Should I ask for 24 hours' notice from buyers who want to see my home?
BY Scott Moore, Realtor | October 3, 2025The short answer is: NO
It’s not uncommon to see a notice on the realtor side of the MLS that says, ‘showings only with 24 hours’ notice.’ Of course, we understand that there are barriers for sellers when it comes to allowing showings (often related to kids, pets, and work-from-home schedules), but here’s why asking for 24 hours’ notice for showings might not be doing you any favours as a seller.
If a buyer’s realtor is putting together a home tour for that evening and sees that 24 hours' notice is required, they’ll simply exclude your home from the tour. That’s it. Your house doesn’t fit into the schedule, and they move on. You miss the opportunity to sell your home.
However, if you don’t include the 24-hour notice requirement, the buyer’s realtor may submit a request for a showing that evening, giving you a chance to sell your house.
At this point, two things happen:
You might be able to accommodate the showing, maybe the dog is at daycare or the house is already clean from an earlier showing. Whatever the barrier to last-minute showings, it may be workable for this one, and everything could fall into place.
If you can’t accommodate the showing, your realtor now knows there's a buyer interested in your home. If the buyer’s realtor doesn’t reschedule, your realtor will follow up and work with them to find another time that works for both parties
There’s a bit more legwork involved in the second approach, but it offers a higher chance of actually selling the home, which is why we prefer it. For this and other expert advice on listing your home, give me a call at 204-995-7355.