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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to ask house viewers to remove shoes before going upstairs?!

224 replies

HollieHelen · 18/09/2013 09:43

I am really new to this as have never sold a house before. We are having the first estate agent round today to value our house, and then I want to get it on the market as soon as. Just thinking ahead to viewings ... would it sound awful to ask prospective buyers to take their shoes off before going upstairs?! It's bound to be terrible weather when they view and muddy etc. We have beige carpet ... fairly forgiving but does show marks. As a family we do no shoes upstairs but I know that might not be fair on visitors!!

OP posts:
beginnings · 18/09/2013 12:11

I wouldn't object and have always offered when I've been to view houses. We have hard floors downstairs so I don't ever expect people to do so in my house but I do like it if they offer or do it automatically when they go upstairs. I would always go to see a house in decent socks :)

LoopThePoop · 18/09/2013 12:16

We've viewed houses that had shoe covers at the front door.
I don't know where they bought them though.

They're those blue plasticky ones. They are a great idea IMO. nice little basket at the door and just pop them over the shoe.

weaselish · 18/09/2013 13:14

No problem to ask people to take their shoes off - it would make me feel like the house was well looked after, and indeed when we were looking to buy a house a few years ago, we always offered.

Beccagain · 18/09/2013 13:19

I am definitely in the camp of generally thinking that people who ask you to take your shoes off on entering are bonkers at best and inhospitable at worst. HOWEVER............

if I were buying your house I would be impressed that you were so anal meticulous about it and that would probably encourage me to think that it was well kept in other areas too! Grin

StuntGirl · 18/09/2013 13:21

All these peole getting their knickers in a twist over taking off shoes...you do know these people don't come wth the house, right? Grin They won't be there demanding you remove your shoes once it's yours!

Original poster
HollieHelen · 18/09/2013 13:23

Yep, anal fussy and obsessive is right, Beccagain!
I'll see what the agent does when he visits later and ask his views too maybe ...

OP posts:
BrokenSunglasses · 18/09/2013 13:25

It will put buyers off, and it's rude anyway.

ifyourehoppyandyouknowit · 18/09/2013 13:26

It would just make me think that the house had those annoying carpets that showed every mark. That would not be a selling point to me.

ChutesTooNarrow · 18/09/2013 13:26

I wouldn't, I was asked to remove my shoes when viewing a house once. I spent the entire viewing looking at the carpet and grumbling that it wasn't even that new or clean. There was also a truly awkward moment at the end as we all crammed into the hallway to put our shoes back on and the estate agent was left talking to my bottom as I bent over. We did not buy the house.

LeaningTowerOfGaffney · 18/09/2013 13:29

I wouldn't mind at all. I usually offer to take off my shoes. And I agree with wishful - it would make me think that the current owners had looked after the house and taken pride in it.

whois · 18/09/2013 13:30

I would be happy to take my shoes off. My DO would not be happy, he hates taking of his shoes and putting them back on again, it's a major performance for him. He probably wouldn't bother to look round the house!

Bowlersarm · 18/09/2013 13:31

I would find it quite demeaning to be asked.

PeazlyPops · 18/09/2013 13:38

YABU. I'd take my shoes off anyway though.

I really don't get why some people are so attached to their shoes, and would be upset if asked to remove them!

ilikemysleep · 18/09/2013 13:55

I might feel mildly uncomfortable if I hadn't thought to offer, but am very surprised that people are saying that the fact that the current owner asked them to take their shoes off would prevent them spending a couple of hundred grand on a house that is otherwise just right. I just don't believe that :)

ilikemysleep · 18/09/2013 14:00

'Darling, it's in the right location, lovely garden, you could move right in, the bedrooms are good sizes, off road parking, we can afford it...what do you think?'

'I don't know Sweetheart. I felt a bit uncomfortable for a second when the current owner asked us to take our shoes off...'

'Yes, dear, you are absolutely right. Let us never speak of this house again...'

Catsize · 18/09/2013 14:00

You're selling the place. Do you really care?

StuntGirl · 18/09/2013 14:19

ilikemyseleep Grin

LeaningTowerOfGaffney · 18/09/2013 14:19

Catsize I think the OP isn't keen on cleaning up after each viewer, which she'll need to do if she wants the house to look nice for other viewers.

ilikemysleep Grin

LividofLondon · 18/09/2013 17:46

HH personally I wouldn't ask viewers to take their shoes off because it gives the impression that the carpets are really impractical and will show every mark. That's a negative (even though it's not a big deal in the scheme of things for a purchaser to buy new carpets if they want) and it's best to try and avoid negatives as much as possible. I find most people offer to remove their shoes when they come to my home but I usually say it's OK not to; make people as comfortable as possible, just put good doormats at every entrance and deal with the dirt if it happens.

InSpaceNooneCanHearYouScream · 18/09/2013 18:00

I wouldn't dream of asking ANYONE to take their shoes off when coming into my house. If they leave mud, you clean it.

pinkstinks · 18/09/2013 18:02

Do estate agents actually take off their shoes when showing someone around a house? Bizarre. Do phil and Kirsty? Noone has done this or asked to when we have been renting... Also if I took my shoes off I would be so embarrassed by my little cheese boats :(

Coconutty · 18/09/2013 18:03

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

exoticfruits · 18/09/2013 18:07

Basically you will upset about half the prospective buyers-but funny owners won't put them off if they really want it-so it is up to you.

MrsMook · 18/09/2013 18:08

Asking sets an unwelcoming atmosphere which could put people off. When we bought our house, I had baby attached to my chest in a carrier, so it would have been blooming awkward wobbling around on one leg in a narrow hallway. Potential buyers don't tend to come in fresh from yomping in muddy fields.

diddl · 18/09/2013 18:12

I say ask-then you'll only get interested people-the others can strop off home!