Although packing isn't fun, there are many items in your home that you may want to keep when you sell.

While certain items such as your sofa and coffee tables are obviously coming with you when you move out, it may not be as easy to determine whether other belongings in the home should be left to the new homeowners. If, for instance, you recently updated the kitchen and installed a new stove and purchased a new refrigerator, you may not be as excited about giving up those investments not long after acquiring them. However, you have to be careful about what you take out of the house when you leave.

The rules about what has to stay vary by state, and you'll have to talk with a real estate attorney to find out the specifics for your situation. Generally, anything that is attached to the home cannot be removed. This means that the new cabinets you installed in the kitchen can't be ripped out and installed at your new property. This also includes bookshelves and other structures that are nailed or screwed to the wall.

Certain items are up for negotiation

Anything that is attached to the home is considered a fixture, and some of these items can leave with you if the buyer allows you to take them. If, for instance, you have a nice chandelier that you purchased for the home, it is considered a fixture, but you can always negotiate with the buyer so that you can take it with you.

Although appliances such as your washer, dryer and stove are connected to certain pipes and tubing, they are not actually attached to the home and are known as moveable items. In these cases, you're free to take these belongings with you and there's no need to consult with the buyer.

Keep in mind that the number of appliances you leave behind can be as much of a mitigating factor for buyers as whether the property inspection returns positive results. The appliances that are to be left in the home will be noted in the contract by the real estate attorney, and the transaction can go more smoothly if you are upfront about what you intend to take with you while you are showing your property to potential buyers.