There are limits to what you, as a seller, can take from the house you are leaving. In general, if it needs a tool to remove it, it stays with the house. Your Realtor can help answer any questions regarding specific items.
Another way to look at it is anything that is personal property typically goes with a seller, while real property stays unless otherwise agreed upon by both the seller and buyer.
What is Real Property?
Real Property is land and anything attached to the land; for example, buildings, structures, landscaping, plants and trees.
What is Personal Property?
Anything that isn’t real property. Personal property is not permanently attached to land (or could be removed from real property without the use of a tool). Personal property includes vehicles, farm equipment, jewelry, household goods, stocks and bonds.
For example, a TV is personal property, but the TV mount is real property because you need to remove it with a tool. An uninstalled furnace or water heater would be considered personal property but once it is installed, it automatically becomes real property.
Some Common Examples of What Stays
Landscape and Yard Decorations: If you want to take a specific decoration or plant, you either need to state it on your listing or remove it before your house officially goes on the market. Otherwise, anything that needs to be dug up or is part of a landscape feature needs to stay behind.
Curtains and Window Dressings: The curtains and other window dressings are part of the house and need to remain when you leave unless specified or removed before putting your home on the market.
TV Mounts: Television wall mounts and other attached lighting fixtures (like chandeliers) are a part of the house and stay behind. While not required, it is customary to remove the wall mount portion from the back of your TV for the new homeowner.
