Viewer stole from my house?

Is it in photos from the listing?

Last time I sold a house I had dirty underwear taken from the laundry basket. Whatever floats one's boat, I guess...

I'm currently selling my late parents' house. Anything of value to me - conceivable or inconceivable - got taken out long before I put it on the market although no fucker has taken the hideous soapstone carvings yet..

Blimey, what scumbags! I agree, make a scene with the agents, because they clearly had a duty of care to supervise viewers.

Embarrassingly, while we were viewing a house my 6yo DD trod mud right across their living room carpet. The owners were understandably a bit pissed off, but we ended up buying the house, so it became our carpet soon afterwards...

Yanbu but I don't think they will. I'd definitely raise it with them and I'd be telling them no viewings would be happening without you present in the house.

I bet this would be the first insurance claim for theft of a candle.

Normally candles are damaged in a series of small fires.

We had a couple of bits go missing when our house was on the market, my DH is a collector and two or three little items were taken. Not worth an awful lot, but he was upset.

I was more upset with the parents that allowed their children to chase my elderly cat, and climb all over the backs of the sofas when they were viewing.

I agree that estate agents are not good at supervising, we were mainly just left to look around by ourselves while the EA just waited for us to come back. Luckily we are honest.

Step 1. Report to estate agent as a complaint. Say if the item is not returned or cash to the value of £180 step 2. Report to police as theft. Step 3. Get all keys back from estate agent, cancel any agreement and find another...

Fuck me, people are paying £180 for candles? How the other half live...

The estate agent nicked it? What happened?

I wouldn’t ask them I would just ring them tell them item has been stolen and the police will be in touch with them and people who viewed the house. Don’t let them fob you off. Some low level scum around.

Simonjt · Today 20:38
We had this as well, but it was a vase, luckily it was a flat we were selling so we could see the estate agent on cctv leaving with a fully intact vase, so they couldn’t pretend they had broken it

That’s shocking. What happened when you complained to the estate agency? Did you get the vase back?

And this is exactly why I never ever let an estate agent show people round my house when I’m selling.
Too many times I’ve been told when on viewings “Go and have a second look at kitchen/bedroom/study” etc and leaves me to do it alone.
No way do I want anybody poking round my home unsupervised!
OP - you’ve had some great advice , I would do (word for word) what @SalmonOnFinnCrisp says.

My thoughts exactly. A lot of estate agents have quite a high turnover of weekend escorting staff with little checks. A friend of mine did it for a while and wasn’t what I’d call a proper estate agent. She was employed on an ad hoc zero hours contract just to do viewings.

This happened to me when I was living in a rented house share when I was younger. Landlord was selling the property and was having group viewings. I had a brand new bottle of Chanel perfume in its box in my room and one of the people viewing took it. My landlord kindly replaced it and requested that the estate agent not let people walk around the house unsupervised when all our stuff was there. I would definitely report the theft to your estate agent, even if they don’t reimburse you they can make sure it doesn’t happen again.

I viewed too many houses before I bought! I remember how lax the estate agents were in supervising! They’d always follow me around for a look at all the rooms and chat/sell, however if I wanted a second look at things they were always happy to let me explore the house on my own!

I’d never dream of taking anything - however can easily see how it happens.

I must admit I have put everything away in my house of any value as we are having viewings

what an awful thing to happen. People are so dishonest

Good thinking!

I dont ageee with the above...

I'd report to the police and get a crime number, I'd concurrently phone or go into branch and advise the EA that one of the 2 viewers has stolen from you and that the police have been contacted (crime number pending).
They should make all EAs aware so other sellers aren't also victims of theft.
Separately id say something like
"I am angry and disappointed. I entrusted my property to X Estate Agents and expected the EAs to do their job and supervise viewers.
In my view you are clearly in breech so there's two choices;either agree to release us from the contract so we can sell with your competitor or you can assure me this wont happen again and agree to deduct the equivalent £180 value from final selling fee.
How would you like to proceed?"

Then be very silent.

Definitely raise it with the agents, although I'm not sure they'll be able to reimburse you for it.

In 2020, my DSIS was selling her house and a viewer stole her toilet rolls!

Wow some shocking stories here . People coming into your house ( especially those you've basically employed to sell it ) stealing your belongings is despicable .

It may well have been through estate agent that took it.

Do you have a ring doorbell or something that might clock who took it?

Raise it with them, but I would expect them to ask for proof and ignore the situation if you couldn't provide it.

We had this as well, but it was a vase, luckily it was a flat we were selling so we could see the estate agent on cctv leaving with a fully intact vase, so they couldn’t pretend they had broken it.

It happened to a relative of mine. He did get the estate agents to pay but he was a barrister so they perhaps didn't want to argue.