The Seller's Checklist: Top 10 Things to Leave Behind (And Top 10 to Take With You) When You Sell Your Home

Selling your home is one of the biggest financial transactions of your life — and the experience you leave behind for the new owners says a lot about the kind of seller you were. A thoughtful handoff doesn't just earn goodwill; it can prevent post-closing disputes, protect you from liability, and leave a legacy of pride in your property.

We've compiled the definitive guide: 10 things you absolutely should leave behind, and 10 things you should always take with you.

TOP 10 THINGS YOU SHOULD LEAVE BEHIND

1. A "Home Bible" — Every Manual, Warranty & Receipt

Leave behind a clearly labeled binder or folder (or a shared Google Drive link) containing:

• Appliance manuals for every item that conveys — dishwasher, HVAC, refrigerator, range, washer/dryer
• Warranty documents and any transferable warranty information
• Receipts for major improvements (roof, HVAC, windows) — these matter enormously for the new owner's homeowners insurance and potential resale value down the road

Pro Tip: Scan everything and leave a USB drive or QR code linking to a shared folder. New owners will thank you for years.

2. All Keys, Fobs, Garage Remotes & Access Devices

This sounds obvious, but it's one of the most common post-closing complaints. Leave:

• Every copy of every key — front door, back door, side gate, mailbox, pool shed, storage unit
• All garage door openers and remotes, including any wall-mounted keypads and their access codes
• HOA amenity keys or fobs (gym, pool, clubhouse)
• Smart lock access codes — or better yet, perform a full factory reset and document the reset process

Leaving access devices behind is not just courteous — in some states, it's required by contract.

3. Paint Chips, Codes & Leftover Paint

Few things frustrate new homeowners more than a mysterious scuff on the wall with no way to touch it up. Leave behind:

• Leftover cans of paint, labeled by room (use a paint pen or masking tape)
• The exact color name, brand, finish, and custom mix codes from the hardware store receipt
• Physical paint chips or a color card for each room

Seal leftover cans tightly, store them label-up, and leave them in a garage corner or utility room.

4. A Vetted Contact List of Service Providers

Your home has a history, and the tradespeople who know it are invaluable. Leave a printed or digital list of:

• HVAC technician (especially if they know your specific system)
• Plumber and electrician
• Pest control company (with service history dates)
• Lawn care and landscaping service
• Chimney sweep, pool maintenance, or septic service — any specialist relevant to your home
• HOA contact information (management company name, phone, portal login instructions)

This is a gift that saves the new owners hours of research — and steers them away from unreliable contractors and it gives the new owners access to the tradesmen who know your systems already, saving guesswork, confusion, and maybe even breakage down the line.

5. Spare Parts, Hardware & Fixtures

Collect and label anything that belongs to the house but isn't immediately visible:

• Extra tiles (flooring, backsplash, bathroom) — even a partial box helps
• Cabinet hardware spares — hinges, pulls, drawer slides
• Curtain rod hardware, anchors, and mounting brackets for any window treatments that convey
• Replacement lightbulbs for specialty or hard-to-find fixtures (chandelier bulbs, under-cabinet LEDs)

Bag these in labeled zip-lock bags and leave them in a kitchen drawer, utility closet, or garage shelf.

6. Security System Information

Whether you're leaving the equipment or taking it, leave behind:

• The alarm company name, account number, and cancellation/transfer instructions
• All sensor codes, panel codes, and duress codes (reset to factory defaults if preferred)
• Smart doorbell and camera login credentials — or instructions for account transfer/factory reset

Note: If you leave your smart home devices, disable and deregister them from your accounts before closing. Leaving a device that streams to your phone is a serious privacy violation.

7. HOA Documents, CC&Rs & Meeting Minutes

If your home belongs to an HOA, leave a complete documentation package:

• CC&Rs (Covenants, Conditions & Restrictions)
• Bylaws and rules & regulations
• Current fee schedule and assessment information
• Most recent meeting minutes (often required by law in disclosures anyway)
• Any open violations or pending assessments — these must be disclosed and resolved

Buyers who feel blindsided by HOA rules become sellers very quickly. Transparency here protects everyone. Thankfully for buyers, in the state of California buyers are required to review and approve the HOA documents as part of the escrow process. This prevents problems after the sale and protects the seller.

8. Appliances, Fixtures & Anything Listed in the Contract

Review your purchase agreement carefully. Items that are typically expected to convey include:

• Built-in appliances (dishwasher, oven/range, microwave, refrigerator if listed)
• Window treatments — blinds, shutters, and rods unless explicitly excluded
• Light fixtures (unless you negotiated their removal)
• Ceiling fans
• Built-in shelving, benches, and cabinetry

If you want to take a chandelier or a specific fixture, it is best to remove it prior to listing the home and having any photographs of the home taken or allowing potential buyers into the home. If that is not practical, excluding it in the MLS lets buyers know you'll be keeping it, but putting it into the offer via a Seller's Counter Offer (or Seller's Multiple Counter Offer) is required for it to be enforceable... at least in California!

9. A Neighbor Introduction Letter (The Underrated Touch)

This is the kind of move that costs you nothing but earns enormous goodwill. Write a short letter that covers:

• Names of immediate neighbors 
• Unwritten neighborhood norms (trash day, parking etiquette, street parties)
• Local favorites — the best coffee shop, the pizza place that delivers fast, the farmers market

This gesture transforms a real estate transaction into a community handoff.

