Buyers walk through houses to decide whether they would like to make an offer. During a tour, they might do anything from snooping through the drawers to opening up the refrigerator. Good house showing etiquette keeps that curiosity respectful of the seller’s home.
These are alright since buyers want to know what they’re putting an offer on. But then again, there are the other viewers who have unorthodox, odd and just uncouth behavior.
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Some home buyers bring kids who aren’t being supervised. These kids then go through drawers or help themselves to food in the cupboards. Others use the bathrooms without permission and don’t flush, or flush when the water is off.
Then, you get your people who complain about something in every room, even when the owners are in the house.
For the most part, buyers just want to view the inside and outside of a home. They want to see if it’s what they are looking for. After all, they’re looking for a place to spend their lives.
In fact, many home viewers go straight for the windows to check out the view. They also want to see the surrounding neighborhood.
If your home is open for viewing, you will still get the nosy people. They open every closet, every drawer and every cabinet. But many people also look upward to check out the height of the ceilings and features such as crown moldings.
These do’s and don’ts of home viewing apply to a private showing and an open house alike.
Tips for good house showing etiquette
Arrival etiquette at a house showing
If an open house says 2-4 p.m., then be there at least by 3:30. Homeowners and agents will want everyone out by 4. So give yourself enough time to see everything you want.
An open house may have lots of potential buyers or just curious people walking around. In that case, wait until one group of buyers leaves a room before you go into it. This gives people the freedom to roam instead of being crowded.
Maybe you don’t have enough time to look around the house, or the open house is too busy. If so, ask the agent if you can schedule an appointment to view the home. Some agents may require you to do this anyway.
Avoid making a mess
If it’s a rainy or snowy day outside, take your shoes off at the door. No one wants footprints of mud in their clean carpets or freshly mopped floors. To be even more cautious, just take off your shoes no matter what the weather.
Also, be mindful of bringing in food or drink. Coffee is tasty, but any spills can stain the carpet. That is a cost the homeowner is going to have to cover.
Stick to any refreshments the homeowner or agent provides, and be sure to keep from dirtying any carpet or hardwood.
Lastly, remember that you’re in someone’s home. If they have any art, memorabilia or something of the like, don’t touch it without asking the homeowner first. You wouldn’t want someone touching your stuff.
Theft can also happen at open houses. So if you’re hosting one or visiting one, be mindful that someone may be trying to steal. It’s boring for children to tour homes. As a result, it’s going to be tough for them to stop touching everything they can’t touch.
And your cute little Pomeranian can fit in your purse. But some people are very allergic to the dander left behind.
Remember, it isn’t your home yet
Unless they are selling the furniture with the home, don’t make yourself at home. Don’t treat anything that isn’t included in the sale like it’s yours. In addition, sitting on couches and chairs can ruin any presentation the owners set up.
Sometimes when you view homes, the owners are there and walls are thin. So, just keep your unkind comments about their color choices or cluttered closets to yourself until you are in the car.
But do inform your real estate agent about any structural or other problems that you saw in your tour. It could possibly help in the negotiations.
House showing etiquette is all about respect of others and respect of someone else’s property. Sellers will remember the better home viewers, so being on your best behavior could help in the end.
Check your home buying eligibility. Start here (Nov 8th, 2026)
