Access and Showings Guide

Once your home is listed, showings are how buyers decide whether to make an offer. Every showing is an opportunity, and how you prepare for them directly affects how buyers perceive your home. The goal is to make your house feel welcoming, clean, and easy to imagine living in — every single time someone walks through the door.

That means being ready at any time, not just when it is convenient. Buyers are often working around their own schedules, and the easier you make it for them to see your home, the more showings you will get.

How Showings Are Scheduled

Showing requests come through ShowingTime, a scheduling platform used by most agents in the DFW area. When a buyer's agent wants to show your home, you will receive a notification — typically via the ShowingTime app on your phone. You can approve, decline, or suggest an alternative time.

We recommend approving as many showings as possible, especially in the first week or two on market. That is when your listing has the most visibility and buyer interest is highest. Declining or delaying showings during that window can cost you offers.

Lockbox Access

A lockbox on your front door gives buyer's agents secure access to your home for scheduled showings. Only licensed agents with approved credentials can open it, and every access is logged — you will know exactly who entered and when. This is the standard, most efficient way to handle showing access.

If you are uncomfortable with lockbox access, we can discuss alternatives, but keep in mind that requiring you to be home for every showing significantly limits the number of buyers who can see your property.

Do Not Be Present During Showings

This is one of the most important showing tips: leave the house. When sellers are home, buyers feel uncomfortable. They rush through rooms, avoid opening closets, and do not talk openly with their agent about what they think. They are polite instead of honest, and polite does not lead to offers.

Give buyers the space to explore your home naturally. Plan to be out for about 30 to 45 minutes per showing. Take a walk, run an errand, grab a coffee. The less present you are, the more comfortable buyers will be — and comfortable buyers make offers.

Keep Your Home in Showing Condition

The reality of selling a home is that you need to keep it in showing condition consistently, not just on photo day. That means:

• Beds made and rooms tidy every morning
• Kitchen counters and sinks clean
• Bathrooms wiped down and toilet lids closed
• Floors swept or vacuumed
• Personal items (mail, keys, chargers) put away
• Trash cans emptied or hidden
• Lights on and blinds open before you leave

It is a lot of work, and it is temporary. The better your home shows consistently, the faster it sells — which means you get back to living normally sooner.

Pets During Showings

If you have pets, plan to take them with you when you leave for showings. At minimum, secure them in a way that does not interfere with the buyer's experience. We have a separate guide on showings with pets that covers this in detail.

The Takeaway

Showings are where deals begin. Make it easy for agents to schedule, keep your home clean and welcoming, leave during showings, and say yes to as many requests as you can. Every showing is a chance to find your buyer.