Home Showing Checklist
A buyer's agent walks through a property with the buyer and captures the data needed to decide whether to write an offer. Covers pre-showing prep, the on-site walk-through, and post-showing follow-up.
Pre-Showing Preparation
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Confirm the appointment in ShowingTime
Verify the showing window, lockbox or supra access, and any seller-required notice (pets, security system, no-shoes). Re-check the morning of — sellers cancel last minute more often than ShowingTime notifies.
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Verify the buyer representation agreement
Post-NAR settlement, a written buyer rep agreement is required before touring most MLS-listed homes. Confirm it is on file in Dotloop or SkySlope before you leave for the property — not at the curb.
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Execute the buyer rep agreement before entry
Send the agreement via DocuSign or Dotloop Sign and get it back signed before crossing the threshold. Touring without an executed agreement is a license violation in most states post-settlement.
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Pull recent comps and listing disclosures
Run a quick CMA in Cloud CMA or RPR for active and 90-day sold comps within a half-mile. Pull the seller's property disclosure, lead-based paint disclosure if pre-1978, and any HOA docs already attached to the MLS listing so you can speak to red flags during the tour.
Exterior Walk-Around
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Assess curb appeal and landscaping
Note grading toward the foundation, mature tree limbs over the roof, and any deferred yard work the buyer would inherit. Photograph anything you'll want to reference in repair-credit negotiations later.
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Inspect roof, siding, and gutters
Look for curling shingles, missing flashing around the chimney, or sagging gutters. Roof age is a top inspection-period objection — flag obvious wear so the buyer is not surprised by the inspector's report.
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Check driveway, walkways, and fencing
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Note neighborhood and street character
Stick to factual observations — traffic, parking, proximity to major roads. Do not editorialize on demographics or schools; steering language is the most common Fair Housing violation at the showing stage. If the buyer asks about schools, point them to GreatSchools or the district website rather than offering an opinion.
Interior Walk-Through
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Evaluate layout flow and room sizes
Compare against the MLS room dimensions — discrepancies between MLS-stated and on-site measurements are common and matter for furniture-fit conversations. Note the square footage source listed on the MLS (tax record, appraisal, builder).
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Test kitchen appliances and fixtures
Open the oven, run the disposal briefly, check the dishwasher rack condition, and confirm what conveys per the listing remarks. Built-ins convey by default in most state contracts; freestanding appliances often do not.
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Check natural light and window condition
Note window orientation, single vs. double pane, fogging between panes (failed seals), and any windows painted shut. Window replacement is a frequent post-inspection negotiation item.
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Note finishes, flooring, and recent updates
Safety and Systems
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Verify smoke and CO detector placement
Most states require working smoke detectors on every level and CO detectors near sleeping areas at closing. Missing or expired units are a routine repair-request item; flag now to set buyer expectations.
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Test exterior door locks and deadbolts
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Inspect HVAC unit and visible ductwork
Photograph the data plate on the condenser and furnace — manufacture date drives remaining useful life and is a major financing/insurance factor. HVAC over 15 years old often triggers home warranty discussions during inspection negotiations.
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Test plumbing fixtures and water pressure
Run hot water at the kitchen sink and a far bathroom simultaneously. Slow recovery suggests an undersized or aging water heater; low pressure suggests galvanized supply lines on older homes.
Amenities and HOA
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Inspect pool, spa, or water features
Pools require a separate pool inspection during the inspection period in most states. Note equipment age (pump, heater), fencing/gate compliance, and whether the cover or robotic cleaner conveys.
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Walk the garage, shed, and outbuildings
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Tour HOA amenities and common areas
Note clubhouse, fitness center, and pool condition — deferred maintenance in common areas often signals an underfunded HOA reserve. Confirm monthly dues, special assessments, and rental restrictions against the MLS listing before leaving.
Post-Showing Follow-Up
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Capture the buyer's interest level
Ask before you leave the driveway while the impression is fresh. A clear yes/no/maybe drives the rest of this checklist — write-an-offer prep only kicks in for High interest.
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Send feedback to the listing agent
Respond to the ShowingTime feedback request within 24 hours — listing agents track this and it affects future co-broke relationships. Keep buyer-identifying details out; stick to feedback on the property.
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Log showing notes and photos in the CRM
Save notes against the buyer's record in Follow Up Boss or kvCORE — not in personal email. Brokerage owns the lead per the agent agreement; using a personal system is a common dispute source when agents leave.
Collects paragraph Collects file -
Pull seller's disclosure and HOA docs
Request the full disclosure packet, lead-based paint disclosure if pre-1978, and the HOA estoppel from the listing agent. Walk through the disclosure with the buyer line by line — items left blank that the seller actually knows about are a frequent post-closing dispute.
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Prepare the CMA and offer strategy
Refresh the CMA in Cloud CMA with same-week solds, then walk the buyer through price, escalation clause options, EMD amount, inspection and financing contingency timing, and proposed close date. Confirm the co-broke compensation in writing before submitting the offer.
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