Showtime: Tips for Showing your Home

Jun, 22 2022

After putting in a huge amount of time and effort to get your home looking good and ready to sell, your hard work is finally going to pay off: your home is on the market— you’re ready to begin showing. Your house should always be at-the-ready for a tour, as agents may bring clients by with very little notice. If they catch you unprepared and you aren’t able to show the house on the spot, you could be losing out on a sale. Concentrate on the following areas to ensure your home is ready to show:

1. People


Homebuyers may feel like intruders if you are present while they view your house, and this will affect their overall impression. Consider taking the opportunity to visit the local coffee shop, go shopping, or take the kids to the park. If you can’t leave while the house is being shown, try to be as unassuming as possible. Do not move from room to room. Don’t offer information, but make yourself available to answer any questions the agent or buyers might have.

2. Lighting


When you know an agent is bringing someone by, make sure all of the drapes and window shades are open to let in as much daylight as possible, or—if the showing is taking place at night—to create a look of comfort and warmth when viewed from the outside. Open all the doors between rooms to create an open, inviting feel. Turn on all lamps and overhead lights, even during the day. Keeping lights on during the day softens the harsh shadows sunlight can create in a room, and illuminates dim corners. During nighttime showings, make sure all outdoor lights are on, as well as pool lights.

3. Cleanliness


Scan the floor for debris—newspapers and magazines tend to accumulate without our noticing. Make sure all the counters are clutter-free. Empty the kitchen garbage before every showing, particularly if the garbage can doesn’t have a lid. Keep everything freshly dusted and vacuumed. Beds should be made and bathrooms cleaned (toilet lid down). Every room should sparkle.

4. Scents and Sounds


Avoid using scented sprays before showing your home. Some people simply won’t enjoy the smell, and others may be allergic. If you want to make a room smell pleasant, consider a potpourri pot or a naturally-sourced aroma.


If you or your family is home while the agent is giving a tour, try to stay as quiet as possible. Turn off the television and the blaring radio. Put on some soothing background music at a low volume

5. Pets


If you have pets, make sure your listing agent includes this in your listing on the Multiple Listing Service. This way, no one will be surprised by a furry welcome if the agent shows the house while you’re not there. If you know someone is coming to tour the house, ideally you should take the pets with you, or arrange to have a friend or family member take them. If this isn’t possible, keep dogs in the backyard, preferably in a penned area. Try to keep indoor cats in one room while people are touring the house, and put a sign on the door.

Client Testimonials

Chuck was fantastic to work with! From attending our cottage inspection to connecting us with an awesome mortgage broker we needed to get the job done, he was there every step of the way to support us!

- Olivia Sabourin

Working with Chuck was a pleasure. He really pulled out all the stops to make sure we could put the deal together. He personally made sure all went smoothly for possession day. Would definitely work with Chuck again either buying or selling.

- Danielle Stewart

Karen and I have had several experiences with Chuck both buying and selling properties. He is always willing to give advice if asked, and always willing to be patient with us while we are deciding how to proceed. He has gone that extra mile with helping us in any way. This has also included offering to help us get our home ready to sell. We can not be more satisfied with his service and that is why we have had him help us with several real estate transactions. We wholeheartedly recommend him to potential buyers and sellers in our surrounding area.

- John & Karen Neary

I had the pleasure of working with Chuck to find a great starter home and enter the market. After our initial discussion it didn’t take Chuck long to find something perfect for me. He’s motivated, easy to work with, and a highly knowledgeable agent. In addition to finding a buyer or showing you a property, he provides great advice based on your desires. Highly recommended!

- Kevin Louch

Chuck helped us purchase a cottage property in 2020. My husband and I are extremely particular people. We provided Chuck had a detailed list of our exact wants, needs etc in a property to ensure we didn't waste our time looking a properties that didn't meet our needs. Chuck helped us secure the perfect property for us that met all the criteria and was a pleasure to deal with. He even offered months later to help us pick up a peddle boat with his trailer when I asked him for a recommendation for someone who could assist us. He is supportive throughout the sales process and continues to provide service after the fact. He lives and works in the community and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend Chuck to anyone needing his services.

- Jennifer Guberney

Super nice guy. No hard-selling and easy to like! As my husband would say, Chuck passes the beer & BBQ test! He also crawled around under the cottages along side my husband during our appointments. Chuck is knowledgable, and put us at ease immediately. We bought the second cottage property Chuck showed us. He is calm with a sense of urgency. Timely communication when you’re anxiously awaiting news of an offer! Our experience from start to finish was great!

- Stephanie Rood

Let's work together

Thinking of buying or selling? I'd love to make your real estate process as easy and enjoyable as possible.
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