Published 2 November 2026 · By Jatin Dua, Broker of Record, RE/MAX Quantum Realty
An open house helps most when your home is priced right and in a segment buyers compete for, such as semis, which sold at 101% of list in October 2026. Prepare the home like listing day, remove valuables, medications and documents as RECO advises, agree on ID checks and escorts with your agent, and hold it early in the listing.
This guide is for GTA sellers whose agent has suggested an open house, or who are wondering whether to ask for one, in 2027. You will get a clear answer on when an open house is worth it, a preparation checklist, the safety steps the Real Estate Council of Ontario (RECO) recommends, and what changes in a condo or a tenanted home.
Should you have an open house in 2027?
Yes, if your home is priced right and sits in a part of the market where buyers are competing. No, or not yet, if buyers already have plenty of similar homes to choose from and your price has not been tested.
The October 2026 TRREB numbers show how different those situations are. Across TRREB’s area, semis sold at 101% of list price on average after 22 days, with only about 2.4 months of supply. Condo apartments sold at 97% of list after 38 days, with almost six months of supply.
| Home type (all TRREB areas, Oct 2026) | Sale-to-list | Avg listing days | Months of supply (simple) | Open house value, my view |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Semi-detached | 101% | 22 | 2.4 | High: concentrates competing buyers before an offer date |
| Freehold townhouse | 99% | 28 | 3.4 | High to medium |
| Detached | 97% | 29 | 4.4 | Medium: helpful in the first one or two weekends |
| Condo townhouse | 97% | 38 | 4.6 | Medium to low |
| Condo apartment | 97% | 38 | 5.8 | Low unless the unit stands out in its building |
Source: TRREB Market Watch, October 2026. Months of supply is active listings divided by October sales, my calculation. The last column is my own judgement.
An open house is a convenience for buyers, not a magic buyer generator. I go through who actually walks in, and why, in do open houses still work in Toronto.
How do you get your home ready for an open house?
Treat the open house like the first day of the listing. Most buyers will have seen the photos already, so the home has to match or beat them.
- Fix the small things. Burnt-out bulbs, sticky doors, dripping taps and scuffed walls.
- Declutter hard. Clear counters, empty a third of each closet, and take personal photos down.
- Clean like a move-out. Windows, baseboards, grout and the inside of the fridge and oven.
- Light every room. Open blinds, turn on lamps, and replace dim bulbs.
- Deal with smells. Air the home out; skip strong cooking the night before.
- Stage the main rooms if they are empty or awkward. My notes on whether home staging is worth it will help you decide.
- Have documents ready: a feature sheet, floor plan, utility costs, and any pre-listing inspection report you plan to share.
Good photos, video and a floor plan do more of the selling than the open house itself. See listing photos and video that sell Toronto homes.
How do you protect your home and privacy during an open house?
RECO’s advice for sellers preparing for an open house comes down to removing temptation and agreeing on the rules with your agent in advance:
- Put small valuables out of sight, and move fragile items off tables and ledges.
- Remove medications from every room, including the medicine cabinet.
- Keep bills, credit card receipts and bank statements out of view, and consider taking down personal photographs.
- Take an inventory and photos of what is in the home, so you can tell quickly if something goes missing.
I would add keys and garage remotes, mail, school schedules on the fridge, and anything with a child’s name on it. Lock away laptops and tablets, and log out of any smart-home apps that show on a screen.
What should you ask your agent before the open house?
RECO suggests sellers ask these questions. I have added what I think a good answer looks like.
| Question (from RECO) | What a good answer looks like |
|---|---|
| Will you be there for the whole open house? | Yes, and with a second person if the home is large or has several floors |
| Will visitors be asked for ID? | Yes, with a sign-in for every visitor |
| Will every visitor be escorted, and will you limit how many are inside at once? | A clear plan for both, especially for basements and upper floors |
| Can buyers take photos or video? | A rule agreed with you in advance and enforced on the day |
| Will you check every door, window and access point before locking up? | Yes, with a message to you once the home is secure |
Source: RECO, Preparing for an open house; RECO, Sellers’ checklist. Second column is my own view.
