Getting your home ready for showings and an open house in Ontario

Start with a conversation, not a cleaning spree

Before you start tidying, sit down with your real estate agent and ask how showings and any open house will actually run. The Real Estate Council of Ontario (RECO) suggests sellers ask as many questions as possible about what to prepare and what happens on the day. Setting expectations early makes the rest of your preparation more focused and much less stressful. Source 1 Source 2

Questions to ask your agent before the first open house

Use these questions from RECO’s open house guidance as a starting list. Will your agent be there for the whole open house? Will visitors be asked for identification? Will every visitor be escorted, and will the number of people inside at one time be limited so that can happen? Will your agent check doors, windows and other entry points before locking up? And should buyers or anyone else be allowed to take photos or video of your home? Write the answers down so everyone in your household knows the plan. Source 1

Put away valuables and personal information

Open houses bring strangers through private rooms, so treat preparation as a security step as well as a presentation step. RECO recommends removing small valuables from view, moving fragile items off tables and ledges where they could be knocked over, and taking medications out of every room, including the medicine cabinet. Keep bills, credit card receipts and bank statements out of sight, ideally stored with your other valuables. You might also take down personal photographs that are on display. Source 1 Source 2

Take an inventory before visitors arrive

Before the first showing, take a quick inventory or a set of photos of each room and of what you have stored away. RECO notes that this helps you notice quickly if anything goes missing. It also gives you a simple record to check against after each busy weekend of showings. Source 1

Make sure the listing details are accurate and documented

Preparing for showings is also a good moment to check your listing facts. RECO’s seller checklist says every detail should be accurate, from square footage, recent renovations, property taxes and lot dimensions to which items are and are not included, such as the water heater, appliances, light fixtures and window coverings. RECO recommends supporting listing details with invoices, receipts or other documentation, so gather those papers into one folder that your agent can refer to. Source 2

Decide how you feel about a lockbox

Many agents suggest a lockbox so other agents can get the keys for showings. RECO points out that sellers are not required to provide lockbox access, and that your agent can only give lockbox access with your consent, ideally in writing. Some newer electronic models can record who opened the box and when, and can limit access to scheduled showing times. Talk through the convenience and the risks with your agent, and put your decision in writing. Source 3

A simple checklist for showing days

Before each showing or open house, run through a short list. Valuables, medications and personal papers are put away. Fragile items are moved somewhere safe. Personal photographs are down if you prefer privacy. Your room-by-room inventory or photos are up to date. You know whether your agent will be present, how visitors will be escorted and whether photos or video are allowed. After everyone leaves, check entry points and compare each room with your inventory. Source 1 Source 2

Conceptual illustration generated with AI; it does not depict an actual property.

Keep receipts and records together with a home maintenance log

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