Can you take children to a house viewing!??

[Cathbach]

I have never done one before (first time buyers and first viewing!) so no idea what the etiquette is.
We have no childcare because the house is a few hours away, and no one where we now live who could take them for 14 hours ish.

Would it be ok to take them? 11, 10 and 7. All fairly sensible.

Of course, so long as they are well behaved and respectful. Last time we viewed a house DD needed to use the toilet. The vendors were very happy to let her and we found out that the loo worked!

Our buyers brought their toddler daughter with them, she spent most of the time looking DS's fish. Lovely family.

I sold my flat to a couple who's kid has traipsed dog muck all round the new white carpets. Kid had the cheek to tell me to clean it up.

They also bought the sofas and that formed part of the offer, so I was happy in the end but I could have decked the cheeky sod.

I've also shown houses and people do bring their kids. But I agree you need to concentrate as you don't take it all in and especially if you're managing a child.

It's not really the fact that they are a child that put the dog poo on their shoes, though, so that's quite irrelevant.

Because a child opened cupboards? Did you think nobody was going to open them after they bought it, too?
If they were built in then surely all viewers will want to do that?

Our DCs were 2 and 5 when we bought our current place and it's local so we didn't take them round - if we'd had no choice I think we'd have taken it in turns and let them play in the garden/park opposite.

Oh and when we sold our house the couple that came round did so with their ds and lots of other viewings took place with dc too.

as long as dc behave I don’t see the issue at all.

Yep, but an adult would probably have noticed quicker, they left marks in every room as they ran around the flat and it was a very big city centre flat.

An adult might have apologised too. It was more the running around and damage that was the issue, than they were a child. More people, more things to manage.

We moved recently, but went to at least 30 viewing, even during covid (when allowed). Always took my son.

Also had children at 5 out of 6 viewings at our old house.

And this is why I'm not allowing my landlord to conduct viewings during my 3 month notice period. They are most put out but my ds has over 2k worth of tech in his room, doesn't even let his little cousins in there so definitely not having toddlers rampaging around risking damage!

I’m an EA and it’s fine, although the seller might appreciate a head up that they will be coming along rather than just turning up with them. Kids that age will probably be sensible enough (unlike the toddler who was once at a viewing with her parents that I attended, she jumped on the bed, opened the lipsticks on the dressing table and spilled the owners dog water bowl while the parents said ‘don’t do that princess’ but made no attempt to actually stop her or clean up)

We did a few times when we didn't have childcare. We mentioned it in advance and kept them under control. Some people asked us to carry them around. We tried to take turns looking round and the other had the kids in the garden that worked well.

Blimey. That's a lot of responsibility for a child.

I wouldn't on a first viewing as this is a chance for the adults to see if it's a possibility. Second viewing yes. I'd want to limit the amount of people at first viewings until I know they're serious. At that age they could just sit in the car.

I'm suprised at the responses here. Our son came to look at every house with us when he was 2 nearly 3. We didn't think not to take him.

Yes, it's fine to do that. But beware the frank comments.... my mum took my brother (aged 8) to a second viewing where he piped up loudly 'So THIS is the house with the wallpaper you hate so much!' 😂

Yes it'll be fine, they're all old enough to understand not to touch other peoples things. I've had people bring much smaller children and just held them so they couldn't touch things.

Of course! It’s going to be their house too.

At those ages if they are sensible kids I see no issues - if they are “a bit cheeky” or just “kids being kids” then give them some electronics, leave them in the car and take it in turns to see the house

We always did, we had no childcare. Never had any complaints.

We did (one aged three and one aged six months). Not all of them and not always both together, but definitely some. In fact when we did move and started being invited around neighbours houses for coffee the three year old thought we'd be getting a tour of the house then as well. And I remember looking round houses when we moved when I was about 15 and my sisters were 13 and 9.

It’s not any additional responsibility on a child to have their opinion listened to. It more responsibility on myself and my husband because ignoring children’s views and opinions is generally a lot easier than taking them into account.

Yes, we had several viewers with the kids - and we only know because of footage on the Ring camera because we've always been out during the viewings (as most sellers). Estate Agents don't care. Unless you are viewing 12-15 million properties with original Rothko artworks, I can't see why that would be a problem at all.

Of course you can. When we sold our family home every viewer brought family with them. We welcomed it - as long as the children didn’t climb on the furniture, bring mud with them or attempt to find biscuits in the kitchen. The EA always told us in advance whether it was an adult or family viewing. No need to worry about viewing as a family at all We did ask for no dogs as one family turned up with two.

Oh you're one of those.

And everyone reading this is thinking 'oh @pinkyredrose is one of those'