Tips for Showing Your House

To show your house in the best light, keep it clean, bright, clutter-free, comfortable, and safe.

Before each showing, make the beds, clear surfaces, remove odors, open the blinds, turn on the lights, secure valuables, and take pets with you if possible.

The goal is simple: help buyers focus on the home and picture themselves living there.

How to Prepare Your House for a Showing

Start preparing before your first showing. A clean and well-organized home can help buyers see its space and features more clearly.

Clean Every Room

Focus on the areas buyers notice first:

• Clean floors and carpets.
• Wipe counters and surfaces.
• Clean windows and mirrors.
• Dust shelves and furniture.
• Clean kitchen appliances.
• Scrub sinks, tubs, and showers.
• Clean toilets and bathroom floors.
• Remove trash and empty bins.

Do not forget areas buyers may open or inspect, such as closets, cabinets, the pantry, and the garage.

Remove Clutter

Clutter can make rooms and storage areas feel smaller.

Put away:

• Extra furniture
• Toys
• Shoes
• Clothes
• Mail and papers
• Excess decorations
• Kitchen items you do not use every day

Keep walkways open so buyers can move through each room easily.

Depersonalize Your Home

Give buyers room to imagine the property as their own.

Consider putting away:

• Family photos
• Personal documents
• Children’s artwork
• Very personal collections
• Items with private information

You do not need to remove everything that makes your house feel like home. Just reduce distractions.

Make Your House Look Bright and Welcoming

Lighting can change how a room feels.

Use Natural Light

Before buyers arrive:

• Open curtains and blinds.
• Clean windows.
• Remove objects blocking windows.
• Turn on lights in darker rooms.
• Replace burned-out bulbs.

A bright room can feel more open and inviting.

Keep the Temperature Comfortable

Do not make buyers walk into a house that feels too hot or too cold.

Set the thermostat to a comfortable temperature based on the weather. A comfortable home lets buyers focus on the property instead of the temperature.

Remove Strong Odors Before a Showing

Bad smells can turn buyers away quickly.

Before a showing:

• Take out the trash.
• Clean pet areas.
• Wash dirty dishes.
• Check the refrigerator.
• Clean the garbage disposal.
• Air out the home when practical.
• Avoid cooking foods with strong smells.

Do not try to cover a bad smell with heavy air fresheners. Find the source and fix it.

Make the Outside Look Ready

Buyers see the outside before they see the inside.

Improve Your Curb Appeal

Before a showing:

• Mow the lawn.
• Trim overgrown plants.
• Sweep walkways.
• Remove leaves and debris.
• Clean the front door.
• Clear clutter from the porch.
• Empty visible trash cans.
• Make the entry look clean and welcoming.

You do not need an expensive landscaping project. A neat exterior can make a strong first impression.

What Should You Do 30 Minutes Before a Showing?

A quick final check can help you avoid small problems.

30-Minute Showing Checklist

• Make all beds.
• Put away clothes and shoes.
• Clear kitchen counters.
• Clear bathroom counters.
• Put dishes away.
• Take out the trash.
• Remove pet items if possible.
• Open blinds and curtains.
• Turn on the lights.
• Check the temperature.
• Check for strong odors.
• Close toilet lids.
• Make sure walkways are clear.
• Secure valuables and personal documents.
• Leave the house before buyers arrive.

Keep this checklist somewhere easy to access. It can make repeated showings much easier.

How Do You Keep Your House Show-Ready While Living in It?

Selling an occupied home can be hard because daily life creates clutter.

Create a simple routine:

Morning

• Make the beds.
• Put clothes away.
• Clear bathroom counters.
• Put dishes away.

During the Day

• Keep toys in one place.
• Keep laundry contained.
• Avoid leaving food and dishes out.
• Keep high-traffic areas clean.

Before a Showing

• Do a quick room-by-room reset.
• Remove personal items.
• Empty the trash.
• Check the kitchen and bathrooms.
• Turn on the lights.
• Leave on time.

The easier your routine is, the easier it will be to keep the house ready.

What Should You Do With Pets During a Showing?

Take pets with you when possible.

Some buyers may have allergies, fear animals, or simply want to view the house without distractions.

If you cannot take your pet with you:

• Keep the pet in a secure area.
• Tell your agent where the pet is.
• Remove pet waste.
• Clean food and water areas.
• Reduce pet odors.
• Follow any showing instructions for your home.

Never assume a buyer is comfortable around your pet.

What Should You Hide During a House Showing?

Protect anything valuable, private, or sensitive.

Secure:

• Jewelry
• Cash
• Prescription medication
• Personal documents
• Credit cards
• Electronics
• Spare keys
• Financial information
• Expensive collectibles
• Items containing private information

Secure firearms and other weapons according to safe-storage practices and applicable laws.

It is better to secure personal items before every showing than to assume they will be safe in plain sight.

Should You Leave During a House Showing?

Yes, sellers should usually leave during a showing.

Buyers often feel more comfortable looking around and discussing the home when the seller is not present.

