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Original poster

Do you snoop in other people's houses?

71 replies

IThinkButImNotSureIAm · 24/10/2021 15:22

I was discussing with a family member about how neither of us ever really snoop in other people’s houses.

The only thing I did was as a child I'd play dress up in my DM's clothes and makeup. My DS never played with our DM's clothes but she was always looking in every cabinet and cupboard in the house. She would always find our Christmas presents before they were even wrapped! But she doesn't do it anymore, and I don't think she ever looked in other people's cupboards.

But it made me wonder, do most people have a quick look in the cupboards and cabinets in other people’s houses?

If you do snoop around, why? And what is the most unexpected thing you have found?

OP posts:

minipie · 24/10/2021 19:57

Like others I will have a look at decor and maybe photos out on display but wouldn’t dream of looking in cupboards etc.

Why would there be anything interesting in someone’s wardrobe anyway?

FindingMeno · 24/10/2021 20:03

Not in cupboards etc as I'm simply not interested.
I am interested in decor, how clean and tidy they are, and their book choices, so yes, I do notice that.

VenusClapTrap · 24/10/2021 20:26

Years ago our lodger caught SIL going through my cupboards, and asked her what she was looking for as she thought she must need a towel or something. SIL replied that she was ‘just having a look’. Lodger was appalled and asked us to put a lock on her door for next time SIL came to visit!

MIL is just as bad. She’s been known to rearrange all my stuff in my kitchen cupboards because she thinks things are better that way. I think dh’s family just think they have some kind of ownership over our home because he’s their family member of something. SIL once wandered into our bedroom one morning to use our en-suite - while we were still in bed! Dh had words with her about that. Honestly they have no bloody boundaries.

FrancesFlute · 24/10/2021 20:34

I'd never open any shut doors or cupboards but I like to look at what toiletries people use in their bathrooms and if they'd left a makeup bag in there for example I'd probably peek inside (but wouldn't touch!)

BlackeyedSusan · 24/10/2021 20:41

anything you can glimpse on the trip to the loo is ok but no peeking through doors or opening anything or going off route to see more.

AlfonsoTheUnrepetant · 24/10/2021 20:43

@grapewine

I have a look at bookshelves in the living room, if there are any. That's it. Anything beyond that is rude, I think.

That's my level of snooping, too. I can't resist looking at books but it would never occur to me to open drawers or cupboards.

Muchtoomuchtodo · 24/10/2021 20:45

I was thinking about this the other day.
Within the last 3 weeks I’ve been picking up IL’s post as they’ve been away, going through NDN’s house to feed the birds while she’s been away and let myself into a friends house to take their dog out for a walk one day when they were going to be out for longer than usual.
I did think as I let myself into NDN’s and friends ‘I wonder what their upstairs is like?’ simply because I did wonder, but I certainly didn’t go upstairs to find out. That would be rude and intrusive.

DGFB · 24/10/2021 20:47

No but I did as a child

Chakraleaf · 24/10/2021 20:48

I look at photos on wall only. I would never open cupboards or drawers or go into other rooms. I clean houses/care work and dog walk for people. I get left lots of keys. I never ever do because I am so paranoid about cameras lol but also I don't have time!

foxgoosefinch · 24/10/2021 20:54

I like looking at people’s decor and bookshelves, and love a “tour of the house”, but wouldn’t snoop! Looking in cupboards, drawers or rooms you haven’t been invited into - especially bedrooms - is a huge no-no. I would absolutely hate it. I’ve never encountered any friends who do this, except one who went up to the loo, was away for about twenty minutes and when I went up to see if she was okay, she was in my bedroom literally nosing at the work document I had been writing on my computer screen! I didn’t really know what to say, but my goodness did I think badly of her afterwards…

DukeofEarlGrey · 24/10/2021 20:55

Is looking at books snooping? Having said that I would never nose around someone else’s house, I would happily look at books in a room I’d been invited into. I assume that people like talking about their books if they are out on display.

NotMyCat · 24/10/2021 20:57

I think anything on display is fine, like I would look at a brand of hand wash if it was nice or something but wouldn't open anything up
Doesn't bother me in my own home, my friends know to make themselves a brew, find a tampon if they need one or try perfume. Nosy all you like!

Auroreforet · 24/10/2021 21:06

I would look at open bookshelves.
I've never snooped.
I babysat for a friend I didn't know well so hadn't been to her house before. The heating went off and I was freezing. I searched the whole house looking for heating controls, obviously starting in the kitchen and hallway.
I never found the controls. I did wonder if the dc heard me rummaging and told their parents.

ImInStealthMode · 24/10/2021 21:06

No, not ever, unless you count idly reading the calendar/stuff stuck on the fridge while waiting for the kettle to boil (and I've had ample opportunity alone in people's houses through babysitting, petsitting etc).

Anyone caught snooping at ours would be immediately asked to leave.

ImInStealthMode · 24/10/2021 21:07

Anyone caught snooping at ours would be immediately asked to leave.

lljkk · 24/10/2021 21:11

I don't think so. Not beyond obvious public things like music or books on display. Not that interested in other ppl, I suppose.

CeeceeBloomingdale · 24/10/2021 21:16

No I wouldn't dream of it. My mum used to look after my DDs at my home when they were toddlers and on occasion they would throw up on her, get food on her, have a leaky nappy on her knee etc. Not once did she ever open my wardrobe and borrow something to wear despite repeatedly being told it was fine to do so. I think the way she brought me up was stuck with me and I respect the privacy of others.

Another family member on the other hand...🙄, he always paces through the whole house for some strange made up reason. There's a downstairs loo so there should never be a reason for him to be upstairs but he will often find one. My personal pet hate is when people pick up and read cards that are on display.

RolloTomassi · 24/10/2021 21:16

Oh no way, and I'm shocked this is a thing!

I'm another who loves Rightmove, a home tour, and to see how people live/decorate at a surface level, but it has never crossed my mind to snoop, that's just weird. Can't imagine being interested enough to risk being caught!

Santastuckincustoms · 24/10/2021 21:21

Physical snooping, no, but I do Zoopla to see how much they paid for the house and when they bought it because I'm nosey though!

TaraR2020 · 24/10/2021 21:24

No, i never would.

When I was a teenager I used to house sit for friends parents to earn some money and if I had to look for something specific I even felt guilty opening cupboards to find it and would determinedly not look at at anything that wasn't the item I was hunting for!

I always want to nose through other people's make up bags though! I don't know why they fascinate me but they do lol

DillonPanthersTexas · 25/10/2021 08:19

I used to work as an estate agent and it is amazing how many people leave private items out on display when they know there were house viewings arranged. Sensitive banking and financial documents left on tables, sex toys in the bathroom, raunchy bondage gear just hanging up on the back of the spare room door etc

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