Getting Ready to Sell Your Home? Know What Stays and What Goes

Your moving day is just around the corner and you're ready with packing boxes, duct tape, and a moving truck. However, before you start packing up your entire home, it's beneficial to understand what items should stay with the house and what should go with you. This guide will help simplify your move and prevent any potential misunderstandings with the homebuyer or their agent.

Items That Stay Behind

It's crucial to remember that certain items within and outside your home are included in your home's sale. Many of these items are fixtures, meaning they are permanently attached to your property. However, you can choose to exclude some of these items from your home's sale. In such cases, you must negotiate this exclusion with the buyer and incorporate it into the sales contract, something a real estate agent can help with.

Outdoor In-Ground Items

Outdoor features that are secured into the ground, like mailboxes, basketball hoops, and fire pits, are included in the home sale. This rule also extends to landscaping elements like trees, plants, and shrubs.

Lighting Fixtures

If you installed an expensive chandelier in your dining room, it will have to stay unless you've listed it as an exclusion in the sales contract. Also, do not replace a light fixture with a different one without informing the buyer. If you wish to replace a fixture, do it before you list your home.

Mirrors

While hanging mirrors can be taken, those bolted to walls should remain unless agreed upon otherwise.

Window Treatments, Cabinet Hardware, and Doorknobs

Curtain rods, holdbacks, and blinds, being attached to your home, are expected to stay. However, you're free to pack up curtains and drapes.

Also, the hardware on your cabinets and doorknobs should stay in place. If you've installed a specific feature you'd like to keep, you'll need to get the buyer's consent to replace it before moving out. You can also replace these items before listing the house.

Smoke Detectors

Both smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors are to be left behind when selling your home.

Paint

It might be nice to leave any extra paint or wallpaper for the new owners. This is not a requirement, but it's a courteous gesture if they need to do any repairs or touch-ups.

Items That Go With You

Certain items in your home aren't included in the home sale. However, there might be exceptions based on your circumstances.

Appliances

Typically, appliances such as refrigerators, washers, and dryers aren't included in the home sale. However, this varies from sale to sale, and some sellers leave appliances for the new homeowners. Ensure you detail this in the sales contract if you're not planning to include appliances in the sale.

Built-in appliances like dishwashers and some microwaves and ovens are considered fixtures and are thus included in the sale. If you're leaving appliances behind, also leave any manuals and warranty information.

Hot Tubs and Above-Ground Pools

A standalone hot tub or above-ground pool isn't necessarily part of a home sale. However, due to the cost and hassle of moving these items, you might want to include them in the sale.

Furniture

All your indoor and outdoor furniture will move with you. However, built-in items like shelves, desks, or benches, will need to stay.

Remember, understanding what stays and what goes when selling your home can make the moving process less stressful. For more moving tips, check out our other these suggestions that can help you save time and money.. If you found this guide helpful, feel free to share it with others who might find it useful. Happy moving!