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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To be a bit embarrassed / annoyed....

47 replies

Notacluetoo · 12/03/2011 21:31

... About this house viewing?

We've just put our house on the market, and have had a number of viewings during the week. I've made sure the house is tidied / hoovered / free of clutter for each viewing and taken the DCs out so the viewers get a "child-free" experience!
So today we didn't have any viewings booked and were crazy busy taking DCs various places, then out to lunch with friends. We left the place in a bit of a state as we were in a rush and (we thought) could just tidy up later...
We get back from lunch and discover the house has been double-locked (we'd just pulled the door to) and there was a pile of post left on the side in the kitchen. The estate agents had brought some potential buyers round our house without telling us!
I am so mortified because the house was a tip! There were clothes on the bathroom floor, we'd just chucked DS's dirty nappies in the bin and so it smelled terrible and there were toys on the floor and washing on the bed ready to be put away. Surely any potential buyer is going to think we live in a pit (or probably wonder who tries to sell their house without cleaning up!)
I phoned the estate agent and ranted. They apologises and said that it rarely happens. They're going to call me on Monday with the feedback from the viewing, which I really don't want to hear!! There's no way I'll get it an offer off the back of that viewing....
AIBU to be rather embarrassed about this (and be mighty pissed off with my estate agents?!)

OP posts:

ZillionChocolate · 12/03/2011 21:46

YANBU but only a moron would be unable to see past a bit of clutter. They're buying the house, not the contents.

KatieMiddleton · 12/03/2011 21:48

YANBU. I once accidentally flashed an estate agent and some potential buyers who had called round unexpectedly.

BluddyMoFo · 12/03/2011 21:49

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

StealthPolarBear · 12/03/2011 21:50

I sympathise...hopefully the agents will have rang them and stressed it was their mistake (after all, they want a sale).
Am also slightly relieved that it's not just us - at times when I go round to empty all the bins we can have overflowing bathroom bins, nappies in bags on top of the nappy bin, rubbish piled up in the kitchen. It;s never there for long but during that time I feel very slatternly.
We once looked round a house where they had just dragged the contents of their loft out and strewn it around the upstairs of the house. We didn't put in an offer, but not because of that :o

NestaFiesta · 12/03/2011 21:52

YANBU- this once happened to me- estate agents came round when I was out and hadn't out and hadn't tidied up. I was nearly in tears with embarrassment. However, the difference in my case is that the mistake was mine and I got the dates mixed up.

If an estate agent took anyone round my hosue WITHOUT asking or telling me, I would report them and take my business elsewhere. Totally unacceptable to bring strangers round unexpectedly and without your consent.

ClaudineCrane · 12/03/2011 21:53

YANBU. I hate my mum or any other relatives coming to visit when I have not tidied up so I can only imagine what you feel having a potential buyer seeing your home when you feel it is not at it's best.

iscream · 12/03/2011 21:53

I'd be annoyed at the agent, as I would be embarrassed. But I am sure people can see past a little normal family disarray, and it should affect the showing. People look at the house, not what is in it, in general anyways.

iscream · 12/03/2011 21:54

"Shouldn't", I meant to say, sorry.

risingstar · 12/03/2011 21:54

jesus- its just hit me that we can never move again- it was hard enough with a 7 and 9 year old- luckily in a rising market and told the estate agent in all seriousness that he had to sell it in 2 weeks- i would be unable to bear it any longer.

now i have a 16 year old, a 13 year old and a 3 year old. I wouldnt buy our house. how do you ever do viewing when you have teenagers?

squeakytoy · 12/03/2011 21:58

I wouldnt have given them a key in the first place!

Original poster

Notacluetoo · 12/03/2011 22:00

I know people should be able to look look past the clutter but I just really wouldn't want anyone to see my house looking untidy... I'm not all that houseproud, but now some strangers have seen my PJs on the bathroom floor.... That feels very wrong (and I hardly ever leave my PJs on the floor - honest !!
And I do think 1st impressions count and when you walk into a house with a scent of newborn nappy, it might not entirely inspire you to put in an offer...?!

