I'm selling my house so why can't I leave my laundry detergent behind?

I think half of my houseplant collection came from seller clients moving out of state, including this one.

I’m kind of joking, but I have recycled many a container of laundry detergent left behind by a seller client. In our Tennessee purchase contracts, the seller commits to removing all personal property before closing. And yes, that means your laundry detergent, that old broom, and certainly the ancient paint cans in the garage. Telling ourselves the buyers will appreciate that dilapidated basketball hoop as we see the moving truck pull away is a nice story with a possibly unhappy ending. It’s no fun to delay closing while you figure out how to haul off a gas grill. So once you list your home, start making arrangements for everything you are not taking with you.

Moving out of state before closing? There are restrictions on what long-distance movers will allow you to pack on their trucks, like no cleaning products, lawn chemicals, and even house plants. But rather than leave those behind to be the buyer’s problem, let’s come up with a plan to safely dispose or give away what you can’t take with you.