What to Leave Behind When Moving

It’s only logical that when moving to a new home people sell their old property. It’s just as logical that some items sell with the property, simply because they’re considered part of the house – or because it would make no sense to move them.

It may, however, be a bit confusing to figure out what exactly stays with the house. There are no laws that clearly outline what has to be left behind and what the seller can take with them when moving.

Typically, permanent fixtures stay with the house and personal property goes with the seller. Sometimes, though, it may be very difficult to differentiate between the two – and certain items can fall into both categories.

Therefore, when moving house and selling your property, you need to do your homework and find out in advance what you should leave behind for the new owner – it will play a role in how you price your home and will help you plan your move in the best possible way.

So, what stays with a house when you sell it?

What to leave behind when moving?

As a rule of thumb, everything that is permanently fixed to the property should remain when you move out.

Yet, it’s up to you to decide what exactly will be included in the sale of the home – you just need to spell it out clearly in the purchase agreement.

Keep in mind though that some things are commonly expected to stay with the house and should better be left behind when you move:

1. Built-in fixtures

A built-in fixture is anything that is permanently attached to the structure by bolts, nails, screws, cement, glue, or any other attachment method.

Such fixtures include

• central heating boilers, furnaces, and radiators;
• fireplaces;
• bathroom suites;
• built-in vanities, cabinets, and countertops;
• built-in cupboards, wardrobes, bookshelves, and racks;
• ceiling fans and electrical outlets; etc.

Permanent fixtures are considered part of the house. Therefore, when the property is sold, they stay with it (unless a fixture is specifically excluded in the sales contract).

So, when moving house and selling your old home, you’re supposed to leave behind anything that is physically built into the home.

If you want to claim a fixture as personal property and take it with you, you will most likely be able to do so – if you have bought an item and installed it in the home, that item is rightfully yours.

You will, however, need to inform the buyer in advance and state in the contract that the fixture is not included in the sale.

Keep in mind that a fixture can be an indispensable selling point – you may lose a potential buyer if you exclude a desirable fixture from the sale.

Your old home’s selling appeal aside, moving a built-in fixture is not a good idea at all:

• Removing the fixture will be difficult, expensive, and time-consuming – and will almost certainly cause damage to the property;
• In most cases, it will be extremely difficult to move the item to your new location – the fixture may need to be dismantled or may require special handling; there will be a high risk of damaging the item during the moving process; the cost of relocating the fixture is likely to be very high; etc.;
• The fixture may not fit well in your new home.

All in all, taking a built-in fixture with you when you move is not worth it – even if you’ve spent money and effort on it. Everything that is bolted, nailed, or mounted should stay with the house.

Do you have to leave curtains when you move?

Window treatments, such as drapes and curtains, are personal property, so you have every right to take them with you when you move.

Moving curtains, however, is not very easy (it’s difficult to prevent them from wrinkling during the move) – and your old drapes may not fit the windows of your new home.

So, before you start wondering how to best pack your curtains for moving, it’s a good idea to ask the new owner if they want the drapes – even though people have different tastes, if the curtains are high quality and in decent shape, the new residents may be happy to have them (it will save them the trouble of measuring the windows, finding curtains that fit, and climbing up to hang them).

If you like your old curtains, though, and know that they will fit in your new home, it makes sense to take them with you.

Just keep in mind that the curtain rods, brackets, and holdbacks are considered part of the property (because they’re bolted to the wall), so they should be left to the new owner. If you want to take them too, you need to exclude them from the sale and specify it in writing.

Do curtains stay with the house?

No, unless the new owner wants them and you don’t.

Do you leave curtain rods when you move?

Yes, unless otherwise specified in the sales agreement.

Do you leave TV wall mounts when you move?

While TV sets and home theater systems are, of course, personal property, the mounts they’re placed on are permanently attached to the walls of the home – so, they’re part of the property and should be left behind when the house is sold.

Besides, removing TV wall mounts and other wall mounts (for monitors, speakers, heavy pictures, mirrors, plants, bikes, etc.) will cause considerable damage to the walls, so it is definitely not a good idea.

In case you want to take the TV’s mounting mechanism with you, you need to state so in the sales contract.

Related: How to Pack a TV for Moving

Do mirrors stay with the house?

