How Many Showings Does It Take to Sell a House on Average?

Showing averages

According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR)’s June 2026 Realtors Confidence Index, the typical U.S. home spent 28 days on the market.

With this figure in mind, if you schedule one to three showings per week, you’ll likely show your house four to 12 times before it goes under contract. If you’re in a hot market, you might field five to seven showings a week, resulting in over 20 showings before your listing goes from “active” to “pending.”

These numbers can give you a general idea of what to expect, but there’s no guaranteed number of showings that leads to a sale. A home could sit through multiple appointments before finding a buyer, or it could sell after the very first person walks through the door. In fact, some experts believe the right showing is all it takes.

“It only takes one showing to sell a house,” says Brett Keyser, a top selling agent in Sarasota, Florida, who gets 95% of his listings sold.

“However, if you are above 15 showings without an offer, I would advise digging into why buyers are not offering on the property, whether it’s price, condition, layout, etc.”

Anthony Navarro, a top agent in San Francisco, California, with over 20 years of experience, says that while private showings tend to fall within the 10-25 range, there are other ways to increase foot traffic to your listing.

“In my market, I usually do two weekends of open houses, one broker’s tour, one twilight open house, and private showings in between. In total, for a starter home, we would do about 100 showings,” he explains.

Typical length of a showing

Most home showings last about 15 to 45 minutes, just enough for buyers to get a real feel for the place. During that time, they’re imagining their furniture in the rooms, checking the flow, and picturing themselves living there.

Some serious buyers might linger longer, measuring spaces, testing light switches, and peeking into closets. Showings can feel short or long depending on how curious the buyer is. Sellers should expect a mix, with some quick walkthroughs, while others are deep dives. Knowing this helps you stay ready and makes the whole showing process a bit less stressful

Do you have to show your home?

When you’re selling a house you still live in, showings can be one of the most stressful parts of the process. Keeping your home clean, making time for appointments, and stepping out whenever buyers want to visit can get tiring, especially when you’re still trying to maintain your normal routine.

While some buyers are comfortable making offers without seeing a home in person thanks to virtual tours, videos, and online listings, most buyers still want to walk through the property before making a decision. A great online listing can attract interest, but an in-person showing is often where buyers get a true feel for whether a home is the right fit.

Given the current market’s high home prices and elevated mortgage rates, buyers want to be sure they’re making a sound investment, and that means touring properties in person.

“Yes, we have more closings without the buyer seeing the home, but the reality is that they’d prefer to see it before they write an offer,” says Michelle Harrington, a top real estate agent based in Bellingham, Washington.

Is there any way to avoid showings?

If the thought of strangers walking through your home, keeping everything spotless, and constantly working around showing schedules stresses you out, you’re definitely not the only one. The good news is, there are other ways to sell your house without dealing with all that hassle.

In recent years, instant buyers or iBuyers have made it possible to sell a home almost entirely online, with little to no need for in-person showings. These companies use technology to estimate your home’s value and send quick cash offers for homes that fit their criteria, usually houses that are in good shape and located in areas with similar types of properties.

HomeLight offers iBuying services through Simple Sale. If you’d prefer to skip repairs, marketing, staging, and even showing your home, you can simply request a no-obligation cash offer from this platform. Fill out this quiz so we can learn more about what type of home you’re selling, how much work it needs, and how soon you want to sell.

After receiving key property information, we’ll present you with an all-cash offer within 24 hours. If you accept the offer, you can close the sale in as little as 7 days. You can also avoid the dreaded double move by selecting a move-out date that fits your schedule, up to 30 days after closing. Simple Sale provides cash offers for homes all over the country in almost any condition.

Below, you can hear about how Baohan Wu, a seller who used Simple Sale to sell his high-rise apartment, closed within three and a half weeks, and what he thought of the process overall.

What factors affect the number of showings your home gets?

The average number of showings needed to sell a house might be higher than what you hope to see, but these are simply estimates. A good real estate agent can help you attract a quick offer, reducing the number of times a house has to be shown.

“In a regular market, we say that after 10 showings, if you don’t have an offer in hand, your home is either priced incorrectly or marketed incorrectly,” says Harrington.

So, what helps a home sell faster with fewer showings? It usually comes down to three big things: the home’s condition, location, and pricing, explains Harrington. Sellers may not be able to do much about location, but they can make a big difference by pricing the home right and getting it in great shape. Ahead, we’ll review the top factors that can influence showing volume.

Market conditions

In a buyer’s market (when there are more than six months of homes available), there are more houses for sale than people looking to buy. Since buyers have plenty of options, each home may get fewer showings and take longer to attract serious interest. You might see buyers trickle in over a longer period instead of having a rush of activity right after listing.

In a seller’s market (when there are fewer than six months of homes available), more buyers are competing for fewer properties. This can lead to a flood of showings right after your home hits the market, with buyers eager to act before someone else beats them to it. In some cases, your very first showing could even turn into an offer because buyers know they need to move quickly.

Linda Fuller, a top agent in Macon, Georgia, who works with 80% more single-family homes than her peers, says that buyers in her market typically attend 10 to 18 showings before they find ‘the one.’

