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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:
member · 18/09/2013 19:31

I tend to offer if I'm confident my feet/shoes don't smell but not everyone is comfortable walking around in stockinged soles. I'd buy shoe covers & politely request they're used.

NotYoMomma · 18/09/2013 19:37

I would not be impressed and wouldnt buy the house.

honestly even if I liked it

NotYoMomma · 18/09/2013 19:39

I would actually say no, then view the house and then not buy it. just to piss them off

or I would take off my shoes and socks and wander round and then express concern that I hope they didnt catch my fungal nail infectionand athletes foot.

BoffinMum · 18/09/2013 19:40

I don't take shoes off in strangers' houses unless my shoes are likely to stain their carpets. But I like to decide, rather than be policed. I am a grown up.

wordfactory · 18/09/2013 19:44

I wouldn't ask.

And I have to say I've viewed and bought oddles of property over the years and never been asked.

wanderings · 18/09/2013 22:06

"My name is Bouquet, that's b-u-c-k-e-t. I don't like tradesmen in my house at the best of times, they carry dust. Now Richard, dear, that estate agent who brought those common people round to see my residence didn't tell them to take their shoes off. I want you to complain to his superiors. Be scathing, Richard; crush them."

BrandyAlexander · 18/09/2013 22:10

We're just about to put our house on the market. We are normally a no shoe house (beige carpets here too). No way will be asking potential house viewers to do the same as it might put them off!

WafflyVersatile · 18/09/2013 22:16

I would not be pleased to have to take off my shoes to view a property. I wouldn't be expecting it and I'd be too busy feeling embarrassed if my feet were a mess or socks holey or feet smelly to feel comfortable in what you are hoping is my new home.

If I loved a property I would not be put off by having to do this but it might affect whether I love it or not. So much is instinctive when buying a home.

WillSingForCake · 18/09/2013 22:17

Why on earth would it put you off buying it? That's so bizarre! Does it really matter that much that the current owner doesn't want mud tracked over their beige carpets. You do realise that if you bought it you can then make your own rules?!

Can't believe people are saying even if they liked it they wouldn't buy it. That's the ultimate example of cutting off your nose to spite your face.

BigBoobiedBertha · 18/09/2013 22:17

I would offer to take mine off - it feels all wrong walking around on carpet with shoes on because I would never do it at home.

I would hope that if they sellers wanted me to take my shoes off they would tell me.

Since people seem so split, perhaps you are just going to have to play it by ear OP?

pigsDOfly · 18/09/2013 22:19

When I was looking at houses I always offered to remove my shoes or was asked by the house owner. Never bothered me.

And when potential tenants came to rent my house the agent always removed his shoes and asked the viewers to do the same.

It seems to be the usual practice for a lot of people. Don't understand why it makes some people so uncomfortable. I'd feel really uncomfortable walking around someone else's home in my outdoor shoes.

bimbabirba · 18/09/2013 22:21

Of course YANBU
It's your house, you decide.
We've recently moved into a house that went in the market in February and had an open weekend. I remember very well that the estate agent told us to remove our shoes to go upstairs. Did that annoy us or put us off buying the house? Of course not!

WafflyVersatile · 18/09/2013 22:23

What mud?

When you walk into a prospective home, you want to be able to see it as your home. If you feel awkward it won't feel much like a prospective home. Those old tv shows would show people being put off because they couldn't visualise a blue hallway as magnolia! 'ooh, no I don't like it. the hall is blue'. People are put off by so many random things.

That said it may be a sellers' market where you are in which case do what you like.

bimbabirba · 18/09/2013 22:24

Or you can provide shoe covers like someone else suggested

MidniteScribbler · 18/09/2013 22:27

I'm selling and house hunting at the moment. I actually wear my slip on shoes to any viewings. They look a bit like this. No need to fiddle with shoes, don't have to put DS down, just feet in and out and go. Some agents say to take to them off, some don't. I'm looking at the house, not questioning the manners of the owners. In fact, owners shouldn't even be in the house while I'm there anyway, so how would they know if I have them on or off?

When it comes to my house, I would prefer they take them off (new carpet), but I have no idea if the agent asks them to or not. It's been raining here for weeks on end, so hopefully they do, but I do have a couple of good doormats they have to walk across to get in to the house, so hopefully most shoes are fairly clean.

TheOriginalSteamingNit · 18/09/2013 22:31

To be honest, I would like the home owner rather less from that point on, and be more likely to spot, and mind about, any problems I saw with the house. It's not about whether you want your carpets to stay nice, it's about whether you want to risk annoying and alienating people who you want to buy your house off you!

carolmillen · 18/09/2013 22:35

If you want to sell your house, I wouldn't make an issue of it. Little things can put off prospective buyers.

PughPughBarneyMcgrew · 18/09/2013 22:41

If you are selling the house, does it matter if the floors get dirty?

Britishseamonkey · 18/09/2013 22:48

Personally I wouldn't mind, but I can see how some people would. That said if its really miserable outside and people's shoes are really undeniably caked in mud/snow etc I wouldn't hesitate. I'd be mortified if I realised I was leaving a trail of muddy footprints in someone's home, viewing or not. General muck/dust you may have to just take a deep breath and deal with tho

MissBetseyTrotwood · 18/09/2013 22:54

I took my shoes off when viewing houses. It's just respectful I think. It's still the sellers home.

sameoldIggi · 18/09/2013 23:01

Has no-one mentioned the dog poo yet? Wink

ANomNomNom · 18/09/2013 23:35

...no but we all were thinking about it. Hmm

StuntGirl · 18/09/2013 23:54

I honestly can't believe how angry people get about this subject. It's so ridiculous!

Jellybeanz1 · 19/09/2013 00:08

I made the mistake of asking our first viewers to do this as we had just put carpet down. Unfortunately they were both wearing long boots. We were then going in the attic up the ladder without them (very uncomfortable) and then they wanted to go in the garden - so yes, back through the house on off on off I was so relieved when they left I was dying.

Zoe678 · 19/09/2013 00:12

Oh no. Dont ask this. You r selling a lifestyle they say. I wouldnt want to buy in to that. Makes me roll my eyes abit.