What To Do Before A Showing (If you actually WANT your home to sell!)

Let’s just start with this. Buyers are not coming to see your home! They’re coming to see what it feels like to live there! And they decide very quickly—sometimes before they even get out of the car. I’ve had buyers walk in, look around for about 30 seconds, and you can already tell…this is either going somewhere or it’s not.

The first thing that matters is cleanliness, and not the version where you panic-clean the kitchen five minutes before a showing. I’m talking about the kind of clean where someone could walk into your bathroom and not question anything. Buyers notice floors, baseboards, corners, and all the little things you stopped seeing about six months ago. If something feels even slightly off, their brain immediately goes to “what else is wrong here?” It escalates quickly!

Clutter is where things usually go sideways. And I say this with love—EVERYONE thinks they’ve decluttered enough. They haven’t!!  If your countertops look like a small home goods store, it’s too much!! Buyers are not admiring your stuff. They are mentally measuring your space, and clutter makes everything feel smaller. The goal is not empty, but it’s close!

Then, there’s the personal side of things. Family photos, stacks of mail, shoes by the door, random cords, the dog’s entire living situation in the corner…all of it tells buyers “someone else lives here.” Which, of course, you do—but we don’t need to highlight it. The easier it is for a buyer to picture their own life in the home, the better your showing is going to go.

Lighting is one of the easiest wins and somehow still gets missed all the time. Dark homes feel smaller, older, and a little sad, even if they’re not. Open the blinds, turn on the lights, and make it feel bright. Not interrogation-room bright, just clean and inviting. It changes everything.

And then we have smell. This is always a delicate conversation!  Every house has one—you just don’t notice yours anymore. The goal is not to light three candles, plug in five air fresheners, and hope for the best. That usually makes it worse. Clean, neutral, and fresh air is what works. If I walk in and get hit with “vanilla cinnamon hurricane,” I’m already concerned!

Bedrooms and bathrooms matter more than people think. An unmade bed can make an entire room feel unfinished, even if everything else looks great. It takes two minutes and somehow makes a huge difference. Bathrooms should feel as close to unused as possible. Not “we live here and rushed out the door,” more like “no one has ever touched this sink.”

The outside of your home is doing more work than you think. Buyers start forming opinions before they even open the front door. If the entry feels cluttered, overgrown, or neglected, that impression sticks. It doesn’t have to be perfect, just clean, simple, and like someone cares.

And then…pets. I know. Everyone loves their pet!  However, not everyone loves YOUR pet. For showings, it’s best if they’re not there, and definitely not greeting buyers at the door like they’re part of the sales team. Bowls, crates, litter boxes—all of that should disappear for a bit. Buyers don’t want to feel like they’re touring your pet’s home!

And while we’re on the topic of things that make showings awkward…YOU should not be there either!!  I know it feels strange, especially if you work from home, but sitting at your desk during a showing is not helping anything. Buyers will not open doors, they won’t speak freely, and they will rush through the house just to get out of the situation. Even if you think you’re being quiet or staying out of the way, your presence changes everything. The best thing you can do is leave before the showing and let them experience the home on their own. It always goes better that way.

At the end of the day, this isn’t about perfection. It’s about removing distractions. I’ve seen beautiful homes sit because they didn’t show well, and I’ve seen very average homes get multiple offers because they felt clean, open, and easy to walk through.

The goal is simple. You want a buyer to walk in and think, “I could live here.” Not “what is that smell?” or “why is the seller watching me open the pantry?”

If you’re getting ready to list and want someone to walk through your home and tell you exactly what matters (and what doesn’t), feel free to call or text me. I’ll be honest—and I promise I won’t make you throw everything away…just most of it!! :) Let's chat!

Elizabeth Davis - Keller Williams Realty - 704-995-9838 - [email protected]