The first impression from a viewing has a direct effect on how easily you can negotiate price and how quickly the sale closes. The keys are brightness, smell, and making the room look spacious — and most of the preparation for these costs nothing.
- A viewing's first impression directly affects price negotiations and how quickly the sale closes.
- Prioritize cleaning the wet areas (kitchen, bathroom, toilet, washroom) as well as the entryway and balcony.
- Living odors are hard for residents themselves to notice, so airing out and deodorizing beforehand helps.
- Turn on every light and open every curtain fully, and schedule viewings during daylight hours when possible.
- Clearing clutter and keeping the floor clear of items makes a room look more spacious.
Start cleaning with the wet areas and entryway
There are only a handful of spots buyers will always look closely at during a viewing. The wet areas — kitchen, bathroom, toilet, and washroom — tend to show signs of daily life and grime, and have an outsized effect on how clean the property feels. The entryway, which is the first thing visitors see, and the balcony, which tends to double as laundry or storage space, are also worth prioritizing. Even if there isn't time to clean every room thoroughly, focusing on these four areas first will still shift the impression within a limited amount of time. The wet areas in particular are often what tips a viewing, since photos alone can't convey a sense of cleanliness. If there's visible limescale or mold, it's worth giving those a thorough clean before the viewing.
Smell and air
Residents themselves are often the last to notice their own home's smell. Pet or smoking odors are the obvious ones, but smells that build up from cooking or daily life carry more to a visitor than you might expect. It helps to open the windows and air the place out a few hours before a viewing, and to use deodorizing spray or fabric deodorizer. On the day, avoiding cooking right before the viewing is also worth keeping in mind — dishes with strong, lingering smells, like grilled fish or garlic, need particular care. Running an air purifier starting a little while before visitors arrive is also a useful step.
Playing up the brightness
How bright a room feels has a direct effect on the impression it makes during a viewing. Even during the day, the basic approach is to turn on every light and open every curtain fully. If the property gets good light at a particular time of day, it's worth coordinating with your agent to schedule the viewing for that window. On the other hand, if a viewing lands during a time when the light is weaker, it can end up looking darker than it really is. For viewings in the evening or later, turning on as many lights as possible still helps convey a sense closer to how bright the room actually is.
Ways to make a room look more spacious
The trick to making a room look bigger is keeping the floor clear of clutter. Assume that buyers will look inside your shelves and closets, and clear out anything you don't use ahead of time. If there are things you've been meaning to get rid of, clearing them out before you list the property means you won't be scrambling to tidy up before every viewing. Rearranging furniture isn't essential, but moving anything that blocks a walkway can make a real difference. Just keeping the entryway and living room floor clear of items gives a first-time visitor a much tidier impression of the space.
Preparing for questions on the day
It helps to think ahead about the questions that tend to come up during a viewing — management fees, the surrounding neighborhood, repair history — and have your answers ready. We cover how to handle viewings while still living in the property in detail in Tips for Handling Viewings While Still Living in Your Condo, so please take a look there too. If you have a pet, it also helps to arrange, if possible, to have it looked after elsewhere just for the viewing. Preparing for these questions isn't just about handling the day calmly — it also helps put the buyer at ease.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to renovate or repair anything before a viewing?
Not as a rule. Cleaning, airing the place out, lighting, and tidying up can change the impression significantly. It's worth talking to your agent before spending money on anything.
Should the seller be present during the viewing?
If you're still living in the property, it's common for the seller to be present. Answer questions honestly, but leave the selling to your agent and avoid talking too much.
What time of day is best for a viewing?
Daytime hours, when the room looks its brightest, are the basic choice. It's worth scheduling around whichever time of day shows off the property's sunlight best.
Summary
Preparing for a viewing mostly comes down to things that cost nothing — cleaning, smell, brightness, and making the room look spacious. Preparing your answers for the day as well helps leave buyers with a good impression.