If a mirror is bolted to the wall, it is considered a permanent fixture and should stay with the house when you sell it.

In case a mirror is just hanging on a wall, though, you can take it with you.

Items that are free-standing or hung by a hook or nail are not permanent fixtures and are not expected to stay with the house.

Related: How to Pack Pictures and Mirrors for Moving

Does hardware stay with the house?

It is only natural that things like doorknobs, drawer pulls, cabinet handles, sink faucets, toilet paper holders, and other hardware items stay with the house – they are attached to the property and they’re needed for the home to be functional.

So, when you sell your house, you need to leave bathroom fixtures and kitchen hardware behind – your new home will be equipped with most of these features, anyway, so you won’t need your current ones.

If you want to take some hardware items with you (like the vintage front doorknob you installed when you first moved into the house), you need to install suitable replacements before you move.

Must-read: How to Prepare a House for Sale When Moving

2. Light fixtures

Light fixtures are not exactly permanent fixtures (they’re not built into the home), but they’re typically seen as part of the property – and they often play a role in the pricing of the home.

This means that when you sell your house, all fixed lighting options (recessed lighting fixtures, ceiling lights, wall sconces, and even chandeliers) should be left behind for the new owner.

If you want to take a light fixture with you when you move (like that expensive chandelier you bought several years ago), notify the real estate agent in advance and make sure any potential buyers are aware of your intentions before signing the purchase contract.

It may be best to remove the fixture before you list your house for sale and replace it with one that you don’t want to keep. 

Be sure to leave light bulbs in place!

Related: How to Pack Lamps and Lampshades for Moving

3. Appliances

In most cases, appliances are not fixed to the property – they can be unplugged and moved, so they’re not required to stay with the house when it’s sold. It is, however, common for large kitchen appliances to be left for the new owners.

So, when moving and selling your house, it’s up to you to decide whether you want to take your appliances with you or include them in the listing price of the property.

Keep in mind, though, that large and heavy appliances are very difficult to move, not to mention that your current refrigerator, washer, dryer, stove, etc. may not fit well in your new home.

Besides, major appliances are essential to living in the house – and a big part of your home’s desirability comes from the available appliances.

First-time homeowners who don’t have their own appliances will be more likely to place an offer on a home if the kitchen comes well-equipped – and many buyers will be willing to increase their offers to keep quality appliances.  

It is, therefore, best to add your appliances to the overall value of the home – this way, the new owners will have a functional kitchen when they move in, you will save yourself the trouble (and cost) of relocating your old appliances, and the extra money will go toward buying better appliances for your new home.

Good to remember:

• In case you decide to take some of your appliances with you, make it clear in the paperwork;
• If you leave any appliances behind, be sure to leave their corresponding warranties and user manuals as well.

Related: How to Move Kitchen Appliances

4. Hardwired systems

Wireless security systems and other portable home systems are designed to be moved, so they can go with the seller.

Built-in systems, however, as well as systems that connect to the home’s electrical system stay with the house – this means that hardwired alarm systems, smoke detectors, sprinkler systems, intercoms, sound systems, and smart home features are passed on to the new owner.

Good to remember: If a security company monitors your alarm system, be sure to inform the company of your move and either relocate or cancel the service.

5. Home customizations

Custom-fit items – custom tiling, custom rugs, custom blinds, custom racks, etc. – are made specifically for the home. They make a valuable addition to the property and won’t fit in another home – so, they should stay with the house when it is sold.   

If you have any customized items in your home, you’re not required to leave them behind when you move – yet, you’re strongly advised to do so.

You won’t be able to use these items in your new surroundings, but the new occupants of your old home will benefit from them.

Besides, potential buyers may be willing to increase their offer in order to keep custom items in the property.

6. Permanent outdoor fixtures

As already discussed above, everything that is permanently fixed to the property is considered part of the real estate and sells with it.

This refers not only to fixtures inside the home but also to anything built into the ground or attached to a permanent structure in the yard. This includes

• mailboxes,
• birdhouses,
• gazebos,
• sheds,
• garden benches,
• garden water features,
• swimming pools,
• playground equipment,
• fire pits,
• yard lights, etc.  

