Ontario Home Showings: Access, Privacy and Questions to Ask Your Agent

A showing is both a visit to someone's property and a chance to assess a major purchase. Clear access arrangements, respectful conduct and a private discussion afterward help both sides. Buyers should expect guidance; sellers should know who is authorized to enter and when.

Agree on access before the appointment

RECO identifies entry outside a scheduled appointment or without the seller's or brokerage's permission as unauthorized access. Sellers and their representatives should document the viewing arrangements, including whether a visit is accompanied. Possessing a lockbox code is not the same as having permission to use it whenever convenient.

Buyers should ask who will attend, how long the appointment lasts and who to call if plans change. Do not share a code, return later on your own or bring additional visitors without approval. If the representative cannot attend, confirm an authorized alternative instead of improvising access.

Keep sensitive discussions private

A property may have cameras, doorbells or other recording devices. Do not use a showing to discuss your maximum budget, financial documents, motivation or planned offer terms. Save those conversations for a private discussion with your representative. This practical precaution is not a statement that every kind of recording is lawful.

Sellers considering recording should obtain advice on applicable privacy and legal requirements and discuss how devices and notices will be handled with their brokerage. Neither buyers nor sellers should treat a camera as a replacement for agreed showing procedures.

Use the visit to gather useful information

• Compare the layout with your daily routine, furniture and accessibility needs.
• Note visible maintenance questions without assuming you have diagnosed the cause.
• Ask how to obtain permits, utility information, condo records or other relevant documents.
• Keep inspection and specialist-review decisions separate from first impressions.
• Respect personal belongings; do not photograph private documents or people.

Questions that reveal the service you can expect

Before working with a representative, ask how showings will be arranged, who covers an absence, when you will receive answers and how concerns are escalated. Check the agent's registration through RECO and understand the representation agreement. A useful relationship has clear responsibilities and a realistic communication plan.

After each visit, compare your notes privately: what meets your needs, what remains uncertain and what must be checked before an offer? Keep enthusiasm separate from the evidence needed for a decision.

Ask Ana about a guided search in Halton, Hamilton and Niagara, and use our buying guide to prepare for the next steps.

Official resource: RECO: unauthorized property access and showing protocols.

Reviewed November 3, 2026. General information, not privacy or legal advice. No competitor incidents or disciplinary claims are reproduced here.