Showing Tips
Keep an extra key for yourself before the lockbox is installed.
- Try to allow showings even if another showing is already scheduled. Back-to-back or overlapping interest can reinforce demand and urgency.
- On your marketing table, add a small card asking agents to leave a business card. It creates accountability and helps you see showing activity.
- Avoid declining showings when possible. If a buyer has to reschedule for a different day or a much later time, many agents do not rebook.
- Clean the kitchen and bathrooms, no excess on the counters.
- Use a basket, closet, or laundry area for quick pickup items before showings.
- If you have outdoor living areas, stage one simple moment: a book on a chair, clean cushions, or a tidy table. Help buyers picture how the space lives.
- If you have a media room, game room, porch, or flex space, stage it lightly so buyers immediately understand how the space can be used.
- Turn on lights, pull curtains back, and open blinds. Buyers respond to light, clean sightlines, and rooms that feel easy to understand.
- For evening showings, soft low-volume music can help the home feel calm and welcoming. Keep it neutral and subtle.
- In the kitchen, consider bottled water and a simple thank-you note for the buyer and agent. Small touches can make the home feel cared for without distracting from the showing.
- Make the beds and be sure the closets are clean.
Showings at the Same Time and Multiple Offers
If agents request showings close together or at the same time, allow it when you can. Visible demand can create urgency. It may feel a little awkward, but buyers often respond when they see they are not the only ones considering the home.
Do not volunteer that you may have an offer. Some buyers avoid homes they believe are already competitive, and you do not want to discourage a strong backup buyer.
Do not decline showings just because you are negotiating an offer. Until an offer is binding, the buyer can change direction. A strong backup offer can also give you more leverage during due diligence and repair negotiations.
If you receive multiple offers, DUFFY will help you understand your options and the safest way to negotiate.