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Original poster

Why don't people take the dog out when they have a house viewing?

258 replies

RingFence · 11/02/2018 10:04

It's really off putting! I hate walking viewing a house with a strange dog sniffing my ankles. Or jumping up at toddler DD, who gets scared and then has to be carried. Or yapping and snarling from the kitchen because I've asked the owner to shut it away.

Viewed one recently where the owner hadn't even bothered to pick up a dog poo in the garden. Toddler DD stepped in it Angry We didn't notice until she left a trail of dog poo indoors. Owner tutted because of the floor, but I was so angry at the thought of having to clean dog poo off her shoes, having the smell in the car, disinfect them at home etc I just thought 'serve you right'. Why on earth would you not pick up after your dog when you're trying to sell your house??

Then there are the owners who say 'I'll just keep him in the living room' and sit holding the straining/growling/whimpering dog by its collar, so you have to rush that bit of the viewing.

We saw one house where the dog was in the garden, barking and growling. Owner said 'he's all right with people but he might jump up. Do you want to go in?' We declined and ruled out that house.

Why don't people take the dog out for a walk or get a friend/relative/neighbour to look after it for the half an hour it takes to view? We always book a time days in advance so it's not like it's short notice.

OP posts:
MickeyLuv · 11/02/2018 10:36

So why doesn't the owner take the dog for a walk round the block while the agent does the viewing

Maybe because Agents don't always do the viewings, not round here at least.

athingthateveryoneneeds · 11/02/2018 10:38

When we viewed our house, the owner was there with his elderly dog. Quiet and friendly, no bother. We had a nice chat about dogs because we were planning on getting our own once we bought the house. He left us a few dog toys etc, which was nice.

Our dog has completely destroyed our garden (digger) Confused ... I'm sure we would struggle to sell it with her around. Lucky for us we won't be selling for many years so it won't be an issue.

theduchessstill · 11/02/2018 10:38

As for agents doing viewings, they vary as to their willingness to do this ime, so it may not be in the owner's control to arrange that. When I've viewed houses with agents it's usually not been actual agents, but 'viewers' or whatever they call them. I can remember being frustrated asking them questions about the property and them writing them all down and saying they'd get the agent to call me back. I found that a lot more annoying than a dog being there - but admit I do love dogs anyway!

I get that it's annoying if you don't like dogs, but it's just one of those things that could be unavoidable for many reasons. If people have a dog they won't always be able to put something in place for it for every viewing.

MultiGrey · 11/02/2018 10:41

I work for an EA (I'm just the PA so don't hate me!) - our team always do the viewings and ask the owners to take the dog out. Even if they don't have a dog they ask the owner to go out as it is much easier for the viewer to have a proper look around without feeling uncomfortable with the owner there.

TheQueenOfWands · 11/02/2018 10:42

Can you just tell the estate agent you don't want to view any houses with dogs?

Easier. And you won't have to worry about buying a house with dog smell/shit.

G1ggleloop · 11/02/2018 10:45

We found both the local agent and the online agent we have ended up using do not do viewings. Makes sense for us to do them ourselves as we know the house better. We've had one viewer request that any pets are not there as she had an allergy. So we had to book her in for a day we were both home so the dog could be taken out and we put the cat outside. It's really not a problem if people don't want the dog there. They are just limited to times when it's possible for him not to be there

theduchessstill · 11/02/2018 10:47

MultiGrey I much prefer being shown around by owners who can tell you so much more about the house then even well-informed agents can. It can be off-putting feeling like you're being 'sussed' by agents as they show you around, though I appreciate they're just doing their job. My favourite viewings are when owners give you a tour, then leave you to go back around on your own - that's when you can stop just being polite as they are in another part of the house.

ruddynorah · 11/02/2018 10:52

Dog lovers can never understand people not wanting dogs leaping and sniffing and barking at them. Yucky and smelly.

FatBottomedGal · 11/02/2018 10:55

But dogs die in hot cars! I pop mine in the car for a few minutes, but wouldn't want to leave her in there for long unless it's a properly cold, cloudy day.

To be clear, my mum and the dogs sit in the car down the road together (windows open!)

I still don’t understand why the owners are home during viewings? I’ve never heard of this!!

Grilledaubergines · 11/02/2018 11:00

I’ve always been home for viewings. I’ve always done the viewings; never have had an agent turn up to do it for me. I think within reason it’s important to make the house look as big as possible, so fewer human/animal bodies as possible. But not always possible for everyone.

worridmum · 11/02/2018 11:01

why are you taking a toddler on a house viewing? (maybe i am just jaded because someone did that then said toddler manged to damage things in my house as as it was a toddler i had no recourse on said parent of toddler the sod did £2000 of damage).

