Moving can be an exhilarating experience, but it can also be complicated. Packing up your entire life involves a lot of decision-making, and a gray area that can muddle things further is expectations—namely, which items a seller expects to keep versus what a buyer expects to come with the home. 

 While it’s generally understood that certain items come with the house (and are often negotiated up front), many other items can cause disagreement, resulting in animosity, pulled offers, and even lawsuits. So understanding what to take, what to leave behind, and what to negotiate can go a long way toward a peaceful, satisfying move for all involved. 

Garden plants/flowers: LEAVE 

Regardless of how much work you put into your garden, anything that is planted is considered part of the property and must be left behind. However, you can bring your potted plants with you to brighten up your new place. 

Outdoor equipment: IT DEPENDS 

Take your beloved grill with you unless it’s a permanent installation on your patio. How about your kids’ swingset or your trusty shed? The same rule applies. If it’s a large structure that’s attached to the ground, especially if it would leave a gaping swath of dead grass behind if removed, you should leave it intact. 

Curtains: TAKE

Unless they were specifically made for the measurements of your current house, you can slide off any curtains and take them with you.

Blinds: LEAVE

In contrast, your blinds are technically considered attachments, so they should stay unless otherwise negotiated. This is especially true of custom-made designs, which would be convenient for the new owners to have and likely useless to you in your new home.

Wall mounts: LEAVE

As a rule of thumb, don’t leave a holey mess for the new homeowners. So if your seventy-inch TV is attached to the living room wall with a mount, it’s probably better for everyone if you leave the hardware on the wall rather than leave gaping holes behind. Another option: you could keep the hardware and have a professional fix the wall.

Light fixtures: LEAVE

If prospective buyers see light fixtures such as chandeliers during their home tour, they would expect them to come with the home unless it’s stated otherwise in your MLS listing or discussed by your respective agents.

Appliances: NEGOTIABLE

Put yourself in a buyer’s shoes: when you see a kitchen, are you drawn to the appliances—especially if they go perfectly with the room? That said, unless they are hardwired (as a stove or microwave might be), they’re technically either yours to keep or a stellar bargaining chip for your sale in your listing.

Artwork: TAKE

As one of the most personal pieces of decor in a home, art is something prospective buyers will want you to pack up so they can replace it with their own. You may want to ask whether the buyers want you to leave nails or other hardware in the walls for them to use; if not, remove them and make the walls flawless.

Heavy items: NEGOTIABLE

Sure, it would be much easier for you to leave your old, heavy piano behind, but if it’s not nailed down, a buyer will assume it’s going with you and likely have plans for the ample space it takes up. On the other hand, something like a pool table may be more attractive to potential buyers and could even be a selling point if it comes with the house.

Paint cans: IT DEPENDS

Unless you’re completely in love with a color and want to transfer it to your new home, there’s no need to bring leftover paint cans with you. In fact, offering to leave them for the new owners could be a great goodwill gesture so they can touch up their new home as needed in the future. However, if they don’t want your paint or it has gone bad, make sure to properly dispose of it before you move.

The bottom line is that when it comes to what stays and what goes, the key is to communicate early and often. Make sure to discuss everything with your agent so you are on the same page with them and the other parties involved.