The goal is simple: make the home easy to show, secure while it is being shown, and comfortable enough for buyers to take their time.

How Showings Are Scheduled

Showing requests will be scheduled through ShowingTime, our showing-management service. A buyer's agent may request a specific day and time online or by phone. You will receive the request and can confirm it, decline it, or suggest another time.

The ShowingTime app is especially helpful because it lets you manage requests from your phone. We can also establish standing instructions for the life of the listing, such as no showings before 10:00 a.m., after 6:00 p.m., or before noon on Sundays.

Lockbox Access and Feedback

A key will be secured in an electronic lockbox. Access is limited to authorized users, and each opening is recorded. I will receive notice when the lockbox is accessed, including the agent's identity.

After the showing, the buyer's agent may receive a feedback request. When feedback is provided, I will share useful comments with you.

Admit Only Scheduled Visitors

• If an unaccompanied buyer arrives, give the person my card and ask them to call me. I will speak with them and arrange an appropriate showing.
• If an agent arrives without an appointment, take their card and ask them to schedule through ShowingTime. A scheduled appointment gives us a verified record of who is entering the home.

How to Prepare for a Showing

1. Give Buyers Privacy and Enough Time

Plan to leave during the showing. You may wait until the agent arrives before leaving, then take a walk, sit by the pool, or run an errand. A showing may last only 10-15 minutes, but interested buyers - especially on a second visit - may need an hour or more. Give them the space to talk openly and take the time they need.

2. Secure Valuables and Sensitive Items

Do not leave valuables or sensitive materials unsecured. Lock away jewelry, cash, medications, firearms, financial records, mail, spare keys, and small electronics. Although theft during a showing is uncommon, securing these items protects everyone and avoids unnecessary concern.

3. Reset the Home to Photo-Ready Condition

• Clear and wipe counters; pick up personal items, laundry, and clutter.
• Turn on the lights, open shades and blinds, and turn off the television.
• Keep the home comfortably cool. About 71-74°F is generally appropriate; avoid making it unusually cold simply to demonstrate the air conditioning.
• Empty the trash and address noticeable odors. A clean, neutral scent is better than a strong air freshener.
• Keep sinks and commonly viewed appliances empty, and make closets and cupboards reasonably neat because buyers may look inside.
• Soft background music is optional; silence is also perfectly fine.

4. Make a Safe Plan for Pets

Removing pets from the property is best whenever possible. Even a normally calm pet may become frightened, bark, slip outside, or react unpredictably when strangers enter.

• Dogs: Take them with you or place them in a secure indoor crate in a comfortable, climate-controlled area. Do not leave a crated pet outside or remove bedding needed for its comfort.
• Cats: Secure them in a closed room or appropriate carrier, and place a clear note on the door. This reduces the chance that they will escape or hide during the showing.
• Tell me in advance about every pet in the home and any special instructions, so the showing notes can alert agents.

Seller resource from By the Numbers: Florida Sun Coast Real Estate Insights.