How Do We Handle Showings When We Both Work From Home?

Buyers want to tour a home without the owners there. They want to picture their own family in each room and talk openly with their agent. That's tough when your dining table is a workstation and you have a client call at 2:00.

I'm Jeanette Nelson, a REALTOR® with Jeanette Nelson Real Estate, Keller Williams Realty, serving Orange County, Huntington Beach, Costa Mesa, Fountain Valley, and surrounding areas. Families moving up to a bigger home often work from home now, sometimes both partners. With a plan, showings can fit into a work week without taking it over.

Start with your calendars, not the buyers'. Look at your regular meeting times and pick the blocks you can usually step away.

• Choose showing windows. For example, late mornings and late afternoons on weekdays, plus open weekend blocks. Fewer, predictable windows are easier to protect.
• Agree on notice time. Decide how much notice you need before a showing so you can wrap up a call and reset.
• Block your calendars. Mark likely showing windows as tentative so you don't book important calls there.
• Plan the first weekend. Many sellers keep the first weekend on the market open for showings and plan to be away.

The first couple of weeks are usually the busiest, so this is when your plan matters most.

A home office can look like a showroom in 10 minutes if you plan for it.

• Use a "go box." One bin or bag per person for laptops, notebooks, chargers and papers. Everything goes in, and the box leaves with you.
• Clear the desks. A clean desk with a lamp and a plant shows the room's purpose. Buyers who work from home will notice the space.
• Hide the cords. Bundle cables and tuck them behind furniture.
• Do a quick walk-through. Lights on, blinds open, beds made, counters clear.

If you also have kids at home, these ideas help too: How Do We Get Our Home Ready to Sell With Young Kids at Home?

Have a backup spot you can reach quickly with your laptops:

• A nearby library or café with reliable Wi-Fi.
• A shared office space with day passes.
• Your car for a quick call, if a showing runs over.

Keep your headphones and a charger in the go box so you can take a call anywhere.

Your work and your family's information deserve the same care as your valuables.

• Lock up devices and files. Laptops, work documents, mail and anything with account numbers go in the go box or a locked drawer.
• Log out and lock screens. Shut down any device that stays behind.
• Put away prescriptions and keys.

Cameras need extra care. California Penal Code Section 632 makes it illegal to intentionally record a confidential conversation without the consent of all parties. Buyers often talk privately with their agent during a tour. If you have doorbell or indoor cameras that record audio, talk with your agent and consider turning off the audio during showings. Ask an attorney if you have questions about your setup.

That depends on your finances and your family's timeline. Some upsizing families buy first and sell after they move, which means showings happen in an empty or lightly furnished home. Others sell first and arrange a short stay or rent-back.

Read What Do I Need in Place to Buy My Next Home Before I Sell? and What Should I Plan For If I Sell My Home Before I Buy? to compare. If kids are in school, see How Do We Time Selling Our Home and Buying a Bigger One With Kids in School?

If you're planning to move up and want a showing plan that works around your jobs, I'd love to help you build one. Call or text me at 714.366.8575 | DRE: 01397168, or contact me. Jeanette Nelson is a REALTOR® with Jeanette Nelson Real Estate, Keller Williams Realty, serving Orange County, Huntington Beach, Costa Mesa, Fountain Valley, and surrounding areas.