What needs to be left behind after selling?

The test is not what feels attached. It is what your contract says, and in Colorado the Commission-approved Contract to Buy and Sell has Inclusions and Exclusions sections that control the whole question. Anything you intend to take with you has to be written into Exclusions before you go under contract, not negotiated after. The thread has covered the fixture rule and the contract, so let me give you the part that is actually worth having: the fight list. These are the items that generate real disputes at walkthrough, because reasonable people genuinely disagree about them. Write each one in, either way. - Washer and dryer. Often personal property in Colorado, but buyers frequently assume they stay. Say it. - Refrigerator. The kitchen fridge is the single most common argument in the country. Also name the garage fridge and the deep freezer separately, because "refrigerator" reads as one appliance. - Window coverings. Brenda already flagged these and she is right that they generally stay. The part that still causes arguments is the hardware: blinds and shades stay, curtains usually go, and the rods and mounting brackets are where it turns into a phone call. Specify the rods. - Mounted TVs. The TV goes. The mount is the fight, and so is the hole in the drywall behind it. Say which, and say who patches. - Wall mirrors, mounted shelving, closet systems, and the anchors and damage they leave. - Anything anchored outside: the fire pit, the basketball hoop, the swing set, the storage shed, the trampoline. Anchored or on a pad generally stays. Freestanding generally goes. Neither assumption is safe. - Plants. In the ground stays. In a pot goes. Landscape lighting, drip lines and timers stay. - Smart home devices. Thermostats and video doorbells are fixtures and they stay, but you must delete your account from every one of them and factory reset them, or you are leaving yourself logged into someone else's house. And your security system's monitoring contract does not transfer automatically. - Solar, if you have it. Owned systems convey. Leased systems require the buyer to be approved to assume the agreement, and that needs to be handled early, not at closing. - Water softener, reverse osmosis unit, EV charger, generator, radon mitigation fan. All commonly assumed to stay and occasionally taken. Then the handover list, which is not about ownership but about not being the seller everyone complains about: all keys, every garage remote, gate fobs, mailbox key, appliance manuals and warranties, the alarm code, and any leftover matching paint labeled by room. One piece of practical advice that has saved my sellers real grief. Whatever you leave behind that the buyer did not agree to take is your problem, not a gift. "I left them the good grill and half a garage of paint" reads to a buyer at final walkthrough as "they left their junk for me to haul." If it was not written into the contract, take it or ask first. I am Zoltan Peresztegi, a real estate professional in Los Angeles and the South Bay, not an attorney, and the Colorado contract is its own animal. Your listing agent should walk the Inclusions and Exclusions sections with you line by line before you sign anything. If they do not offer, ask. If you would like an introduction to a strong Boulder area agent, just say so. Zoltan

Darren, generally, anything permanently attached to the property should remain after the sale unless the purchase agreement specifically states otherwise. This includes light fixtures, built-in appliances, window coverings and hardware, attached shelving, mounted televisions or brackets if included in the contract, and any other agreed-upon fixtures. Please leave all house keys, garage-door openers, mailbox keys, gate or security remotes, alarm codes, appliance manuals, warranties, and any information the buyer may need to operate or maintain the home. All personal belongings, trash, and items that were not included in the sale should be removed. The property should be left clean and in the condition required under the purchase agreement. The final decision should be based on the specific terms of your contract. Which items are you uncertain about? Review them with your agents. Best Brenda Ashby JohnHart Real Estate

Darren, you should refer to your listing agreement. Keith Jean-Pierre Managing Principal The Dapper Agents Real Estate Operations in ALL 50 States

Everything that is "attached" to the house is "included" unless otherwise stated in the "exclusions". I kid you not I have written contracts that "included" chickens and another with fish. I have also "excluded" trash before. The long of the short...hire a good realtor that can write a contract to your specifications.

Everything is negotiable in a real estate transaction. Anything attached to the home is expected to stay. Some appliances like refrigerators, washer and Dryers are at your discretion.

This is a great question and some of this depends on the market that you are in, because they are not all the same. I would always consult with a local REALTOR to be sure based on the area contracts. To answer in general, Most loans require that the basics are in place, Items that are ATTACHED! Such as light fixtures, blinds, and Bathroom mirrors. (A picture hanging on a wall is not attached) Some contracts require TV Mounts to stay but not the TV as they can make a large hole in the wall ( Good Rule of Thumb if it leaves a big hole in the wall it is best to leave it there) Most appliances stay with exceptions.... In the state of SC Refrigerators are not required to stay unless written into the contract or unless they are a custom fridge built in with special cabinets. Microwaves that are just sitting on the counter do not have to stay unless they are written into the contract. So ultimately, It all depends on the contract for your area. But these are general rules.