Selling; what’s usual to leave?

[FettleOfKish]

We’re in the process of moving, first time selling a property. Can I ask what is usual to leave behind for the buyer? Our agent has been and done an inventory today that she’s sent for approval. It includes all window coverings, all light shades and some bathroom fittings that are stuck on rather than screwed into the tiles. Nothing of huge value but all new (long story but we only moved back in after extensive storm damage was fixed at the end of last year and all fittings we already had were damaged and thrown out).

None of it of huge value but some (light shades that match our lamps, the sticky toiletries racks in the bathroom and blackout curtains / curtain pole from the bedroom) would be useful in our new place.

Of course we are expecting to leave the custom fitted blinds (on all windows so taking the curtains wouldn’t leave that window totally bare), towel rails etc that are screwed in. Fridge and oven are built in and we’ve offered the buyer to make us an offer on our new £700 washer dryer if he wants it, as the new place needs a built in model. Honestly we’d take anything over about £100 to save selling it privately and having to disconnect and move it.

Would it be unusual / tight to take those bits we could use in the new place? We’d be replacing them like for like if we don’t. Seems a waste if the new buyer doesn’t even like them!

Thanks in advance

You absolutely don’t have to leave anything which is not part of the house. So lampshades, curtains etc are yours to choose to take.

You just need to put on the sellers information form (or whatever it's called) what you will be leaving.
It's fine to take things you will have a use for or are new. Just be clear what you are leaving and what you are taking.

We took our newish expensive toilet seat😂 but we did replace it with a cheap one!

As long as you make good I.e fill holes you can take what you like 👍🏻

We sold back to a main developer and even took our loft ladder with us 🤣

our first sale we left what we wouldn’t use custom blinds etc but towel rails came with.

Unless you have to knock bits of the walls down to take it, you can take it. Tell your agent you want the inventory re-done.

Tell your agent you want the inventory re-done

You don’t need to do that. Amend yourself and send back to them. They do it to make you make a decision on everything. Lots of people are too vague and it can lead to disputes later.

Perfect, thank you. We’re already planning to do some hole filling as we’ve got a toddler so several pieces of furniture are screwed to the walls. Thankfully it’s all so new we’ve still got the original paint! We’ll leave the bathroom stuff that’s screwed in (full disclosure, the insurers paid for it anyway) but will tell the agent about the other bits we’ll be taking.

Our buyer is getting a pretty good deal anyway, we were preparing to sell when the storm hit as I was pregnant. 13 months in a rental and now back in a one bedroom far too small for us, he’s getting brand new carpets, new kitchen, new bathroom, new built in wardrobes (hell the actual walls, floors, woodwork and doors are also brand new) and at a price indicative of our desperation to sell!

The rule of thumb is that if you turn the house upside down, anything that falls down is yours to take.

We've previously taken expensive curtains and poles (informing buyers of this via the appropriate form and providing replacement rails where required), light fittings (making sure a rose/flex/bulb are left) and mirrors (as these are antiques we've collected over the years).

Anything specifically referred to in the sales blurb should be left - ie, if says "kitchen with range cooker" as opposed to "kitchen with space for range cooker".

When we sold most recently during 2024 we included our Bertazzoni professional range cooker in the property description, as - despite being only five years old, I hated it and intended to get a new cooker for the new house. I suggested not including it, but offering it to our buyers for a few hundred quid, but OH insisted we throw it in as it was so crap he'd be embarrassed to charge for it!

I also heard that if you were to turn the house upside down only the stuff that doesn't fall out you leave!

I think as long as you declare what is staying you can take the rest.

I've left blinds that were made for the windows, a washer, carpets and a wardrobe (because I couldn't take them). I've taken light fittings but replaced them and I left all light bulbs but not light shades.