10 Tips for Showing Your Home

Impress potential homebuyers with these helpful strategies.

By Emily Southey | 12 minute read

Showings are an important part of the home-selling process. The goal of a showing is to impress prospective buyers and entice them to submit an offer on your home. The way to do this is by making your home look as attractive as possible. Below, we dive into what impresses buyers and what turns them off during home showings, as well as our top 10 tips for showing your home. Check it out! 

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What Impresses Prospective Buyers at Home Showings

To effectively prepare for a home showing, sellers must have a solid understanding of what impresses prospective buyers. From fresh paint to a calm atmosphere, we’ve put together a list of factors that are likely to impress potential homebuyers.

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• A calm atmosphere: Creating a calm, relaxing, serene space is a great way to impress a buyer. Buyers don’t want distractions, so do your best to minimize all noises in the house. This means turning off the television, dropping off your bark-prone dog at your neighbour’s house, and lowering the volume of the background music (we also recommend choosing something soft and soothing). 
• Lots of walkable space: A buyer wants to feel like the house is roomy. To do this, declutter the home to maximize the amount of walkable space. Get rid of bulky or clunky furniture, along with most personal belongings and knick-knacks. Keep countertops and tabletops largely clear of items. Keep essential items only. Minimalism is key if you want to impress buyers.
• A homey smell: Make your house smell like a home by enhancing the atmosphere with air fresheners or candles. Avoid anything overpowering. Instead, think fresh, calm scents like vanilla, lavender, or cinnamon. Enhancing the smell of your home is especially important if you’re looking to mask another odour, such as pets, cigarette smoke, or food. 
• Fresh paint: Old, chipped, or faded paint is a major no-no. A fresh coat of paint can go a long way. If you’re repainting, consider choosing neutral colours that will allow buyers to better envision themselves in the home. 
• Breathing room: Buyers don’t want to feel pressured. So if you’re going to be home for the showings or open houses, be sure to give them space. If you hover, it can make them feel uncomfortable and reduces the odds of a sale. Alternatively, if you give them free rein to wander and let them come to you, they may end up staying longer, increasing the odds of an offer.

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What Turns Off Potential Homebuyers at Home Showings

It is equally important for sellers to understand what turns buyers off as it is to understand what impresses them. Below is a list of things to avoid for home showings. 

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• Clutter: Prospective buyers don’t want to see clutter. After all, the goal of a showing is so the buyer can see the home in person and (hopefully) visualize themselves living there. But the more clutter there is, the harder it will be for them to envision themselves in the home. Plus, lots of clutter makes homes appear smaller and less appealing.
• Loud decor: Buyers don’t want to see personalized decor. While everyone has their own tastes, you want to make your home look as neutral as possible to attract as many buyers as possible. What’s tasteful and attractive to you could be garish or tacky to a buyer. Don’t let a few (easily removed) decorative pieces give buyers a negative impression of your home. If you aren’t sure about your decor, consult with a REALTOR® or home-staging expert for tips. 
• Bad or strong odour: Many sellers are unaware that their home has a strong odour. But rest assured, a buyer will notice. In fact, it will likely be one of the first things they notice when they step foot in your home. For this reason, sellers should try their best to neutralize all smells as much as possible. Whether the smell is coming from tobacco, certain foods, pet dander, or mould, a bad smell is a major turnoff. Test out scented candles or air fresheners to see if it’s enough to mask the smell. If not, consider hiring a professional to deodorize the home. 
• Damage: Damage, even if it’s minor, can turn off buyers. Scuff marks on the floor, stains on the walls, or holes in the baseboards can quickly turn off a buyer. Not only are they unattractive, but they could make the buyer question the overall condition of the home. If a buyer thinks that a home inspection would reveal major issues, they are unlikely to proceed with an offer. 
• Poor lighting: The right lighting can hugely impact a home. High up on most buyers’ lists is light. They want bright, airy spaces. For this reason, poor lighting during a showing can have serious consequences. Dark spaces not only make a space feel smaller, but they also make it feel less welcoming. For this reason, we recommend scheduling showings during the daytime to maximize natural lighting, removing all window coverings and curtains, and turning on all lights in the home. 
• An untidy front yard: A buyer’s first impression of your home starts with the exterior. If they pull up to the driveway and see an overgrown yard covered in weeds, it could taint the rest of the showing, even if the inside of the home is beautiful. Curb appeal matters, so sellers should always take the time to spruce up the front yard by mowing the lawn, sweeping the walkway, and planting some fresh flowers. 
• A dirty entryway: As mentioned, the first thing a buyer sees is the front of your home. So take the time to tidy up the entryway. Touch up any chipped paint on your front door, add a decorative wreath, or put out a new (clean) doormat.
• Unclean windows: Most sellers know that they should clean their homes before an open house or showing. But one area many people forget about is the windows. To give an overall impression of a clean home, make sure to thoroughly wash the windows. Dirty windows not only limit natural light, but they also reduce curb appeal.

Ten Tips for Showing Your Home

Now that you have a better idea of what impresses buyers and what turns them off, let’s dive into our top 10 tips for showing your home.

