Preparing your home for showings is about helping buyers see the property at its best. A clean, bright, organized home makes it easier for buyers to appreciate the space, imagine living there, and feel confident about making an offer.

First Impressions Are Lasting Impressions

The exterior of your home often shapes how buyers view everything that follows. Before each showing:

• Keep the front entrance clean, welcoming, and free of clutter.
• Paint or replace the front door if it appears faded or worn.
• Touch up peeling paint on trim, shutters, and exterior features.
• Add fresh mulch, seasonal plants, or simple landscaping where appropriate.
• Sweep the porch, driveway, and walkways.
• Remove trash cans, hoses, toys, and unnecessary outdoor items.
• Keep the lawn trimmed, bushes pruned, and pathways clear.

Curb appeal matters because buyers begin forming an opinion before they ever walk through the front door.

Accentuate the Positive

How you live in a home and how you present it for sale are often two different things. Try to view each room from a buyer’s perspective, and arrange the home to highlight its strongest features.

• Keep windows, floors, and surfaces clean.
• Repair worn woodwork, loose handles, sticking doors, and minor defects.
• Touch up damaged or dirty walls with neutral paint.
• Clean carpeting, rugs, and window coverings.
• Repair damaged caulking around sinks, tubs, and showers.
• Remove unnecessary furniture to make rooms feel larger.
• Clear clutter from closets, the basement, the garage, and storage areas.
• Keep bathrooms clean, with fresh towels and minimal items on the counters.
• Open curtains and blinds to bring in natural light.

Buyers notice small maintenance issues, and several minor problems can create the impression that the home hasn’t been properly cared for.

Put Your Home in the Best Possible Light

Lighting helps rooms feel warmer, larger, and more inviting. Even during daytime showings:

• Open blinds and curtains.
• Turn on lamps and interior lights.
• Replace burned-out bulbs.
• Use warm, consistent lighting throughout the home.
• Add lamps to darker rooms or corners.
• Highlight important living areas, such as a fireplace, breakfast nook, or reading area.

Avoid leaving rooms dark, especially basements, hallways, bathrooms, and spaces with limited natural light.

Prepare the Inside of Your Home

Living Areas

• Remove unnecessary objects from tables and furniture.
• Arrange furniture to create clear walking paths.
• Remove excess furniture if rooms feel crowded.
• Keep decorations simple and intentional.
• Put away magazines, toys, remote controls, and personal clutter.
• Clean windows, flooring, and visible surfaces.
• Remove overly personal photographs when appropriate.

Kitchen

• Clear unnecessary items from countertops.
• Put away small appliances that aren’t used daily.
• Remove papers, magnets, photographs, and messages from the refrigerator.
• Empty the sink, and place dirty dishes in the dishwasher.
• Wipe down counters, appliances, cabinet fronts, and fixtures.
• Remove trash, and eliminate food odors.

A clean, uncluttered kitchen appears larger, and helps buyers imagine their own belongings in the space.

Bathrooms

• Clear countertops, tubs, and shower areas.
• Put away medications, cosmetics, brushes, and personal products.
• Display clean towels in one or two coordinating colors.
• Close toilet lids.
• Clean mirrors, fixtures, counters, showers, and flooring.
• Replace worn shower curtains or bathmats when necessary.

Bedrooms

• Make every bed.
• Remove clothing, laundry baskets, and excess personal items.
• Keep nightstands and dressers mostly clear.
• Organize closets, since buyers may open them.
• Remove excess furniture that makes the room appear smaller.

Basement, Garage, and Storage Areas

• Organize boxes, equipment, and seasonal belongings.
• Clear pathways so buyers can comfortably walk through.
• Avoid filling closets with items removed from other rooms.
• Store excess belongings off-site when possible.
• Sweep floors, and improve lighting in darker areas.

Prepare the Exterior

• Trim shrubs and trees that block windows or architectural features.
• Remove debris, unused materials, and unnecessary equipment.
• Clean gutters, and address visible roof or exterior maintenance issues.
• Weed planting beds, and replace dead plants.
• Keep patios and decks organized.
• Store excess planters, toys, tools, and grilling supplies.
• Touch up the front door, exterior trim, and other visible painted surfaces.
• During winter, keep sidewalks, steps, and driveways clear of snow and ice.

Windsor buyers value outdoor living, so patios, decks, yards, views, and open-space surroundings should be presented as usable extensions of the home.

Create a Comfortable Atmosphere

The home should smell fresh and clean, but not heavily scented.

• Remove pet, cooking, smoke, and musty odors.
• Avoid strong candles, plug-ins, or air fresheners.
• Take out the trash before showings.
• Open windows briefly when weather allows.
• Keep the temperature comfortable.
• Play soft background music only when appropriate.
• Avoid cooking strongly scented food before a showing.

Heavy fragrances can make buyers wonder whether an odor is being covered up.

Showing Your Home With Pets

Pets can distract buyers, create allergy concerns, or make visitors uncomfortable. Before showings:

• Take pets with you whenever possible.
• Secure pets that must remain at the property.
• Remove food bowls, toys, litter boxes, and pet waste.
• Vacuum pet hair from flooring and furniture.
• Repair visible pet damage.
• Inform your agent if a pet will be present.

Never assume a buyer or showing agent will be comfortable interacting with your pet.

Leave During the Showing

One of the most important things a seller can do is leave the property during showings. Buyers need privacy to talk openly, examine the home, and imagine it as their own.

Even when buyers say it’s fine for you to stay, your presence may cause them to shorten the showing or avoid discussing concerns. Take a walk, visit a nearby business, or plan another activity while the home is being shown.

The Nine-Minute Showing Drill

Occasionally, you may receive a showing request with very little notice. Use this quick checklist to prepare:

1. Turn On the Lights
Turn on interior lights and lamps, and open curtains or blinds during daylight hours.

2. Control Noise
Turn off the television, and keep background sound minimal.

3. Freshen the Air
Remove trash, address noticeable odors, and avoid heavy fragrances.

4. Clean the Kitchen
Wipe countertops, empty the sink, and put dirty dishes in the dishwasher.

5. Check the Bathrooms
Wipe counters, close toilet lids, straighten towels, and remove personal items.

6. Clear the Living Areas
Put away toys, papers, magazines, blankets, and visible clutter.

7. Straighten the Bedrooms
Make beds, put away clothing, and clear visible personal items.

8. Check the Exterior
Put away toys, hoses, trash cans, and anything blocking walkways.

9. Handle Children and Pets
Take children and pets with you, or make appropriate arrangements.

10. Leave the Property
Give buyers the privacy they need to experience the home and discuss it openly.

Before Every Showing

Use this final checklist before leaving:

• Beds are made.
• Counters are clear.
• Dishes are put away.
• Toilet lids are closed.
• Towels are straightened.
• Trash is removed.
• Floors are clean.
• Blinds and curtains are open.
• Lights are turned on.
• The temperature is comfortable.
• Personal and valuable items are secured.
• Pets are removed or safely contained.
• Doors are accessible.
• The property is ready for buyers to explore.