How to prepare your house for a showing

Quick insights

• Showing your home is an opportunity to make a positive first impression on potential buyers, which may help sell your home quickly and at a favorable price.
• Depending on the condition of your home, you may want to consider cleaning and making minor repairs or updates.
• As you gear up for the showing, prepare a fact sheet about the house, secure belongings (and pets) and neutralize scents.

Showing your house is an important part of selling it. A house showing offers potential buyers an opportunity to examine the property for its features, condition and character. Most buyers appreciate the opportunity to personally tour the home and see how they feel in it. The steps you take to make your home clean and inviting could even affect its time on the market and purchase price.

In this article, we’ll provide tips for showing your house, including small things you can do to improve curb appeal, welcome guests into the space and more. Stick around until the end for our final do’s and don'ts of showing a house.

First impressions: Consider your home’s curb appeal

“Curb appeal” refers to the first impression someone gets as they approach your property. Things like the state of the lawn, shrubbery, deck and front door help set the tone for the showing. You may want to take a look for yourself and see what you notice. Consider what small changes could make a big difference. For example, a fresh coat of paint on the door, a replaced mailbox or a new light fixture.

Heading inside: Simple repairs and updates

First impressions matter as your guest steps inside. An atmosphere that's welcoming, well-lit and noticeably clean is good for a showing or open house. You may want to consider taking steps to depersonalize the space, which can make it easier for guests to picture themselves living there.

Furniture arrangement

There should be a certain flow from one room to the next. Furniture that is placed too densely can make a room feel crowded and smaller than it is. Before your showing, you may want to analyze the walkthrough path from your front door to each room of the house. Consider storing or removing additional furniture.

Lighting

Natural light is considered a very desirable feature amongst most homebuyers, so you may want to maximize this aspect when you show your home. To make the most of the natural light your home gets, remove thick, heavy curtains or keep them open during the showing. For interior lighting, see to it that bulbs throughout the house are working.

Essential cleaning tasks

Ensuring that your home is noticeably clean is a great way to make a good first impression. You can take on cleaning tasks yourself or hire professionals for a deep clean. Tasks to consider include vacuuming and mopping, scrubbing the bathroom fixtures and cleaning the kitchen appliances. If you have pets, be careful to take care of pet-related messes, odor and fur, as this can be an issue for guests with allergies or animal-related anxieties.

Fresh paint

Often, what’s needed to freshen up a lived-in space is a fresh coat of paint on the walls, trim or doors. A neutral color palette is worthwhile because it provides a blanker canvas for the future owners to customize the space. For walls, this palette typically includes shades of white, gray and taupe. If you’ve enjoyed adding bold colors and wallpaper while living there, you may want to consider toning down the look as you prepare for showings.

Day before the showing: Preparing for your guest

Once a showing is lined up, take care of a few more tasks.

Fact sheet

Guests are bound to have questions relating to the home, so it may be helpful to brush up on details relating to the property so you can prepare answers. Some sellers will even create print-outs with information about the property including its history, heating and cooling systems, utilities and running costs, the neighborhood, nearby amenities and square footage. 

Security and privacy

Before your guests arrive, take a final pass through the house to look for and secure personal photographs, small valuable possessions and sensitive documents. Visitors will likely want to look around on their own and take photos (potentially quite a few). Securing these items ahead of time can help protect your privacy while keeping a relaxed and inviting atmosphere.

Welcoming atmosphere

If you’re living at home when showings happen, consider prioritizing chores that might interrupt your guest’s experience. For example, taking out the trash, wiping down the counters and stowing dishes and appliances. Pets should be kept in a safe place or be moved elsewhere for the showing.

Do’s and don’ts of showing your house

By now, you likely have a good idea of how to get your house ready for showing. Here are some additional tips to help ensure that things go smoothly during your appointment.

Do:

• Invite an honest friend to give feedback: Consider asking a friend you can trust to tour your home first and point out things you may have missed.
• Reach out to the guest on the day of the showing: Remember to reach out to confirm the appointment, confirm the correct address and answer questions about parking.
• Follow up with the guest: Check in with your guest a day or two after they finish your home to see if they have any remaining questions or want to move forward with an offer.

Don’t:

• Hover: Be prepared to tour the space with your guest(s) and answer questions but be careful not to crowd them. During a tour, look for a moment to step away so your guest can explore it independently or (if it’s a couple or group) discuss amongst themselves.
• Use strong fragrances: Your house should smell like nothing or next-to-nothing. If you've been cleaning recently, a subtle fresh scent is fine. Otherwise, consider opening the windows to air out the residence before guests arrive.

In summary

For a current homeowner trying to sell their property, a home showing provides a last opportunity to play host in the space. If you find it overwhelming to think about all the things to do before showing your house, keep in mind that even small improvements can make big differences. If you’re also in the process of buying a new home as you sell your current home, consider reaching out to a Chase Home Lending Advisor.