What can you leave behind when you sell as-is?
Furniture, boxes, the garage full of stuff. Here's what normally stays, what normally goes and how to put it in writing.
No obligation. No pressure. Takes about 2 minutes.
The short answer
In an as-is sale you can often leave furniture, belongings and junk behind, as long as the contract says so. Fixtures, things attached to the house like built-in appliances, light fixtures and ceiling fans, normally stay with the home; personal property doesn't unless the contract includes it. Take out anything you want to keep, and anything important, before closing.
Step by step
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1
Start with the contract
The purchase contract lists what stays and what goes. If you plan to leave belongings, say so in the contract so there's no argument at the final walk-through.
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2
Fixtures vs personal property
Fixtures are attached: built-in appliances, light fixtures, ceiling fans, mounted shelves. Personal property is movable: furniture, rugs, tools, a free-standing fridge. The contract can change either default.
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3
Take what matters first
Walk every room, the attic, basement, crawl space and any sheds. Pull out papers, photos, IDs, keepsakes, medications and valuables before anyone else clears the house.
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4
Put the rest in writing
If the buyer agrees to take what's left, write that down. Cars, boats and trailers have titles of their own, so handle those separately.
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5
Point out anything hazardous
Tell the buyer about paint cans, chemicals, propane tanks or old fuel so they can deal with them safely.
Cash offer vs listing
Example: a $250,000 home
| Offer | $205,000 |
|---|---|
| Repairs | $0 |
| Commissions | $0 |
| Closing costs | $0 |
| You walk away with | $205,000 |
| In 7 to 14 days | |
| Sale price | $250,000 |
|---|---|
| Repairs | about $8,000 |
| Commissions | about $13,800 |
| Closing and holding | about $6,000 |
| You walk away with | about $222,200 |
| In 60 to 90 days | |
Example only. Your numbers depend on your home and market.
Clearing out and hauling away is a real cost of getting a house ready to list, one more reason to see the cash offer next to what listing could net.
Frequently asked questions
Can I leave furniture when I sell?
Yes, if the buyer agrees in the contract. Get it in writing so the walk-through goes smoothly.
Do appliances stay with the house?
Built-in appliances are usually treated as fixtures and stay. Free-standing ones like a fridge or washer depend on the contract, so write down what stays.
What if I leave something by mistake?
Contact the buyer right away. After closing the house is theirs, so getting items back depends on their cooperation.
Who are you?
We are real estate investors based in Baltimore, helping homeowners since 2016. We buy houses directly for cash. We are not a licensed real estate brokerage and do not list homes ourselves; if listing could get you more, we show you the math so you can choose.