just the first initial and last name could cause another legal situation if one person or the other declares they are not the person on the contract. It could easily be resolved by the courts, but it takes time and money for all of that to happen. The best advice is any information that is pertinent to the offer but is wordy or lengthy should be written on the addendum form and attached to the contract.