As you pack up your house and get ready to move into your next home, you may find it helpful to follow a packing timeline or moving checklist to guide you through the process. But do you pack everything?

How do you know what items to leave for the new homeowners?

First, you want to take everything with you that isn’t either included in the purchase agreement, or important to stay with the home. Don’t leave items behind just because you don’t want them. Think about when you move into your next home. You wouldn’t want to be left with trash, odds and ends, or mystery items.

To ensure you didn’t miss anything before you move out, do a room-by-room walk-through and check every cupboard and closet. Consider having a second person double-check as well.

Here’s a guide to some of the items that you may leave in the house.

Items included in the Purchase Agreement

Anything that the buyers asked for, and was included in the purchase agreement, should be left behind. This may include appliances, light fixtures, window treatments, or any other specific items they requested.

Replacement & maintenance items

Something that may not be in writing, but is usually safe to leave behind is anything tied to the maintenance of appliances, such as warranty information and manuals. A nice way to leave these behind is by organizing them all in a neat pile or folder.

If you have a small amount of extra or replacement supplies, you may consider leaving them as well. This may include a new furnace filter, a small number of replacement tiles that were leftover, extra cabinet hardware, a small amount of replacement stones or bricks for the backyard, etc.

Some people also choose to leave extra paint behind for the new owners. In this case, it should be a small number of cans, and ensure you label them with the room and/or include a paint chip if you still have one. (You might consider having your REALTOR ask in advance if this is something the new homeowners want, as they may be planning on repainting anyway).

A Welcoming Message

This is by no means a necessary item, but as we all know, moving is an emotional time. As you hand over your house to a new family, you may want to write a short note or card letting them know how much you enjoyed the house and welcome them to their new home.

If you’re preparing to move and you have any questions about items that should or shouldn’t be left with the home, don’t hesitate to ask us!