Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

Can you take children to a house viewing!??

101 replies

Cathbach · 14/09/2023 11:49

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.

OP posts:
Original poster
Cathbach · 14/09/2023 15:05

Thanks all. I’ve told the EA so they could prewarn the vendors but they didn’t seem bothered at all.

My main worry is that the kids will quite probably absolutely love the property, it really is the dream, with woods, river in the garden etc. The culmination of decades of work for us but if they fall in love with it and we don’t they’ll never let us forget it!

OP posts:
Original poster
Cathbach · 14/09/2023 15:06

Essexg · 14/09/2023 15:00

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.

Haha, when I was discussing this with DH he said we really need to bring all the pets too to check if they like it 🤣

OP posts:
Blinkinbloodyhayfever · 14/09/2023 15:08

Take them but keep them in a tight lead. When next door was for sale on family brought a devil child who reached through the fence and used my clematis as a whip.

Blondeshavemorefun · 14/09/2023 15:14

icebearforpresident · 14/09/2023 14:48

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)

I would have said something to parents

Did you or the sellers say anything

Blondeshavemorefun · 14/09/2023 15:16

Ideally no kids but as a long distance move it's slightly diff

Can one of you look after kids in garden while other looks and swap

Or leave in garden if secure

Whatswhatwhichiswhich · 14/09/2023 15:22

@Blondeshavemorefun they’re children, not dogs. Why should they be confined to the garden? It’s not like they’re about to shit on the floor Confused

RampantIvy · 14/09/2023 15:23

Ifailed · 14/09/2023 11:51

It's not usual, unless they contribute to the mortgage?

Nonsense. Not everyone can get childcare. Last time we moved house we brought 2 year old DD with us if we both went to look at a house.

mondaytosunday · 14/09/2023 15:24

Absolutely! Having toddlers run around is not advisable , but the age you are speaking of definitely. I would probably not take them to a first viewing however. And when they do go, they behave - no running around, no testing out the beds, no rude comments (my daughter saying an obviously teenage boys room was smelly was an awkward moment with the owner standing right there)!

Blondeshavemorefun · 14/09/2023 15:24

Kids touch stuff. I've had friends selling and buyers bring their kids to view and don't watch them - they jump on the bed - sit on sofas - throw cushions in the floor

Yes some kids are well behaved /have parents who look what they are doing

Many don't

CrackedChina · 14/09/2023 15:24

Ideally not. It's awkward for an estate agent to have to try to talk over parents if they are carrying on a non stop conversation with their children to 'manage' them. If your children are capable of behaving perfectly without you having to constantly speak to them, then it's not so bad. But I'd probably go with taking turns minding the children in the garden while the other parent looks around.

Whatswhatwhichiswhich · 14/09/2023 15:26

@Blondeshavemorefun then that’s a parental issue not a child issue. Doubt the OP is about to let her children trash someone else’s house. If you dislike kids in your home don’t sell to a family.

Jules912 · 14/09/2023 15:29

I had no choice but to bring my then 2 & 5 year old as they were only doing weekend viewings. No one minded but I did find I was so busy trying to stop the 2 year old touching everything that I didn't really get to see the house. We made sure to book the second viewing when they were at nursery/school.

dearanon · 14/09/2023 15:31

Yes, I have no childcare and took my kids to house viewings.

Plenty came when they were viewing my house.

icebearforpresident · 14/09/2023 15:33

Blondeshavemorefun · 14/09/2023 15:14

I would have said something to parents

Did you or the sellers say anything

Show quote history

The sellers weren’t there. I was frantically tidying up after the child but yes, I did ask them to stop her running riot, while trying to maintain some professionalism and do my actual job of selling the house.

Blondeshavemorefun · 14/09/2023 15:39

As I said @Whatswhatwhichiswhich Ideally no

If you can leave them with someone it's better

In op case it's miles Away so can't easily

CoreopsisEverywhere · 14/09/2023 15:40

Yes, but at that age I’d leave them in the car (assuming it is parked nearby) or alternate - one goes in/stays outside at any time

ICreatedAUserName · 14/09/2023 17:08

I'd get them to bring a switch or similar and some treats and make them wait outside. I really wouldn't want three kids in the house if I was selling.

caringcarer · 14/09/2023 18:20

I'd take the 7 year in with me and leave older two sitting in the car outside for 10 minutes.

EeesandWhizz · 14/09/2023 18:42

Just leave them in the car with something to entertain them, games, snacks, a movie on your phone/tablet or whatever. Make sure that you've done a loo stop first.

Original poster
Cathbach · 14/09/2023 18:43

caringcarer · 14/09/2023 18:20

I'd take the 7 year in with me and leave older two sitting in the car outside for 10 minutes.

Ten mins? Surely it would take longer than that?

Im completely new to this though so not sure what the etiquette is!

OP posts:
TotalOverhaul · 14/09/2023 18:49

Yes, if you have to. I think we did a couple of times.

TheChosenTwo · 14/09/2023 18:57

Of course it’s fine! We took ours when they were maybe 2 and 3, they held our hands the whole way round each of the houses and were pretty quiet kids anyway, don’t think they said a word other than a very shy hello to the EA.
Only took 10 minutes to have a quick scout round each house, you’re not at the measuring up stage at that point, it’s just a first look around to get a feel for the house. When we bought the house we were in now we had one 10 minute look round and then asked for a second viewing which took a bit longer as we were then looking more closely at how we could renovate it and then I think possibly a third time to measure up for furniture once we’d made an offer. But we were never there for very long!

SophieinParis · 14/09/2023 19:14

Obviously! what 11/10 and 7 year olds run round touching stuff?!! They aren’t toddlers

SophieinParis · 14/09/2023 19:18

This thread is insane. What children of the age you are describing need “managing” in the garden?? Or need to be pacified with snack and a bloody iPad in the car? People have problems if their children can’t just walk around quietly for 30 minutes at age 11, 10 and 7.

RidingMyBike · 14/09/2023 19:18

Yes, we had to as no one to leave DD with. It wasn't ideal but not much we could do. We did do some viewings using annual leave whilst she was at school.

We basically tag teamed it so one of us was always with her, and agreed what the other would check for (eg turning taps on, opening cupboards) to make sure we covered everything.