How to Show Your House While Living in It

One of the toughest challenges while selling your home is keeping it “show ready” while you are still living there. Life is often messy and doesn’t look like a magazine cover, especially with pets and little ones running around.

Homes rarely look magazine-perfect, and buyers understand that, but even small efforts can make your home brighter, cleaner, and easier for them to imagine as their own. The guide below will help you get your house ready to sell without turning your daily routine upside down. 

Keep packing to reduce clutter during showings

Continuing to pack while your home is on the market helps reduce clutter that can distract buyers. Start with non-essential items such as off-season clothing, books, or extra kitchen tools. If you didn’t pack much while staging, now is the time to begin.

Consider using a storage pod or renting a small unit while your home is listed. You’ll create cleaner, more open spaces for showings and get a head start on your upcoming move. 

Keep only the essentials 

When touring a staged home, buyers often open cabinets, closets, and built-ins to see how much storage the home offers. Keeping these spaces as uncluttered as possible makes them appear more spacious. This rule can be followed throughout the whole house, especially with toys in children’s bedrooms and books or games in the living room. Use this as an opportunity to get rid of stuff or donate it so that you don’t have to move it to your next home.

Clean as you go 

A clean home shows better and helps buyers focus on the features that matter. Cleaning as you go prevents messes from building up and reduces the stress of last-minute showing requests.

Wash dishes instead of leaving them in the sink. Put away laundry when it’s dry instead of piling it on a bed. Keep cleaning supplies in one easy-to-reach spot. If you have kids, turn the process into a quick game or daily challenge so everyone is involved.

Have a plan for pets during showings

Pets are part of the family, but buyers may not want to see food bowls, crates, litter boxes, or loose toys during a showing. Make sure any animal waste and pet toys are picked up in the yard, and that litter boxes and cages are cleaned regularly. Remove pet beds or carriers from main living areas when possible. 

Use your house showing as an excuse to take your furry friend for a nice, long walk. You and your agent can coordinate showing windows, but short-notice visits do happen. Being prepared with a contingency plan for the pets during showings is an important part of the selling process.

Use a last-minute checklist before buyers arrive

You know the moment. You’re grabbing your keys and trying to get out the door when your agent calls with a request to show the home in twenty minutes. Use the checklist below to do a quick scan of the house before the potential buyers arrive.

• Turn off computers and tuck away mail and personal items
• Wipe down bathroom and kitchen counters
• Empty small trash bins
• Clear visible clutter from countertops and floors
• Pick up pet items from main living areas
• Open shades or blinds to let in natural light
• Turn on all lights so the home feels warm and bright
• Fluff pillows and straighten bedding
• Do a quick sweep or vacuum of high-traffic areas

Work with your agent to manage showing expectations

Your agent can help you balance buyer requests with your daily routine by coordinating showing times, sharing special instructions (like removing shoes), and helping you understand what buyers care about most. If certain days or times are especially difficult for your household, your agent can set appropriate expectations about the windows of time that work for showings. 

Showing your house while living in it can feel like a juggling act, but small, steady routines make the process manageable. With thoughtful preparation and simple daily habits, you can keep life moving while giving buyers the welcoming, well-cared-for home they are hoping to see.

If you have not yet listed your home, a Zillow partner agent can give you multiple options with the flexibility to choose what works best for your unique situation, timeline and goals.