If you plan to say goodbye to your current home and list it for sale, it would be good to have a general idea of what to expect. One vital part of the process is to know what things you should leave behind when selling your home.
This might sound like a no-brainer, but many sellers must know if they should empty the house or leave something behind. On the other hand, one might get tempted to take everything for financial or other reasons. However, being petty in the house sale won't get you far.
So, if you need help deciding what to bring when leaving your home, stay tuned to learn about some unwritten rules regarding home sales and things that remain once the home is sold.
Ready to find your dream home in Colorado?
Let us help you. Call or Text Kenna Real Estate Group at 303-955-4220 to get personalized assistance from our expert real estate agents. Find out what your home is worth in today's market.
The list of things you should leave behind when selling your house.
Once you decide to sell your home, numerous items and decisions will only seem to come up. So, one day, you might be stuck with a thought: Should you leave the curtain rods for the new owners or take them with you?
Fortunately, this article shares the list of things you should leave behind when selling your house. Knowing this will help you avoid unnecessary confusion. Furthermore, you'll be able to start your relocation process sooner.
Moving is a significant and stressful thing in an individual's life, so you should put proper thought into it. For instance, once you decide what stays and what goes, the next vital thing is to contact professional moving companies. The offer might be overwhelming at first. That's why you should narrow your list, get recommendations, and choose the most reliable ones to ensure the safety and security of your belongings.
Nevertheless, to help you get to the point of packing your boxes, you must first be aware of the stuff you should leave behind when selling your home.
Window treatments and hardware
Even though you might've spent a fortune on your custom-made blinds, it's better to know from the start that they are things that convey. We've looked in the real estate vocabulary and discovered that things that say are the items that sell with the property. Therefore, your custom-made blinds and rods are part of the window treatments; you should leave them hanging.
Also, mirrors can be a matter of question. But you can quickly figure out if they stay or go. If the mirror is hung like a picture, it's personal property. On the other hand, if it's bolted to the studs, you should leave it behind.
Ready to find your dream home in Colorado?
Let us help you. Call or Text Kenna Real Estate Group at 303-955-4220 to get personalized assistance from our expert real estate agents. Find out what your home is worth in today's market.
Certain appliances as a negotiation tactic.
Taking your appliances with you is fine as long as they are free-standing. On the other hand, the devices that are hardwired or connected to the plumbing should stay. Some of the most common appliances that should remain are:
- built-in dishwasher,
- cooktops,
- ovens,
- range hoods, etc.
If the buyer inquires about other appliances, you can use this as a negotiation tactic. Or, if you decide to leave the washing machine and the fridge from the get-go, make sure you (or your realtor) use that as a selling point when you welcome your buyers for the viewings.
Let go of the light fixtures.
When selling your house, the unwritten rule is that anything attached to it should stay once you close the deal. So, if you're connected to your dining room chandelier, ensure the contract clearly states it's not included in the sale. However, it would be best if you replaced it with another fixture.
If, for some reason, you decide to take it with you just before the closing and change it or leave the wires hanging, it will show disrespect to the new house owners. They expect to get the house as they saw it during the showing.
Finally, leave the light bulbs so your buyers don't enter the house completely dark.
Leftover paint.
The leftover paint can be a pain to get rid of. Luckily, the new owners might be happy to have some color greenery at their new place.

Leftover paint should be on the list of things you should leave behind when selling, as new owners might find it helpful.
Owner manuals and warranties.
If there are home accessories and appliances you'll be leaving behind, you should leave their manuals and warranties, too. This way, you'll be helping your buyers order parts once they need to be serviced.
Ready to find your dream home in Colorado?
Let us help you. Call or Text Kenna Real Estate Group at 303-955-4220 to get personalized assistance from our expert real estate agents. Find out what your home is worth in today's market.
Leave Mother Nature as in the listing.
Believe it or not, some buyers complained that once they moved into their new home, doorknobs, toilet paper holders, and even trees were missing. It's worth remembering that anything attached to the ground is a part of the property for sale.
Your buyers expect to see the yard as they did during the showing. Therefore, the trees, bushes, and flowers are the things that stay.
Anything that's attached to the ground stays.
As we've mentioned, things attached to the house and its grounds are part of the estate property rather than your personal. This means you'll need to leave behind things like:
- your fireplace,
- the mailbox,
- firepits,
- in-ground lighting fixtures used for landscaping,
- trash compactors, and so on.

Built-in items are always a part of items that convey.
Spare keys.
Most new homeowners will change the locks even before they move in. However, leaving them with the spare keys and the original is still a good idea. It will give them peace of mind, at least if needed.
Garage door opener.
If you forget to leave the garage door openers to your buyers, they'll need to go through the hassle of replacing them. That's why this falls upon the list of things you should leave behind when selling, and it's a good thing to do.

It's nice to leave the garage door opener and the house functional for the new owners.
Hardwired systems also stay.
Finally, anything that is hardwired stays. Typical examples include:
- electrical, mechanical, plumbing, lighting, heating and cooling features,
- solar energy systems,
- ceiling fans,
- TV antennas and satellite dishes,
- pool and spa equipment if there,
- alarms and security systems,
- door and window screens,
- water heaters, and so on.
Ready to find your dream home in Colorado?
Let us help you. Call or Text Kenna Real Estate Group at 303-955-4220 to get personalized assistance from our expert real estate agents. Find out what your home is worth in today's market.
The takeaway from things you should leave behind when selling.
Our article provided helpful tips if you needed Help deciding what to leave behind when selling your home. Of course, you can always ask your agent if you need to be more specific about some things and make the whole process easier.