Before leaving:

• Take your pets with you.
• Take personal items you need.
• Secure valuables.
• Follow your agent’s showing instructions.
• Make sure the home is ready.

Avoid following buyers from room to room or trying to sell the house yourself. Let the buyer and their agent experience the home.

What Should Sellers Avoid During a Showing?

Small mistakes can make a showing less comfortable for buyers.

Avoid:

• Staying in the house when you can leave.
• Leaving dirty dishes out.
• Leaving laundry on the floor.
• Using strong air fresheners.
• Leaving valuables visible.
• Blocking rooms with extra furniture.
• Leaving pets loose.
• Leaving personal documents out.
• Making buyers wait for access when possible.
• Talking about why you need to sell.

Give buyers enough space to look, think, and ask questions through their agent.

How Should You Prepare for Multiple Showings in One Day?

Multiple showings can become tiring, especially when you still live in the house.

Make the process easier by:

• Keeping clutter to a minimum every day.
• Packing items you rarely use.
• Creating a place for daily essentials.
• Keeping cleaning supplies together.
• Having a quick exit plan for pets and family.
• Using the same pre-showing checklist each time.

If several showings are scheduled close together, reset the home only where needed between visits and do a full check after the last showing.

What Should You Do After a House Showing?

A showing should not end when the buyer leaves.

Check the House

Make sure:

• Doors and windows are secure.
• Lights are set the way you want them.
• Personal items are still where they belong.
• Nothing was left behind.
• Pets are safe if they stay home.

Review the Feedback

If your agent receives feedback from buyers, look for patterns.

For example, if several buyers mention:

• A room feels dark
• A home feels crowded
• A strong odor
• A specific repair
• An uncomfortable temperature

Consider fixing the issue before the next showing.

Repeated feedback can help you understand how buyers experience your home.

How to Prepare for an Open House

An open house needs the same basic preparation as a private showing, but more people may visit.

Before the open house:

• Deep clean the home.
• Remove clutter.
• Secure valuables and personal information.
• Make closets and storage areas easy to view.
• Tidy the yard and entry.
• Turn on the lights.
• Open blinds and curtains.
• Remove pets.
• Follow your agent’s safety plan.

Your agent can also help decide which features of the home should receive the most attention.

What Are the Most Common House Showing Mistakes?

Some of the biggest mistakes are simple and easy to avoid:

• Leaving the house too cluttered — Buyers may struggle to see the space.
• Ignoring closets and storage — Buyers want to understand how much storage the home offers.
• Leaving strong odors — Unpleasant smells can become a major distraction.
• Staying during the showing — Buyers may feel less comfortable speaking freely.
• Leaving valuables exposed — Personal and valuable items should be secured.
• Ignoring small repairs — Small problems can affect how buyers view the home’s condition.
• Making the home too dark — Use natural and artificial light.
• Forgetting the exterior — The showing starts at the front door.
• Leaving pets behind — Pets can distract buyers or create safety concerns.
• Ignoring repeated feedback — Patterns in feedback can point to problems worth addressing.

Ready to Sell Your House?

From pricing and market research to negotiations and closing, we guide you through every step with a clear plan.

FAQs

How clean should my house be for a showing?

Your house should be clean, tidy, and free of strong odors. Focus on floors, kitchens, bathrooms, windows, surfaces, and areas buyers may inspect.

What should I do right before a house showing?

Make the beds, clear counters, put away clutter, remove trash, open blinds, turn on lights, check the temperature, secure valuables, and leave before buyers arrive.

Should I leave during a house showing?

Usually, yes. Leaving gives buyers more freedom to look around and discuss the property with their agent.

What should I hide when selling my house?

Secure valuables, medication, personal documents, financial information, spare keys, electronics, and other private or sensitive items.

Should I remove family photos when showing my house?

You do not have to remove every photo. However, reducing highly personal items can help buyers imagine themselves living in the home.

Should I leave the lights on for a house showing?

Yes. Turn on lights in darker rooms and open blinds or curtains to make the home easier to see.

What should I do with my pets during a showing?

Take pets with you when possible. If that is not possible, keep them secure and let your agent know where they are.

How do I keep my house clean for repeated showings?

Keep clutter low, pack away items you rarely use, create a simple daily cleaning routine, and use the same quick checklist before every showing.

What should I do if a buyer arrives early?

Follow your agent's showing process. Do not feel pressured to let an unexpected visitor into your home without confirming who they are and why they are there.

How do I make my house look bigger during a showing?

Remove extra furniture and clutter, keep walkways open, clear surfaces, and let in natural light. A simple layout can make rooms feel more open.

Do I need to remodel my house before showing it?

Not always. Start with cleaning, decluttering, basic repairs, lighting, and curb appeal. Ask your real estate agent which improvements are most likely to help before spending money on a major project.

By preparing the same way before each showing, you can reduce stress and give buyers a better chance to see the value of your home.

Andrew Liberty

Founder & Lead Agent

A Los Angeles based REALTOR® and certified Real Estate Negotiation Expert, Andrew blends strategy and real-world experience to help clients move forward with clarity — across Studio City and greater LA.