09/27/2026
Sellers usually prepare a home for what buyers will see, but sound matters too. A loud bathroom fan, rattling vent, squeaky door or constantly humming appliance can pull attention away from an otherwise polished space.
Before listing, I would walk through the home when it is quiet and listen.
Open and close interior doors. Run the exhaust fans. Turn the HVAC on. Listen near windows and exterior doors. Notice whether a small sound suggests a simple repair or whether it is something buyers should understand about the property.
The goal is not to create total silence. It is to remove preventable distractions and know what a buyer may notice during a showing.
Presentation is visual, but the experience of a home uses more than one sense.