Tests to distinguish a fixture from personal property include all of the following except:

• A. Method of attachment
• B. Intent of annexor
• C. Cost of the item
• D. Adaptability

Answer: (C)

The key idea is that whether an item is a fixture or personal property is decided by how it relates to the real estate, not by how much it costs. The tests focus on three factors: how the item is attached or integrated into the property, whether it is adapted or customized for the property, and the intent of the person who placed it there (whether they intended it to stay with the property). When an item is firmly attached, becomes part of the property through adaptation, or the owner intends it to remain, it is typically a fixture and conveys with the real estate unless stated otherwise. A freestanding or easily removable item, lacking such attachment or intent, remains personal property.

Cost of the item is not a determining test. Two items of similar or different price can be fixtures or personal property depending on attachment, adaptation, and intent.