10. A Final Walkthrough Checklist You've Signed Off On

Leave a simple note — printed or handwritten — confirming:

• The last date utilities were serviced or inspected
• Filter sizes for HVAC, range hood, and refrigerator water filters
• Sprinkler/irrigation zone maps and seasonal schedules
• Pool or hot tub chemical schedule, equipment brand, and pump settings
• Septic tank location, pumping history, and service interval (if applicable)

This is the single most practical document you can leave behind.

TOP 10 THINGS YOU SHOULD TAKE WITH YOU

1. Personal Photographs and Irreplaceable Sentimental Items

Go through every room, crawl space, attic, and storage area. Check:

• Inside closet shelves and top shelves
• Behind built-in cabinetry and under stair storage
• In the attic and garage rafters
• Under decks and in outbuildings

Don't assume the movers got everything. Do one final sweep personally. Things have a way of finding a unique hiding spot!

2. Portable Smart Home Devices You Own

This includes:

• Smart speakers (Amazon Echo, Google Nest)
• Standalone smart displays or thermostats you purchased separately
• Ring or Nest cameras you own (unless negotiated as part of the sale)
• Smart plugs, hubs, and home automation bridges

Critical: Factory reset and deregister every device you leave behind. Leaving a camera linked to your account is a liability and a privacy violation. Be sure you are aware of the contract. In California, Smart Home Control Devices are specifically called out in the purchase contract. In addition, anything permanently attached to the home is expected to transfer. In California, TV mounts are expected to transfer but the TVs are considered personal property and are not expected to transfer. The same concept can be applied to cameras and other such devices.

3. Custom or Irreplaceable Window Treatments

This is controlled by the purchase agreement. Keep in mind though that:

• Built-in shutters, plantation blinds, or motorized shades always convey — they are considered fixtures
• Free-standing curtain rods aka "Tension Rods" can be taken if the contract allows for it.

4. Portable or Free-Standing Kitchen Appliances & Items

Take with you:

• Standalone refrigerators (if not listed in the contract!)
• Wine fridges, beverage coolers, or standalone freezers (if not listed in the contract!)
• Freestanding furniture that happens to be in a kitchen nook, such as barstools
• Your pots, pans, and any kitchen tools (seems obvious, but staging sometimes blurs this line)

Double-check your contract — if it says "all appliances," confirm exactly which appliances are defined.

5. Landscaping Plants, Potted Items & Yard Art You Love

You are generally entitled to take:

• Potted plants (these are personal property)
• Statuary, garden art, and fountains that are not hardscape
• Outdoor furniture and umbrellas
• Portable fire pits and grills (unless built-in)

Be careful with in-ground plants — anything planted in the ground is typically considered a fixture. Get agreement in writing if you intend to remove a specific tree, rose bush, or shrub. Better yet, have it removed and potted prior to listing your home.

6. All Personal and Financial Records

Never leave behind:

• Tax returns, financial statements, or bank documents
• Medical records or prescriptions
• Social Security cards, passports, or legal documents
• Old utility bills or account statements with your personal information

Conduct a sweep of every drawer, file cabinet, and desk. Shred on-site anything you don't need. You'd be amazed what gets left behind sometimes.

7. Hazardous Materials

Legally and ethically, you should remove:

• Pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers
• Automotive fluids (oil, antifreeze, transmission fluid)
• Solvents, thinners, and old paint (if not leaving the relevant paint — see #3 in the "things to leave behind" section above)
• Propane tanks (check local regulations — some require professional removal)
• Old medications (use a pharmacy take-back program, not the trash or toilet)

Leaving hazardous materials can create legal liability. Check your local municipality's hazardous waste disposal program. Many cities have Hazardous Waste collection days where trash companies setup locations in the city to collect waste items such as used motor oil, electronics, etc.

8. Anything You Negotiated as an Exclusion in the Contract

If you specifically excluded an item in writing — a dining room chandelier, a built-in bookcase, a mounted TV — remove it and make it look intentional. That means:

• Patch the wall where the TV mount was
• Replace the chandelier with a comparable fixture
• Fill the void left by built-ins so the space doesn't look stripped

Leaving gaping holes or dangling wires is a closing-day nightmare and can delay or kill a deal. In addition, in California our purchase contract gives the parties the ability to negotiate if and how stuff like TV mount holes will be handled.

9. Your Vehicles and Motorized Equipment

Don't laugh — it happens. Check:

• Driveways, garages, and storage buildings for any vehicle that isn't part of the sale
• Riding mowers, ATVs, golf carts, or boats stored on-site
• Trailers, equipment, or tool chests in garages or sheds

If a vehicle or piece of equipment is staying as part of the deal, get it in writing and transfer the title properly.

10. Pets — And Proof They Were There

Finally and most importantly: your pets come with you. This also means:

• Remove all pet equipment — kennels, feeders, litter boxes — unless agreed upon
• Professionally clean carpets and upholstery if pets lived in the home (required by most contracts)
• Disclose any pet-related damage (stained floors, chewed trim, fence gaps) as required by your state's disclosure laws
• Patch or repair any damage done by animals, including fence holes or deck boards

Undisclosed pet damage is one of the top sources of post-closing disputes. Handle it upfront.

The Bottom Line

The way you leave your home is the final chapter of your story there. Sellers who go the extra mile — a labeled paint collection, a handwritten neighbor note, a clean binder of manuals — aren't just being nice, they're protecting themselves from liability, building goodwill, and ending the transaction on a high note.

Remember: the new owners are inheriting your home, not just a building. Treat the handoff the way you'd want to receive one.

Looking to sell your home and want expert guidance from listing to closing? Contact Huggins Homes today for a free consultation.