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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to refuse to view a house if I have to remove my shoes?

406 replies

iliketea · 04/11/2013 09:01

I'm happy to be told IABU....

We are currently house hunting. A few of the houses we've requested to view have asked us to remove our shoes at the door. At that point, I've said I'm not viewing a house in my socks and stopped the viewin before it's even started if the shoe thing is non-negotiable.

AIBU? it's not that i mind taking my shoes off when I'm visiting a friend - and generally do take my shoes in friends homes, but I find it weird that if you are trying to sell your house that you expect viewers to take their shoes off.

Or am I likely to miss a really great house and just suck it up / make sure i've got non-holey, matching socks wheb we go to view a house?

OP posts:
PinkParsnips · 04/11/2013 09:11

YABU

Its really not a big deal to take your shoes off is it?!

Grennie · 04/11/2013 09:13

Entirely up to you whether you view a house or not for any reason.

But the home owners are being unreasonable.

MrsOakenshield · 04/11/2013 09:13

if you are selling your house and have people in and out all the time, the last thing you'll want is getting your carpets dirty. I'm not a shoes-off-in-the-house person at all but I'm happy to do it when viewing. No-one bar you is going to give a shit about your socks.

If you want to cut off your nose to spite your face, then go for it. You're not going to get on the right side of the estate agents if you waste their time like this, so they'll be letting other buyers know of the best properties coming up, not you because you'll be a time-waster.

Grennie · 04/11/2013 09:14

Pink - It is for some people.

Gileswithachainsaw · 04/11/2013 09:14
Shock

You do realise til they sell it, it's their home. Are people not allowed to keep their home clean?

NoArmaniNoPunani · 04/11/2013 09:14

When viewing the house we live in now we had to take our shoes off. The carpet looked older than me and we ripped it out as soon as we bought it. It was sweet that the lady we bought from was so house proud though

GlaikitFizzog · 04/11/2013 09:14

Get some of those blue shoe covers to take with you. They have them at our local pool.

Ragwort · 04/11/2013 09:14

I find it odd that people who are selling a property would actually ask people to remove their shoes, however they are the ones possibly losing out if you don't look round, just as you might be losing out on seeing a great property. I suppose if you think it looks nice before the viewing you could always take some slippers with you .............. or ask the agent to check if they have the no shoes rules before wasting everyone's time Grin.

I have offered to remove my shoes if muddy but never been requested to when house hunting.

DontmindifIdo · 04/11/2013 09:15

ooh, OP, if socks are your issue, could you put a pair of slippers in your handbag for such situations? Of course this will have the effect of making you look crazy, this might not be a bad thing though if they estate agents are a bit scared of you they might be easier to negotiate with...

expatinscotland · 04/11/2013 09:17

Carry shoe covers with you then.

MistAllChuckingFrighty · 04/11/2013 09:17

What? You get as far as the front door but if asked to take your shoes off you refuse to view the house? How rude. You would get a mouthful from me for that. When we were selling our house we had to take time off work on occasion.

Original poster
iliketea · 04/11/2013 09:17

Ok so IABU - i'll think about it. I did remove my shoes in the first one we viewed, but I felt really exposed Blush (and believe me, the carpets were certainly not "looked after") - although the idea about taking slippers is a good one.

I suppose, I felt that when we sell out house, i wouls hate buyers to feel uncomfortable about having shoes off in a place they didn't know. Also, i'm not disrespectful to someone else's house, just think if you really want to sell, you should make sure buyers feel comfortable.

OP posts:
HaPPy8 · 04/11/2013 09:17

Its just not a big deal. Nothing to get uppity about, why miss out on a good house over something so trivial?

TeaJunky · 04/11/2013 09:18

I'm one of those people who asks all new visitors to remove shoes and all my family and friends (and their children) know to do this as soon as they walk in.
I also take my shoes off at other people's houses and did so on viewings too.

I also asked viewers/surveyors/agents to remove shoes when visiting our house. All of them politely obliged as I expected.
If they hadn't, I would have told them to do one.

I think you're being quite rude to be honest.
HTH.

Picturesinthefirelight · 04/11/2013 09:19

I wouldn't remove my shoes as usually I have holes in my tights.

Gileswithachainsaw · 04/11/2013 09:20

So by comfortable you mean allow people to traipse mud leaves water dog shit and gravel through the house?

Would you do that at home?

It's THEIR home and you may not even buy it.

YesterdayI · 04/11/2013 09:20

So you have turned up and then refused to view the house because you have been asked to take your shoes off, and you have done this a few times Shock Shock Really? Really ?
I bet your estate agent loves you Grin
Unless there us a medical reason just take your shoes off! If you care about your mismatched socks just get some that match or take your slippers.

jacks365 · 04/11/2013 09:20

Its a big deal to me to take my shoes off as I struggle with it due to health issues. I hate going house hunting just in case I get asked to remove my shoes.

Original poster
iliketea · 04/11/2013 09:21

The thing is, it's not "trivial" to me - and I will ask estate agents in future. When we bought this house (5 or so years ago), there was not a single seller who asked that we remove shoes before viewing, nor when we looked at renting places in the 10 years before that - it takes me by surprise that now it's a "thing" that you take shoes off during a viewing.

OP posts:
Grennie · 04/11/2013 09:21

I have a lovely home. I never ask people to take shoes off. Floors are there to be walked on. Some of the houses I am asked to take my shoes off in have crappy carpets, dirty floors, etc.

Grennie · 04/11/2013 09:23

But then so many people today seem to care more about possessions than people

Figgygal · 04/11/2013 09:23

Yabu totally totally unreasonable

Their house their rules and a house that they are trying to sell minus multiple footprints being dragged in.

What's the actual problem?

MortifiedAnyFuckerAdams · 04/11/2013 09:23

Tbh if you were batty enough to walk away from a viewing rather agree to take off your shoes (on principle, rather than medical need), id be glad as doing business with you would be a nightmare!

MrsOakenshield · 04/11/2013 09:23

I've been viewing a lot of houses recently and it's just something I've got used to and, certainly on a wet day (if that makes sense) I'll take my shoes off straight away. The thing I try to remember is to take shoes or boots that come off easily - one time DD and I were in trainers, lacing on and off was a bore.

I am someone who has trodden mud from their garden through a house on a viewing - we did buy that house though, but I haven't forgotten that I did it (it was 10 years ago)!

extracrunchy · 04/11/2013 09:23

YABU and a bit crazy.

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