Can You Leave Stuff Behind When You Sell Your House?
I sold and moved recently. I asked my agent,
“Can I leave stuff behind when I sell my house?”
Here is a chronicle of what they said and other information I gather.
Can I Leave stuff When I Sell My House?
Table of Contents
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I’m patting myself on the back right now because I sold my house! It’s been a long time coming. Now, it’s time to pack up and leave.
Can You Leave Stuff Behind When You Sell Your House?
Looking at all this “stuff” I’ve accumulated over the years is giving me a headache.I know I don’t want or need some of it anymore.
While the idea is to clear out the house (except for the items the new buyers negotiated), can I leave stuff in my house when I move?
Leaving Behind Items
While there are some things you should leave as a seller, leaving behind items that weren’t discussed or the norm isn’t recommended.
It begs the question:
Can You Leave Stuff Behind When You Sell Your House?
As a seller, you should expect some language in the contract that says when you should be out of the home and all personal property, debris, and garbage removed by that time.
But Can You Leave Trash When You Sell?
The short answer: You can leave trash in your house when you sell it, BUT …
The long answer: You could leave the trash, but leaving it is poor taste – in my humble opinion. Unless, of course, the contract says you can.
You should know, anything you leave behind now belongs to the new owners. Think about this – a few sellers left items in the house that can turn out to be valuable. The buyers now own it and the seller loses money.
At any rate, it’s not a good look.
You could face penalties or even a small claims lawsuit depending on the amount of trash and damage left behind. Do you really want to go through that?
Do you really have to ask?
Can I Leave Stuff Behind When I Sell My House?
I spoke to an agent friend of mine about clients who wanted to leave junk behind when they sold their house.
She said, “I am actually disappointed when sellers ask if they can leave behind a bunch of junk. Don’t you think it’s the right thing to do to leave the place clean and tidy for the buyer?”
She continued, “Plus whatever happened to the saying, Do unto others as you wish done unto you.”
What Should Sellers Leave for Buyers?
As a seller, you shouldn’t leave anything on the property without prior permission. You want to make things drama-free. Here is a list of items most sellers leave for the new owners:
Manuals, warranties, extra parts
If all the appliances remain in the home, the manuals on how to operate them or who to contact if something goes wrong should be left. Any current warranties should also be left, and extra parts for items that may need replacing.
Extra filters for the HVAC if your new unit doesn’t use them
If there are any leftover filters, it’s always better to leave them instead of throwing them away. There should also be a list or label on the unit with the size of the filter.
Extra cabinet hardware
If the knobs and hardware on the cabinets were changed, leaving replacement pieces could work wonders for the new owners.
Extra tiles from previous work
Ceramic or other engineered tiles can crack or break at any time. Leaving extra pieces will save the new owners a lot of headaches when looking for the brand and lot numbers. It’s also a good idea to leave the name of the tile, color, where it was purchased, etc. to make things easier if they want to add tiles to other areas of the home.
The goal is to help the buyer transition into the home with items they may need but use your best judgment.
All real estate fixtures should remain.
What Are Fixtures?
In real estate, fixtures are items that are physically attached to the property in some way.
Things on the ceilings, floors, or walls that are:
- screwed in
- bolted
- glued
- nailed
- cemented
In most cases, blinds or shades are considered fixtures and should remain. Any special fixtures in the home that are not part of the sale must be in the contract.
This includes chandeliers, wall sconces, bathroom mirrors, built-ins, smoke detectors, alarm systems (unless wireless and portable), and built-in outside kitchen appliances.
The MARIA acronym is a good way to figure it out.
• M
Method of attachment. If it’s permanently affixed to the property, it’s a fixture.
• A
Adaptability. Is it a relevant part of the property even if it can be easily removed?
• R
The relationship of the parties. If it’s affixed or installed for permanency, the buyers may assume it is a fixture.
• I
Intention. Was the intention for the item to be permanently attached?
• A
Agreement. Everyone must abide by what’s in the contract. Everything included in the sale should be listed.
Do You Leave Curtains When You Move?
When it comes to curtains, the permanent fixture rule applies. If the curtains are custom and made to fit specialized windows, they’ll probably be a bargaining tool.
In some cases, they could be a fixture even though they can be removed. Most of the time, they aren’t real estate fixtures because they hang from a rod.
But … the rod itself is attached to the wall, which makes it a fixture.
Leaving Furniture When Selling a House
If there are pieces of furniture you think the new owner may want, let the real estate agent know. They’ll speak to the other agent and find out if the new owners want it.
If not, the best thing to do is clear everything out. The last thing you want is new owners cleaning up messes they didn’t make.
Follow the rules. If it’s in the contract that everything should be removed, do it.
Leave Extra Paint [If It's Current]
Paint is one of the first things new buyers refresh or change. If they are in love with certain colors already there, leaving the can with leftover paint is a gesture of good faith.
If there isn’t any leftover paint, leaving a list of the brand and color for each room is helpful. This alleviates trying to match paint which could look different based on the lighting in the photo. Special edition colors can still be matched with the right information.
So, can you leave stuff behind when you sell your home?
Generally, yes you can. Should you? Maybe not. If it’s attached, leave it alone unless it’s in the contract. Why would you leave stuff behind when you move? Would you want it done to you? Think about that before your next move. It looks bad, will cost the buyers money, and sets the wrong example.
So, can you leave stuff behind when you sell your home?
So, can you leave stuff behind when you sell your home?
Of course you can, right?
But should you?
Maybe not.
If it’s attached, leave it behind unless the contract says you can take it.
TRASH AND OTHER JUNK
Why would you leave stuff behind when you move?
Would you want it done to you?
Think about that before your next move.
It looks bad, will cost the buyers money, and sets the wrong example.
Sell Your House As-Is
If you sell your house as-is then you can absolutely leave anything behind. In fact, the buyer expects it.
We buy houses and we buy them as-is. Sell your house to us and you don’t even have to clean!
Best way to sell your house in Chaffee Park or Denver.
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