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What do buyers check at an open house?
Serious buyers use an open house to look past the photos. They open closets and cabinets, look under sinks, check windows and ceilings for water stains, run taps, and ask about the age of the roof, furnace and windows. Some will test their phone signal or listen for traffic noise. If you know what a careful buyer is looking for, you can deal with it first. My open house checklist for buyers shows the list from the other side.
Prepare a one-page sheet with the facts buyers ask about most: approximate ages of major systems, recent upgrades with dates, average monthly utility costs, and what is included in the sale. RECO’s sellers’ checklist also recommends that listing details be backed by invoices, receipts or documentation, so keep the paperwork handy for offers.
Can you hold an open house in a condo or a tenanted home?
Condos
Usually, but check your building first. Before you book a date, ask your property manager how visitors are signed in at the front desk, whether elevators or guest parking have limits, and where signs are allowed. A busy weekend in a building with one concierge can turn into a line at the door, so plan the time slot with that in mind. Condo open houses also face the most competition: in October 2026 the City of Toronto had 5,251 active condo apartment listings and 949 condo apartment sales.
Tenanted homes
Under section 27 of Ontario’s Residential Tenancies Act, a landlord, or a registered salesperson or broker with the landlord’s written authorization, can enter to let a potential buyer view the unit after giving the tenant at least 24 hours’ written notice. The notice must state the reason, the day and a time between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. An open house still needs that notice, and the tenant’s home is still the tenant’s home. Talk to the tenant first and agree on a schedule. The rules are covered in landlord entry for showings in Ontario.
What happens when buyers come to an open house without an agent?
Many visitors walk in on their own. Under Ontario’s rules, your listing agent works for you, not for them. If a visitor wants help and does not have an agent, two things can happen.
- They stay self-represented. Before helping them, your agent must give them RECO’s “Information and Disclosure to Self-represented Party” form and go through it. Your agent cannot give them advice or opinions, including on price.
- They become a client of your agent or brokerage. That is multiple representation, which needs your written consent, and theirs, after written disclosure of how duties, services and fees change. Under multiple representation your agent cannot advise you on what price to accept.
Decide how you feel about multiple representation before the open house, not when someone wants to write an offer that evening.
When is the best time to hold an open house in 2027?
Hold it in the first week or two of the listing, while your home is new to buyers. In my experience, most of the serious traffic a listing will ever get comes in that window, so an open house on the second or third weekend reaches people who have already decided.
The season matters too. TRREB recorded 3,044 sales in January 2026 and 6,730 in June, so a spring weekend draws more active buyers than a January one. If you are listing with an offer date, the open house works best in the days just before it, when buyers need to see the home to compete. In my experience, holiday long weekends thin the crowd, so check the calendar before you book.
An open house earns its place when it is part of a plan: right price, strong photos, an offer date if the segment supports one, and private showings for serious buyers on weekdays. On its own, it is two hours of foot traffic. I would rather run one well-prepared, well-staffed open house on the first weekend than four tired ones spread across a month.
What should sellers do during and after the open house?
During
- Leave the home, and take pets with you or arrange care for them.
- Do not chat with visitors about why you are selling or your timing. Anything you say can end up in a negotiation.
- Keep your phone on for questions from your agent.
After
- Ask your agent for a short written summary: number of groups, how many had agents, and the feedback.
- Walk through the home and check your inventory photos.
- If two weekends bring traffic but no offers or second showings, talk about price before you talk about another open house. My guide to what to do when your home is not selling covers the next steps.
Do not leave spare keys, garage openers or alarm codes anywhere a visitor could find or photograph them, and change any code you shared with contractors before the listing. If anything is missing after an open house, tell your agent the same day, so the sign-in list and timings are fresh.
What to do next
- Check how competitive your home type is right now using the table above or the latest TRREB Market Watch.
- Agree with your agent, in writing, on ID checks, escorts, visitor limits, photo rules and lock-up checks.
- Remove valuables, medications and personal documents, and photograph your belongings.
- If you live in a condo or have a tenant, confirm building rules or serve proper 24-hour written notice.
