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AIBU?

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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:
MidniteScribbler · 19/09/2013 09:55

If the owner had young children or pets I really wouldn't want to walk barefoot on their carpets. Who knows what lurks within? Nappy leaks, potty accidents, sick, pet hair and gubbins off their paws and bottoms . Really quite revolting to have to pad about in stockinged feet.

Are you not allowed to have children, pets AND a vacuum cleaner?

wordfactory · 19/09/2013 09:55

Nit this thread reminds me that the vast majority of people have no head for business or making money Grin.

TheOriginalSteamingNit · 19/09/2013 09:57

Well, I am undoubtedly among that number, word Grin, but I wouldn't ask anyone to take shoes off, and certainly not in a house I wanted them to buy from me.

MrsRajeshKoothrappali · 19/09/2013 10:02

Thats a point MrsRaj if I had my Dr Martins on I would be a bit miffed.

Grin

I only wear Dr. Martens (usually Triumph), even in Summer (dodgy knees/ankles and cold feet). Beautiful boots but how much of a bugger are they to get on and off..?

sameoldIggi · 19/09/2013 10:05

Where I live there tend to be open viewings - so, several people wandering around the house for sale at one time. Wonder what the chances are of someone's shoes being missing when they go back for them?!

Slippersocklover · 19/09/2013 10:09

I wouldn't mind being asked, and it certainly wouldn't put me off buying a house.

Jan49 · 19/09/2013 10:12

I would feel uncomfortable viewing someone's house with my shoes off. It's like being half dressed. Walking across a stone or cold tile kitchen floor wearing socks or tights, walking upstairs wearing things that you are quite likely to slip in, freezing feet and trying to avoid treading on anything if the floors aren't immaculate. I don't walk around my own home in tights or socks. I take my shoes off at the front door and put slippers on. I wouldn't feel comfortable walking around someone else's home in tights/socks either.

tobiasfunke · 19/09/2013 10:15

I think the shoe cover idea is perfect. This I wouldn't mind at all. If the agent puts them on then the viewers are likely to do it. Not everyone goes to see a house with clean socks, socks without holes, matching socks, or socks at all etc and asking them to take their shoes off always seems a bit personal IMO. Some people might choose to take their shoes off rather than wear the covers.

happygonicky · 19/09/2013 10:26

I've got an elderly (very mobile) visitor coming to visit, a crawling baby and live just off a busy London street with more than its fair share of dog poo and lots of spitting on pavement. Don't want to seem inhospitable, but can't bear thought of baby crawling on dirty floor. This thread isn't helping! I so want to ask, but lots of people think it'd be rude, it seems...

BeCool · 19/09/2013 10:28

Like MrsRaj I often wear DM boots which lace all the way up. It would really annoy me to be asked to take them off to view the upstairs of a house I was thinking of buying.

exoticfruits · 19/09/2013 11:11

I hope saintmerryweather that you keep your shoes on when asked. I have yet to know why anyone wants my bare feet on their carpets- I am not wearing socks until it gets really cold.

squoosh · 19/09/2013 12:02

'Any reasonable person coming to view would automatically offer to remove their footwear at the door.'

I'm sorry but that's absolute rubbish. I'd be baffled and amazed if someone coming to view my home offered to take off their shoes.

Yes it's something that some people will do as a matter of course but for other people it's something they literally never come across, they're not being rude it's just not something that would occur to them as being 'good manners'. I don't know anyone who insists on shoes off in their home. And I know a lot of people.

Obviously I'd do it if requested though, and with a smile, inwardly though I'd just think they were precious and a bit highly strung.

exoticfruits · 19/09/2013 12:06

I would think 'Hyacinth Bucket'- and I thought the woman was supposed to be a joke! I would never volunteer to walk over people's carpet in my bare feet.

cantspel · 19/09/2013 12:10

I sold and moved last year and even the estate agent offered to remove their shoes at the door. I dont think i had one viewer who kept their shoes on.

I also removed my shoes when viewing as it is a habits for me to remove my shoes as entering a home. No one battered a eye lid.

I dont know if it is a regional thing but i dont think i know anyone who would wear their shoes in their own house or someone elses.

squoosh · 19/09/2013 12:12

It must be regional. I'd hate if people automatically took their shoes off upon coming into my home and in all my life I think I've been asked to do this once.

wordfactory · 19/09/2013 12:14

Maybe a class/financial thing?

GhoulWithADragonTattoo · 19/09/2013 12:15

I think the shoe covers a few people have mention are a better idea as then no one is getting cold feet or worried about their cracked heals / nail polish. Not sure if they are even more Hyacinth Bucket though Grin

For what it's worth I'd take my shoes even if not asked.

MrsBungle · 19/09/2013 12:16

We don't wear shoes in our house but I never ever ask guests to remove theirs. When we viewed lots of houses last year, no one asked us to remove shoes.

Floggingmolly · 19/09/2013 12:17

I don't think it's a class / financial thing, word
For me personally it's a scraped dog shit off the carpet one time too many thing.

Wuxiapian · 19/09/2013 12:18

YABU.

It's rude and unwelcoming.

cantspel · 19/09/2013 12:19

`there is nothing posh about me or my friends. We are all working class everyday sort of people. It just seems something we all do.

wordfactory · 19/09/2013 12:19

I only say that flogging because my family (all working class) would expect shoes off and would whip their own off at the door.

Carpets are expensive and need to be protected.

But all the middle class/upper class people I know have never ever expected shoe removal or taken their own off in my house, I don't think.

siratt · 19/09/2013 12:20

I wouldn't mind at all and always offer to take off my shoes in other people house and am always happy to do as they ask. Take them off or keep them on.

wordfactory · 19/09/2013 12:20

That's what I mean can'tspel.

Perhaps it's a working class thing to do?

Dunno really.

BarbarianMum · 19/09/2013 12:21

YANBU!

When we viewed our (now) house dh and I had to look round seperately (baby and toddler asleep in the car). Dh went first and when he came out whispered to me to take my shoes off.

I thought it rather strange (of course I'd take my shoes off) but when I went in lo and behold the whole of the upstairs was covered by big muddy footprints made by my idiot dh (the house we'd just viewed prior to this had a very muddy garden). The poor lady was on her hands and knees in the bedroom trying to clean her beautiful cream carpet.

I apologised about a thousand times. We were nearly too chicken to ask for a second viewing but did in the end and took her a huge bunch of flowers to say thank you. That and a good cuddle of newborn ds2 sealed the deal but I have rarely been so embarassed.