She recalled working with buyers who were relocating from Colorado: “We looked at about 14 houses and put an offer in on one, but it had concerns,” explains Fuller. “They terminated, but [were] coming back to this same home, as there are so few homes to choose from that have what they are looking for.”

The market currently has a 4.6-month supply of unsold homes in June 2026, meaning there’s a little more inventory available for buyers to choose from. That’s up slightly from last month and unchanged from a year ago, so sellers may need to put more effort into pricing their home competitively and making it stand out from the competition.

Time of year

The timing of your sale can also affect how much attention your home gets and how many showings you’ll have before an offer comes in. Nationwide data from HomeLight’s Best Time to Sell Calculator shows that homes listed in April sell, on average, up to six days faster than average.

If you live in a four-season area, you’ll probably see fewer buyers during the colder months, especially from November through January. With kids in school and people busy with holiday plans, many buyers put their home search on pause until things slow down.

During the warmer months, you may see more activity from casual buyers who are browsing listings, checking out open houses, or just getting a feel for the market. This can lead to more showings from people at different stages of the homebuying process, from those just starting their search to buyers who are ready to make an offer.

On the flip side, no one is trudging through snow and booking a showing on a cold, dark winter evening unless they’re highly motivated to buy. So selling during fall and winter might mean fewer showings but more serious buyers coming through.

Price range

The number of showings your home gets can also depend on its price range. Luxury homes tend to get fewer showings because there are fewer buyers who can afford them, while starter homes and mid-range properties usually attract more attention since they fit the budgets of more buyers.

The NAR data show that first-time buyers had a median household income of $94,400 in 2024, down from $97,000 the year before. Repeat buyers had a median income of $111,700, also dropping from $114,300.

Property condition

Will a buyer walk into your home and see a tidy, decluttered space that smells fresh and is moderately updated? Or will they see a list of projects they’ll need to tackle? The state of the home, whether it’s in poor condition or turnkey, can affect how many showings it takes to sell a house.

According to HomeLight’s Top Agent Insights for Spring/Summer 2026 report, buyers are leaning toward homes that don’t require much work after closing. About 84% of agents say simple updates like new paint and refreshed kitchens or bathrooms can make a big difference when it comes to attracting buyers. To make the most of each showing, do a deep clean, purge clutter, and make light repairs.

“Cleanliness is the most important thing,” Harrington says. “People want the house in good condition. They can’t see past the smells or dirty carpets.”

However, fixer-uppers can still attract a certain type of buyer. People looking to flip a home or those shopping on a tighter budget may be more interested in touring a property that needs some work.

If your home isn’t move-in ready, don’t try to hide it. Be honest about what it offers, the updates it may need, and why it could be a great fit for buyers looking for a bargain. You can note that the cost of repairs has been factored into the price and that inspections are for a buyer’s informational purposes only.

»Learn more: Fewer showings than you hoped for? Try the Reason Randomizer: Why Is My Home Not Selling? to uncover common issues that could be affecting your listing. Find out what may be keeping buyers from scheduling a visit and get practical tips to help boost buyer interest.

Curb appeal

Great curb appeal can make a big difference when it comes to getting buyers interested, while an unkempt yard can turn people away before they even step inside. The exterior photo of your home is often the first thing buyers see online, so think of it as the cover that gets them to click on your listing.

If buyers like what they see from the outside, they’ll be more likely to keep scrolling through your photos, read the details, and consider scheduling a showing. From there, they may text their agent to book a showing for 235 Peach Street, and it all started with the thought: “Oh, that house is cute!”

Location

“Location is always what creates the value of real estate,” says Harrington. “If you’re in a house that has phenomenal views in a great neighborhood, and it’s totally dilapidated but priced right, it’ll sell.”

Location can play a big role in how much attention your home gets. Things like being in a top-rated school district, close to restaurants and shops, near parks, or having an easy commute can make your home more appealing to buyers and lead to more showings.

That said, there’s no one-size-fits-all “perfect” location. Every buyer is looking for something different, so even if your home isn’t in the hottest neighborhood, you can work with your agent to highlight the things that make it special.

Agent quality

Top real estate agents know how to make the showing process easier and less stressful for sellers. They’ll handle scheduling requests, communicate with buyers’ agents, and use their experience and market knowledge to help attract the right buyer as quickly as possible.

Without an agent’s assistance, selling your home can take more time and effort. You may end up spending hours on showings with buyers who aren’t serious, while missing opportunities to connect with qualified buyers who are ready to make an offer.

If you haven’t found the right agent yet, let HomeLight connect you with two or three top-rated agents in your area. It only takes two minutes to get matched with quality candidates who can help reduce the burden of showing your home.

How many showings to sell a house?

It’s impossible to predict the exact number of times you’ll need to show your home before it sells. But by allowing buyers to experience your home firsthand, you also give them the chance to fall in love with it in the same way you did. The effort could lead to an offer that makes all the hassles worth it.

If you have a great real estate agent, you’ll likely be able to impress buyers who come through and get an offer faster. But remember, if you don’t want strangers entering the home, you can always request a cash offer from Simple Sale and skip the whole process.