(if anyone was wondering what toddler / small child di was they picked up an ornament from table threw it at the TV tv fell off stand and was ruined beyond repair and the parent just shrugged her shoulders and said kids will be kids oh and dont bother coming after me for money as i do not have to pay for any damage my child does as you have to sue the child as parents are not legally responsible for any damage their children do)

Loopyloopy · 11/02/2018 11:04

Why are you taking a 2 year old to house viewings anyway?

Blackteadrinker77 · 11/02/2018 11:07

There was a thread a few weeks ago complaining that people take toddlers on viewings.

People are different and will never agree what you should/shouldn't do.

brizzledrizzle · 11/02/2018 11:09

It doesn't cost anything to have the estate agent do the viewings and then take your dog out for a walk so that's the solution to not having family to help look after the dog.

ProfessionalPirate · 11/02/2018 11:11

Dog lovers can never understand people not wanting dogs leaping and sniffing and barking at them. Yucky and smelly.

I'm a dog lover and wouldn't enjoy what you describe here - it's bad behaviour, not the norm at all.

My dog would give you a tail wag as a hello, and then ignore you for the rest of the visit. Where's the problem in that?

In my area houses are so in demand that you'd be daft to let something minor like this put you off buying. Plus it's the country, everyone has a dog.

Ginandplatonic · 11/02/2018 11:11

I hate it when people bring toddlers to viewings - tramping mud through the house, putting their grubby hands on everything while their parents swan around oblivious...

See how people’s experience and perspectives differ? I’m not sure why dogs in houses you are viewing bother you so much - they won’t be there when you move in.

OK in an ideal world they wouldn’t be there, and all their mess would be cleaned up, but we don’t live in an ideal world and sometimes life gets in the way and things are missed. And people just need to be a bit tolerant of others’ circumstances even if dogs (or toddlers) aren’t their favourite thing.

chocolateorangeowls · 11/02/2018 11:12

Sometimes it isn't possible.

Initially we did take them out whilst the agent did viewings but when our sale fell through our agent wasn't available to do more viewings at short notice so I had to show them around (and even if he was I was 8 months pregnant by then and unable to safely take two large dogs out on a lead by myself because it was snowy/Ice etc.) I shut them in the garden, the person viewing wasn't bothered at all (poop was cleaned up, it's just gross not to!) House sold within 6 days.

CoolCarrie · 11/02/2018 11:14

We have 2 very big irish wolfhounds who have lovely, soft natures, but always took them out when there were people viewing our old house. because not everyone likes dogs, especially huge ones. It can be intimidating to walk into a house with other people’s dogs. Sellers aren’t doing themselves any favours by not taking their dogs out.

ProfessionalPirate · 11/02/2018 11:14

I still don’t understand why the owners are home during viewings? I’ve never heard of this!!

How many houses have you bought/sold? I promise it is really very common. I much prefer to be shown around by the home owner - much more informative than an agent.

Nikephorus · 11/02/2018 11:18

The house we brought the dog was out but previous owner completely put us off the grass in the garden. They said don't go on the grass in case I've not picked up al the dog pooh. 4 months living at this new house we still have t stepped on the grass.
You do realise that any lawn will at some point have been the recipient of bird poo at least, and probably fox poo, cat poo, mouse poo etc? If you're that bothered either go over it with the hose & cut it, or rip it all up and put slabs down so you can see anything that falls on it.

Follyfoot · 11/02/2018 11:19

It doesn't cost anything to have the estate agent do the viewings

Yes it does with lots of online estate agents. For example, it's £300 with Purple Bricks.

I've sold 6 times and have always done the viewings myself. Never been a problem. If its a cool day, I'll put the dog in the car, but she is usually asleep all day anyway!

Isthatwhatdemonsdo · 11/02/2018 11:20

When we sold our house we took the dogs out when we had viewings. Don't see why anyone wouldn't.

twinone · 11/02/2018 11:21

I used to take ours out but the many ignorant fuckers who failed to turn up without notice used to infuriate me.

Blobby10 · 11/02/2018 11:27

When I sold my previous houses I always made sure kids and dogs were out of the house - usually while agent did the viewing. I was lucky enough that then DH took them out when I had to do the viewing. Spent ages on one occasion walking up and down the road whilst potential buyers were viewing - they took an hour but still didn't buy the blooming place!

GertrudeCB · 11/02/2018 11:29

I have a dog and he is fucking enormous, I love him but never expected anyone else to want to meet him so I would make sure he was out.
The story about the child causing damage is awfulShock