Being Home During Showings

No—don’t be home during showings because it’s awkward, uncomfortable, and could cost you the sale. While it feels strange letting strangers tour your home without you there, your presence changes everything negatively. You make buyers nervous so they can’t relax, explore, or picture themselves living there; you shrink the space since one extra person makes rooms feel smaller, especially if you’re hovering; and you kill the vibe because buyers want to chat freely, open closets, linger, and imagine, which they won’t do with you in the hallway. Worst of all, if you talk, you lose—you can’t win by saying anything because if you’re honest and mention flaws, they’ll believe you, but if you say something positive, they’ll assume you’re just trying to sell them. Either way puts you at a disadvantage, and answering simple questions can backfire by revealing information that weakens your negotiation power or contradicts your agent. If you absolutely must be home, step outside, take a walk, or sit in the backyard, and avoid eye contact and conversation to let your agent do their job. Your presence can literally cost you the sale because buyers need space to fall in love with your home—give it to them.