Before the showing, put your personal paperwork away.
Getting ready for an open house isn't just making the kitchen look nice. People are coming into a home you still live in. Decide what they can access, and put away what they don't need to see.
A tidy desk can still have a bank statement sitting on it. A clean bathroom can still have medication in the cabinet. Presentation and privacy need separate attention.
Put the personal things away first
RECO recommends keeping bills, credit card receipts and bank statements out of view, removing medications and small valuables, and considering whether to remove personal photographs. It also suggests keeping an inventory or photographs so you can identify missing items. Read RECO's open house preparation guidance.
Make one private place for the paperwork you use every day. Before a viewing, check the desk, kitchen counter and bedside table. Don't leave your documents mixed into a pile that someone helping you tidy may move somewhere unexpected.
Keep the inventory private too. It is for your own reference, not another folder to leave open during the showing. If several people live in the home, make sure everyone knows what needs to be put away and where it belongs afterward.
A lockbox is an access tool, not the whole plan
RECO says sellers don't have to provide lockbox access. An agent needs the seller's consent, ideally in writing. If you choose a lockbox, ask about the type being used, code changes and who is authorized to access it. Some electronic models can record access and restrict opening to scheduled times, but features vary. See RECO's lockbox guidance.
Don't assume the box on the door has a particular feature. Ask your Realtor to explain the actual arrangement for your listing. Who confirms appointments? Who receives the instructions? What happens if someone arrives early or wants to stay longer?
If you're not comfortable with a lockbox, discuss another written access plan. Convenience matters, but it shouldn't depend on you misunderstanding how entry is managed.
Ask who checks the home afterward
For an open house, RECO suggests asking whether the agent will be present, how visitors will be escorted, whether attendance will be limited, and who checks doors and windows before the home is locked. It also recommends discussing visitor photography and video with your agent.
Get the practical details before the first event. For example, if a side door is used during the open house, who checks it afterward? If a room needs restricted access, how will that instruction reach the person hosting?
Write down the agreed routine in one place with your Realtor. Include the preparation you will handle, the access instructions and the final check. That avoids having important details scattered across several conversations.
If you notice something missing or believe there has been unauthorized entry, contact your Realtor promptly and involve the appropriate authorities when needed. Keep a factual record of what you observed. Don't accuse a visitor based only on the fact that they attended.
The aim is to let buyers see the home while keeping your personal life out of the viewing. No lockbox or hosting plan eliminates every risk. This is general seller education, not a security guarantee or advice on the legal rights of occupants in a particular property.
Sources and photograph
The linked RECO consumer pages were checked on October 13, 2026. This is practical preparation guidance, not a new regulatory announcement.
Illustrative key safes in London, England, photographed July 21, 2022. Image © Acabashi, Wikimedia Commons, reproduced unchanged under CC BY-SA 4.0. This photograph remains freely reusable under that licence with the required attribution. It is not a SirLuckHomes property, a recommended security setup or an endorsement of the pictured products.
