After purchasing a home, the Johnson's purchased a dishwasher and installed it into the kitchen cabinets. This item has now become:

• A. A fixture
• B. Personal property
• C. Moveable equipment
• D. A leasehold improvement

Answer: (A)

The item is considered a fixture. When an appliance is installed so it becomes integrated with the structure—tied into the cabinets, plumbing, and electrical system—it’s treated as part of the real property. Because the dishwasher is built into the kitchen setup, removing it would likely damage the property, and it transfers with the home to the new owner unless the sale contract specifies otherwise. If it were merely a freestanding, removable appliance, it would be personal property. Leasehold improvements apply to improvements made by a tenant to a leased space, and movable equipment isn’t the standard way to describe permanently installed home appliances.