We showed our house 16 times, so eventually we became experienced at it.
At first we were clueless about the best way to present our home. Of course we:
- cleaned thoroughly—vacuumed, dusted, and polished
- turned on every light so rooms felt bright and welcoming
- baked something beforehand so the house smelled inviting
- cleared the cutting board and dish towel from the kitchen counters to reveal more granite
- removed the bath mat in the full bathroom to show more of the tile flooring
- polished faucets and fixtures to remove water spots and make them shine
- tidied the bedroom closets since we planned to include the wardrobes and bed frame with the sale
- emptied garbage and recycling
- lowered toilet lids
- blew debris from the driveway, front porch, and patio to boost curb appeal
- unlocked the separate basement entry so viewers could move through the house easily
Those basics helped, but our early showings still felt chaotic. Selling the house ourselves added pressure—our first attempts were comically disorganized. The doorbell would ring, Burger would bark while I juggled the baby and opened the door, and John would try to give the tour amid the noise. Not surprisingly, our first two showings were unsuccessful.
By the third showing we learned a better approach: designate one person to lead each tour and eliminate distractions. With no dogs and no babies underfoot, the visit felt far more professional. John handled the showings since he remembers details like when we replaced windows or last serviced the HVAC. Meanwhile Burger, Clara, and I left the house for a long neighborhood walk before the appointment. All that walking helped me drop a few pounds—partly exercise, partly house-sale stress. Sixteen showings didn’t sound huge on paper, but after several weeks it felt like a lot, especially on the Sunday we had four in a single day.
On rainy days we got creative about where to wait. John suggested parking our car a few houses down so Clara, Burger, and I could stay dry and comfy while he showed the house. We’d hang out in the warm Altima, listen to the radio, and check messages on our phones. It might sound melancholy, but it was actually kind of fun, and I took photos to remember those moments. First, both kids shared my lap:
Clara entertained herself with a granola bar I found in the center console; the wrapper made a satisfying crunch that doubled as a rattle.
I also discovered that keys can be a handy substitute toy when nothing else is at hand.
And Clara perfected the art of napping—she could sleep anywhere, including the driver’s seat.
In short, we were fortunate to have so much interest in our home. We learned a lot about presenting a house for sale by owner—practical tips about cleaning, staging, timing showings, and minimizing distractions. We’ll share more of those insights soon about marketing, driving traffic, and closing a sale. For now, Clara, Burger, and I can often be found waiting in the car—part nostalgia, part practicality—until the next showing begins.