- Book a call with me to plan your launch weekend and price.
Need help with this? Talk to me.
I’m Jatin Dua, Broker of Record at RE/MAX Quantum Realty, and I’m the best agent to do this kind of work for you in Toronto and across the GTA. Over $100 million in GTA sales and 100+ families helped sell. Feel free to contact me any time: call or text 833-330-1925 or email [email protected].
Frequently asked questions
Should I have an open house when selling my home in 2027?
Yes, if your home is priced right and in a segment where buyers compete. In October 2026 GTA semis sold at 101% of list with about 2.4 months of supply, while condo apartments sold at 97% with almost six months, according to TRREB. Open houses help most in the first week or two of a listing.
How do I prepare my house for an open house?
Fix small defects, declutter, deep clean, light every room and stage empty spaces. Then follow RECO’s safety advice: remove small valuables and fragile items, take medications out of every room, hide bills and bank statements, and photograph your belongings so you can spot anything missing afterwards. Have a feature sheet and floor plan ready.
What should I hide during an open house?
Hide valuables, medications, bills, credit card receipts, bank statements and personal photographs, as RECO recommends for Ontario sellers. Also put away spare keys, garage remotes, alarm codes, mail, laptops and anything showing your family’s schedule or a child’s name. Take inventory photos before the open house so you can check afterwards.
Can a tenant refuse an open house in Ontario?
Not if the landlord gives proper notice. Under section 27 of Ontario’s Residential Tenancies Act, the landlord or a registered agent with written authorization can enter to show a potential buyer after at least 24 hours’ written notice stating the reason, day and a time between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. Agreeing a schedule with the tenant works better.
Should the seller be home during an open house?
No. Leave the home and take pets with you. Buyers look more freely when the owner is not there, and anything you say about your timing or reasons for selling can be used in a negotiation. Ask your agent to message you when the home is locked up and to send a written summary afterwards.
Can my listing agent help a buyer who walks into my open house?
Only within Ontario’s rules. If the buyer stays self-represented, your agent must give them RECO’s disclosure form and cannot advise them, including on price. If the buyer wants to become your agent’s client, that is multiple representation, which needs your written consent after written disclosure of how duties and fees change.
What is the best day to hold an open house in the GTA?
A weekend early in the listing, usually the first one. TRREB recorded 6,730 GTA sales in June 2026 against 3,044 in January, so spring weekends draw more active buyers. If you are holding offers, schedule the open house in the days just before the offer date, when buyers need to see the home to compete.
Do condo open houses work in Toronto?
They work less well than house open houses. In October 2026 the City of Toronto had 5,251 active condo apartment listings and 949 condo apartment sales, according to TRREB, so buyers have lots of choice. Check building rules with your property manager first, and focus on photos, price and private showings.
How many open houses should a seller have?
Usually one or two, in the first two weekends. If two weekends bring traffic but no offers or second showings, price is the more likely problem than exposure. A plan with strong photos, a realistic price and easy private showings matters more than the number of open houses.
Sources
- RECO: Preparing for an open house
- RECO: Sellers’ checklist
- RECO: Know the risks of representing yourself
- RECO: Understanding multiple representation
- RECO: How do I choose a real estate agent as a seller?
- Residential Tenancies Act, 2006 (e-Laws, current consolidation)
- TRREB Market Watch, October 2026 (PDF)
Related reading
- Seller Closing Costs in Ontario for 2027: Every Fee Before You Get Paid
- How to Sell a House in Toronto, Step by Step (2027)
- Closing Costs on a New Build in Ontario: What Builders Add
- How Much Is My House Worth in Caledon? (2027)
About the author — Jatin Dua, Toronto and GTA real estate broker
I am Jatin Dua, Broker of Record and co-founder of RE/MAX Quantum Realty Inc., Brokerage, Unit 101, 799 The Queensway, Toronto. I work with buyers and sellers across Toronto and the GTA and have helped more than 100 families sell. Four-plus years of active GTA transactions and over $100 million in sales volume.
Reach me at [email protected] or 833-330-1925, or book a call.