OP posts:

FourFortyFour · 12/03/2011 22:02

When we tried to sell our house we had to do our own viewings. I did wonder what we were paying the estate agent for.

YANBU at all. They had no right to go in your house without asking but at least they locked the door properly.

Original poster

Notacluetoo · 12/03/2011 22:04

Rising star - I have no idea about teenagers, but I'm trying to sell the house with a 5 year old DD, 3 year old DD and a 14 week DS! My boy is no trouble (!) but the girls leave Barbies and accessories all over the house and seem to change outfits every five seconds and leave them all over the house (practicing for their teenage years ?)

OP posts:

Sidge · 12/03/2011 22:07

I wouldn't be embarrassed but I'd be spitting feathers at the estate agents!

What if you had all been having a lazy Saturday morning in your PJs, or been in the shower, and they'd just walked in with some potential buyers?

They should ALWAYS call first, and if you're out surely they would call your mobile?

Crikey, I'm fuming on your behalf!

AtYourCervix · 12/03/2011 22:14

sold my last house after a suprise viewing when it was an utter tip.
Had spent hours sprucing and tidying over and over, then the agent rang while we were shopping and asked to do a viewing. iwas as it was very very messy but they didn't seem to mind.

LittleJennyRobyn · 12/03/2011 22:18

Was just about to post the same as *sidge

Would have been far more mortifying if you had been home.

Make sure you get your key back and stay home for the viewings, Confine Dc's to one room with a few toys.

Any serious buyers will be able to see how suitable your home is for a family and wont mind children being around.

Hell we have five kids and didn't go out for any veiwings when we sold our last house.

MillsAndDoom · 12/03/2011 22:22

YANBU that would seriously feck me off

caughtinanet · 12/03/2011 22:24

I'd be absolutely furious with any estate agent who thinks its OK to do viewings unannounced - YADNBU.

I'd probably change agents on Monday morning and, stupid as it sounds, I would probably be put off by a messy house if I was a buyer.

I want to think a new house will bring a new me - not just the same messy person I am now

FabbyChic · 12/03/2011 22:32

You leave dirty nappies in a bin, that really does say a lot about you, most would put in a nappy sack and put them straight in the dustbin.

Don't think I have ever left a shitty nappy in a bin inside the house.

Re the clothes, that's just lazyness, takes but a few seconds to pick up after yourself.

Your standards clearly aren't that high, however the Estate Agent shouldn't even have keys.

sparkle12mar08 · 12/03/2011 22:44

Do fuck off Fabby, there's a dear...

OP, I would be spitting chips at the agents too. At the very least I would want a grovelling apology, and a huge bunch of flowers and a bottle of champagne wouldn't go amiss either. Or a decent chunk of the commission. How DARE they enter your home without permission?! Oh, and get the bloody key back immediately.

doricpatter · 12/03/2011 22:49

Bad day Fabby?

Original poster

Notacluetoo · 12/03/2011 22:54

Thanks Fabby, perhaps your butler takes out the nappies for you while the nanny walks the children
Perfectly capable of picking up clothes but I also have a life! If you've never left clothes on the floor in your house (when no one is expected round!!) then I suggest you need to get out more... Just MO

OP posts:

microserf · 12/03/2011 22:56

i am trying to buy and i really wouldn't mind. more interested in the house, not bothered about presentation.

and clearly fabby lives on a higher plane than us mere mortals.

SlackSally · 12/03/2011 23:07

This is the same poster who claimed to be 'shocked' that someone had not painted her child's bedroom for 6 years.

pigletmania · 12/03/2011 23:15

Fabby so your perfect eh! Its up to op how she has her house and how she lives her life, of course if she knew that she was having viewings she would have tidied up. As you currently reside in that property, the Estate Agent should have called beforehand, what if you were walking around nekkid or with very little on.

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