{"id":19790,"date":"2020-10-30T15:29:09","date_gmt":"2020-10-30T22:29:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/?p=19790"},"modified":"2026-04-13T10:58:25","modified_gmt":"2026-04-13T17:58:25","slug":"appliances-when-selling-a-house","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/appliances-when-selling-a-house\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Handle Appliances When Selling a House: Follow Market Norms"},"content":{"rendered":"

When you sell your home<\/a>, it\u2019s a given that you\u2019ll pack family portraits, decorations, and furniture into the moving truck, but what about your appliances? Should you take the refrigerator and oven with you to your new home? How about the washer and dryer?<\/p>\n

Technically, sellers can walk out with anything that\u2019s not permanently attached to the property<\/a>. But beware, excluding certain appliances in the home sale could turn off potential buyers, not to mention, add a layer of difficulty when moving.<\/p>\n

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When weighing up whether to take or leave your appliances<\/span><\/a>, you should consider what\u2019s considered the \u201cnorm\u201d for your market, as well as how your appliances may impact your home\u2019s marketability. To help you decide, we\u2019ll break down the role appliances play in selling a house based on market conditions, price point, and property condition. We\u2019ll also cover how to move your appliances safely to your next home once the sale closes.<\/p>\n

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<\/a> Source: (Emily Chung \/ Unsplash)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Generally, kitchen appliances stay, while laundry appliances are up for grabs<\/h2>\n

With nearly 25 years of experience selling real estate in the Boston area, top agent David Shorey<\/a> shares that there\u2019s a general pattern when it comes to appliances: the kitchen appliances<\/span><\/a> nearly always stay, while the laundry appliances only stay half of the time.<\/p>\n

Typically, the seller includes all kitchen appliances in the home sale, including the refrigerator, oven, dishwasher, and microwave if it\u2019s built-in. This is likely the status quo since it\u2019s more convenient for buyers and sellers to leave these appliances than move them between properties.<\/p>\n

Moreover, the more appliances moved, the greater the risk of damage<\/a> to the home\u2019s walls and floors from improper lifting, packing, and moving techniques. If significant damage occurs during the move, the seller may need to cover repair costs<\/a>, depending on the terms of the purchase agreement<\/a>,<\/p>\n

Shorey shares that appliances are up for grabs in the laundry room, commenting that buyers care less about these appliances than those in the kitchen. When deciding whether or not to take the washer and dryer, sellers should ask their real estate agent what is customary in their market, as well as gauge prospective buyers\u2019 interest in the inclusion of these appliances.<\/p>\n

For instance, if the seller typically leaves the washer and dryer in your market, then your buyer may push for these appliances to remain. On the other hand, if you\u2019ve received multiple bids on your home, it\u2019s unlikely a buyer will back out of the deal if you elect to keep the laundry machines.<\/p>\n

FHA loans require all included appliances to function properly<\/h3>\n

If the buyer is purchasing the home with an FHA loan, then all included appliances must meet the Federal Housing Administration\u2019s guidelines<\/a> for the loan to close:<\/p>\n