Can I restrict children from attending showings of my home?

While you technically can ask to restrict children from home showings, doing so may alienate some of your potential buyers as they tend to bring their children with them. Best of luck with your sale. Keith Jean-Pierre Managing Principal The Dapper Agents Operations In: NY, NJ, FL & CA

You can't legally restrict children from showings - that's housing discrimination. But you can ask your agent to give you advance notice so you can secure your cat in a bedroom or bathroom during showings. Put a sign on the door asking people not to open it. Let your agent know your cat needs to be safe and can't be around a lot of activity. They can communicate that to other agents scheduling showings. Just make sure the cat has food, water, and a litter box in whatever room you use. If you're really worried, board the cat temporarily during heavy showing times or stay home during showings to keep an eye on things. It's a hassle, but it's doable.

Hi June I would talk to your local real estate professional and get some suggestions and options.

That’s a very understandable concern, especially when you’re trying to keep your home safe and comfortable during the selling process. From a legal standpoint, sellers generally can’t restrict showings based on whether buyers have children. Fair Housing laws protect “familial status,” which means families with children must be given the same opportunity to view a home. That said, you still have several ways to maintain control over how showings take place and protect your home and your pet. Many sellers choose to: • Require all showings to be by appointment only • Ask that buyers are accompanied by a licensed agent at all times • Limit the number of people in the home during a showing • Set specific showing hours that work best for you • Request that doors remain closed or certain areas are off-limits • Make arrangements to keep pets secure and comfortable during showings These types of guidelines are very common and help create a more controlled and comfortable environment while still allowing your home to be shown to potential buyers. A good agent will work with you to set up showing instructions that respect both your needs and the legal requirements.

Children cannot be restricted from touring the home. However, during showings, you may want to take your cat with you and wait in your car, then return once the tour is complete. When I was selling my home, I had a newborn baby and did exactly that for each showing - I either went for a walk or loaded her into the car, turned it on, and waited until the showing ended.

You really have to be careful with this one. No. Federal fair housing law prohibits it. The Fair Housing Act bars discrimination based on familial status, which includes families with children under 18. A blanket restriction on children attending showings exposes both the seller and their agent to a serious fair housing complaint, regardless of the intent behind it.