No matter where we are in the market cycle, whether the market is hot, cold, or completely tepid, property sellers in Toronto are always going to ask: how many showings does it take to sell a house?
In theory, it only takes one!
Only one buyer purchases a house when all is said and done but consider that in a red-hot market cycle like the one we saw in 2022, it wasn’t uncommon to see five, ten, or fifteen buyers submit offers on the same house. In the end, only one of those buyers is going to prevail and purchase the property.
There is No Golden Number
It’s fair to say that the number of potential showings that take place on a home, and thus the number of showings required to receive an offer, will ebb and flow with the market.
I recall listing a condo on Richmond Street in downtown Toronto back in 2021 where we had over one-hundred showings in a seven-day period. That was an all-time record for one of my listings and it produced thirteen offers, but again, only one buyer purchased the property.
Over the last few years, the number of showings you’d expect to see on a property has steadily declined, in tandem with the market. Nowadays, we find it’s best to have conversations with our sellers the night before we list a property in order to set expectations.
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Strategy Determines Results
When we’re listing a property for sale, with the strategy of under-pricing and setting an offer date, we typically list the property on MLS on Tuesday and review offers the following Monday. For a freehold property, we tell our clients that on the first day of the listing, we’d like to see 4-5 showings booked. The second day of the listing is usually the busiest, as agents have had time to send the listing to their clients, buyers have had time to look at their schedules, and thus most people would book a viewing on the second day. We tell our clients that 7-8 showings booked on the second day would be solid. From there, we’ll see another 4-5 showings booked over the next couple of days, before bookings taper off into the weekend. By that point, most people that want to see the property have already booked.
When all is said and done, thirty showings in one week, on a freehold listing for which there is an “underprice with an offer date” strategy, is what we’re aiming for.
Six months ago, I’d have said forty showings.
Two years ago, I’d have said fifty showings.
But as the market changes, so does buyer activity, and thus so should seller expectations on the number of showings.
Looking for more selling insights? Here are a few more posts you might find useful:
- What are the Signs Your House Will Sell Fast?
- Should I Price My Home Below Market Value?
- Do You Need an Open House to Sell Your Home?
Property Type and Location Also Matter
When it comes to properties that are less desirable, either in terms of location or price point, and specifically those that are listed with “offers any time,” the showings are not going to be nearly as plentiful.
This is especially true of the condominium market where we’re currently seeing 2-3 showings booked per week.
Many sellers often ask us, “How many showings do we need in order to receive an offer?”
This is the million-dollar question, and as with the number of showings in general, it can change with the market.
The Number Isn’t as Important as You Think
This probably won’t help answer the question, but it also shouldn’t come as any surprise: we’ve had listings where we had one showing and that one showing produced an offer, but we’ve also had listings where we had thirty, forty, or even fifty showings before an offer materialized.
It all depends on the market that you’re in, but it also depends on the property and how it’s being presented.
How to Encourage More Showings For Your Listing
Regardless of the market, we always present our listings in the best light possible with beautiful staging, photography, and marketing.
You can learn more about our Staging Expertise right here!
That means de-cluttering, minor repairs, packing, moving, and storing items throughout the home, staging the entire property, and providing top-of-the-line photos, video, and marketing efforts. Suffice it to say, if the property is presented in the best possible light, and you’re getting showings but no offer, then the problem is obvious: it’s the price.
Still have questions? Read these posts next:
- Should I Renovate My Home Before Selling?
- Should I Get a Pre-Listing Home Inspection?
- Why Is My Home Not Selling?
Showings as a Litmus Test
The frequency of showings can also be an indicator that interest has lagged or that the property is due for a price reduction.
Let’s say that you’ve listed your home for sale in a lukewarm market and you have 5-6 showings booked in the first week, then 3-4 the next week, followed by 2-3 the week after. Notice how the frequency of showings is decreasing? By the time you get to the third week, you might only have one showing booked. If showings completely die down after that, and you go a week or two without a showing, then it’s absolutely, positively, time for a price drop.
What Does ‘Days on Market’ Mean?
If you’re selling a home in the Greater Toronto Area, there are statistics published every month by the Toronto Regional Real Estate Board (TRREB) that show average “days on market” for properties sold.
Here is a helpful link: TRREB Market Watch
Depending on the area in which your home is located, the property type, or even the price, the average “days on market” before a sale is achieved will differ. For example, “DOM” is usually lower for freehold than condos, but you can also look at DOM as it changes month-to-month, or even year-to-year.
In 2025, it looks as though the average days on market in order to sell a home is up 30-40% over 2024. If you’re a home seller, that’s essential information and something you need to know before you list in order to set expectations accordingly.
What happens if you list your home and things just aren’t working out? Read our post: Can You Fire Your Realtor if it’s Not Working Out? Right here.
Adjust Your Expectations Accordingly
When we list properties for sale, we’re very up front with our seller clients about market conditions and expectations, and we outline all possible scenarios, both positive and negative.
Regardless of the market, we always have multiple listing and pricing strategies, as well as a built-in Plan-B in case we need to switch gears if showings stagnate, offers don’t materialize, or interest wanes.
If you have questions about what you should expect for your home, in your neighbourhood, in terms of interest level, expected showings, or what listing and pricing strategy is best utilized in this market in order to produce an offer, feel free to reach out. We’re always happy to chat!
Reach out at any time by calling 416.642.2660 or emailing admin@torontorealtygroup.com.
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