Any time you move to a new home, you're likely to shed some of your belongings. Certain items simply won't be worth the trouble of taking to your next residence, and it will eliminate some of the hassle of unpacking on the other end.

Most of your furniture will likely end up coming with you when you sell a home, but there may be some pieces you wish you could leave behind. Maybe the sofa will take up more of your new living room than you wish to spare. Perhaps it was so difficult to get the pool table into the basement that you don't look forward to getting it back out again.

Leaving furniture behind when you sell a home is not out of the question. It may even make a seller more interested in buying the property.

There are certain circumstances where you might be more likely to sell a home with furnishings. Ken Montville, a Maryland real estate agent, says leaving furniture behind is common among sellers who are downsizing or children who are selling a parent's residence. Brendon Desimone, writing for the real estate site Zillow, says certain types of furniture may fit well with a home and won't be appropriate for your next place. Deirdre Woollard, writing for the National Association of Realtors, says vacation homes are often sold fully furnished.

Furniture in a home can generally help with its sale. After all, the concept of staging a home relies on the idea that furniture can help buyers picture how they might furnish and decorate the property. If they enjoy the look of the home and find that they can purchase it with these furnishings, they may be glad to do so.

The promise to leave furniture behind will most likely appeal to first-time buyers. Desimone points out that people buying a home for the first time will likely be considering how to furnish the rooms, and will welcome anything that makes this process less challenging and more inexpensive. Buyers may also be attracted to certain pieces of furniture and more willing to pay a higher price to retain these items.

Of course, other buyers will already have their own set of furniture and won't be interested in keeping any of the seller's old pieces. Montville says it is especially important to determine which items the buyer expects you to take from the home. Some buyers may want the house to be cleared out to the point where even the curtains are taken down.

There are certain rules for what needs to stay in the home. Angela Colley, also writing for the National Association of Realtors, says built-in furniture, wall mounts, and landscaping such as trees and shrubs are among the items that need to stay behind when you move. If you want to take fixtures such as doorknobs or faucets you have upgraded, you'll have to make sure to replace them.

Leaving appliances in the home can be especially appealing to buyers, particularly those buying their first home. Including a washing machine, dryer, refrigerator, and other such items will appeal to people who don't want to move these appliances into their new residence.

Some items that you can take with you—such as curtains, light fixtures, and rugs—will go a long way toward enhancing the look of a home if you leave them in the home instead. If you won't need patio furniture at your next home, you can consider leaving it for the next owner.

You can let your real estate agent know that you are interested in leaving some furniture in your home. The agent will be able to tell prospective buyers which items they can get with the home. You might also inform buyers that any furniture is negotiable to include in the home if you are looking to get rid of a large quantity.

If you find a buyer who does not want to keep furniture in the home, you don't need to drag it along with you. Montville says some options include gifting it to a neighbor, selling it at a tag sale, or donating it to a charitable organization.