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1. Clean and declutter 

The first and most important tip for showing your home? Clean and declutter. If you do nothing else, do this. A clean, clutter-free home can significantly increase the odds of selling your home. So before you host an open house or even open your doors to one prospective buyer, make sure you’ve cleaned your home from top to bottom. If you have too much on your plate for a deep clean, hire a professional cleaner. Special attention should be given to the kitchen and bathrooms. And don’t forget about the walls and floors. Buyers will notice stains, dirt, or even handprints on the walls. Same with the floors. They should be sparkling. Steam-clean carpets (which can also help minimize odours) and make sure to vacuum and wash all floors. Sellers should also remember to look up — dust and cobwebs can easily accumulate on the ceilings. Meanwhile, light fixtures can be filled with dead flies and bugs.

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A key component of cleaning is decluttering. Experts recommend removing roughly one-third of your belongings when preparing your home for a showing. Specifically, sellers should aim to remove all personal effects (for example, photo frames and knick-knacks), as well as bold, taste-specific decor. Maximizing the amount of walkable space in your home is crucial when decluttering. If you don’t want to get rid of the items you’re removing, ask if you can temporarily store them at a friend’s or family member’s or research storage units in your area.

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2. Create a good first impression

First impressions matter and they start with the exterior of your home. For this reason, sellers should take care to boost curb appeal by sweeping the walkway, tidying up the front door/porch, and mowing the lawn. You may even want to add a fresh wreath to your front door or set up some outdoor furniture on your porch. Other ways to create a good first impression? Avoid hovering or pressuring the buyer in any way. Give them space to breathe and discuss the home privately. If you think you’ll struggle with this, consider not being present at the showings. Meet a friend for coffee, run some errands, or simply stay at a neighbour’s during the showing.

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3. Let the light in

The brighter your home, the better. Try to schedule showings during the day to maximize the amount of natural light in your home. From there, turn on every light in your home — even appliance and closet lights. Test the lights in advance to ensure they all work. If they work but are dim, consider replacing them with a brighter bulb. Sellers should also pay special attention to dark rooms or corners of the house and proactively place a lamp there. Beyond artificial lights, let as much natural light in by opening all blinds and curtains. If the weather allows, you may even opt to leave doors slightly ajar for extra light.

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4. Make sure the house is at a comfortable temperature

Creating a comfortable, inviting atmosphere is key, and part of that is temperature. Check the weather on the day of the showing and note the temperature and humidity levels. If you’re selling in the summer, you may need to turn on the air-conditioning (be sure to do this well in advance of the showing so the home is at a comfortable temperature by the time the buyer arrives). Alternatively, if it’s the middle of winter, turn up the heat. The ideal indoor temperature for homes is between 18 and 21 degrees Celsius. Even if you prefer a warmer or colder temperature, try to stick with this average range so as not to make your home too cold or hot for buyers.

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5. Set the mood

Atmosphere is everything and can go a long way when it comes to a buyer envisioning themselves in your home. If your showing is in the fall or winter, light a fire in the fireplace. Turn on some soft, gentle background music, turn on any water features in your home, and add warm decorative touches, such as knit blankets or silk pillows.

6. Be prepared to provide additional information

Buyers have lots of questions, so it’s best to be prepared. If you plan to be present during the showing, your REALTOR® can advise you of the questions you’re most likely to get. For example, buyers may ask if any items are included in the sale. You can also pre-emptively choose to place cards around the home that say “not included in the sale.” Beyond answering questions, you should also prepare various documents prospective homebuyers might request. For example, if the house has undergone renovations, find records of these renovations. Alternatively, if the house is historic, draft a document detailing this information. 

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7. Put out refreshments

Putting out refreshments can be an important part of creating a good impression. You don’t need to cater each showing, but putting out some bottled water, hors d’oeuvres, or cookies can go a long way with buyers. It can also entice them to stay at your home longer. Self-serve is usually the way to go when it comes to refreshments. Set out some utensils, plates, cups, and napkins for guests to use, and keep a garbage or recycling bin nearby for guests to dispose of used items. 

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8. Odour is everything

A bad or off smell can make or break a showing. For this reason, try to eliminate existing odours, especially strong ones from tobacco or pets. You can do this in a few ways. First, an air freshener is a cheap and quick way to improve the smell of a space. However, we warn against using any strong or artificial-smelling scents. Scented candles are another way to go, though make sure they aren’t put somewhere that they’ll be a fire hazard, and choose subtle scents like sandalwood. Another option is fresh air. If the temperature allows for it, open windows and doors to avoid stale air. Lastly, you could simmer some spices in a pot of water on the stove or bake some cookies in the oven for a natural homey odour.  

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9. Ask for feedback

Feedback is invaluable to sellers. Encouraging buyers to offer feedback on the home gives the seller valuable insight into the buyer’s perspective. From there, they can adjust their showings moving forward to increase their chances of success. Prompt buyers to give feedback by leaving questionnaires and pens by the front door or refreshments area. You can also have your REALTOR® ask buyers questions about their overall impression of the home and price.

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10. Know the signs a house showing went well

Before your first showing, research the signs that a showing went well. This can help you avoid disappointment in the long run. Signs a buyer is interested include lingering, requesting a second viewing, inquiring about a pre-inspection, or the buyer’s REALTOR® getting in touch shortly after the showing.