The rule is the same for all outdoor fixtures – if they’re anchored in place, they’re part of the property and must stay with it; if they’re freestanding, they can go with the seller.

So, if the basketball hoop is attached to the garage, you should leave it behind – if it’s got its own base, you can take it with you.

If the shed, swing set, or garden bench is cemented into the ground, it is considered part of the real estate – if it is sitting on top of the grass, it is considered your personal property.

In-ground fire pits should stay – a fire pit standing on the patio can go with you.

Needless to say, spas and swimming pools must remain – they greatly increase the desirability and value of the property and they’re virtually impossible to move.

As with other built-in items, if you want to take a particular permanent outdoor fixture with you when you move, you need to specifically list it as an exclusion in the sales contract.

7. Landscaping and in-ground plants

Naturally, any trees, shrubs, and flowers planted in the ground, as well as all permanent landscaping features,  should stay in place – not only does the landscaping enhance the curb appeal and overall value of the property, but established plants are quite unlikely to survive a move to another location.

So, even if you have spent countless hours looking after your plants and love your beautiful garden, the right thing to do is leave the greenery to the new owner.

If you can’t bear to part with a prized shrub or a tree that has special meaning to you, take cuttings to propagate the plant at your new place.

See also: How to Move Your Garden

Now that you know what stays with a house when you move, it will be easier to decide what exactly to take with you and what to get rid of before the relocation – you will know what you have for moving and will be able to

• create a detailed moving inventory,
• get an accurate moving estimate, and
• prepare for your move as best as possible.

There is just one more thing to consider as you’re preparing your home for moving:

What to leave for the new homeowners

While packing your items and getting ready to move out, remember that the house you’re about to leave will soon become the home of another family – and you can make them feel welcome – and make their new life easier – by leaving a few useful things for them:

Keys and remotes

While the new owners are likely to get the locks changed soon after moving in, be sure to pass along the keys, remotes, and codes needed for the current locks (front door key, back door key, keys for internal doors, window keys, shed key, garage door remote, alarm codes, etc.).

Paints and remodeling materials

If you have any leftover paints and remodeling materials (bathroom or kitchen tiles, wood trim, flooring, etc.) from recent repair or renovation works you have done on your old home, your best option is to leave them for the new owners.

Paints are considered hazardous materials, so movers won’t move them for you – and even if you can transport the paint cans and some other remodeling materials in your car, you will probably not be able to use them in your new home, anyway.

See also: What Movers Won’t Move: List of Non-Allowable Items

The new occupants of your home, on the other hand, may need these paints and materials – they will be glad to have the correct paint colors and the right materials on hand to touch up any scratches, scuffs, or dings that may occur during the moving process.

Information

What the new residents will need the most after moving in is information – information about the home, the neighborhood, the community life, etc.

The most useful information to leave for new homeowners includes:

• The locations of the fuse box, the main water valve, and the meters for gas, electricity, and water;
• Operating instructions for the central heating, water heater, and any available home systems and appliances;
• Waste collection dates;
• Recommendable service providers;
• Neighborhood information – local rules and regulations, best shops, restaurants, and take-away places, popular hangings spots, community leaders, etc.

Any practical advice that will help the new homeowners adjust faster and more easily to their new surroundings will be highly appreciated.

Home welcoming gifts

It is a nice gesture to leave a small home welcoming gift to the new residents – a beautiful vase, a bottle of wine, a framed picture of the house, a funny doormat, etc. – and wish them a happy life in your once-home.  

When wondering what to leave in a house when moving, keep in mind that the fewer items you take with you, the easier and cheaper your move is going to be. So, even if something is not supposed to stay with the house when you sell it, you can still offer it to potential buyers:

• Items that can help sell the house or increase the asking price
• Items that are too difficult or too expensive to move
• Items you no longer need or want

These things can include anything from appliances, custom-fit items, landscaping features, patio furniture, and playsets to lawn equipment, exercise equipment, game tables, and hot tubs.

If the new owner wants any of them, it will be a win-win – they will get a useful item or a desirable feature and you will save yourself a lot of money, effort, and nerves on your move.

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Leaving things behind when you move can be beneficial for everyone – so, think twice before you decide to take something to your new place.

Have a smooth relocation and enjoy your clutter-free life in your new home!