to feel that a viewer to our house broke something- should they pay for it?

[hermykne]

he knocked a really lovely votive candle holder thing from a french range bernardaud (for any one interested) that was a present to me from my granduncle who died last year and his wife, it will cost 55 euro to replace.

auctionner di ring me to tell what had happened but i didnt knowwhat it actually was til i got home.

You could ask them to pay, but they probably wouldn't buy your house after that. Sorry.

add it to the sale price!

I'd just rack it up to experience to be honest ..

hmm i suppose thats what can happen with viewings.

If I were the viewer I'd be mortified and would offer to pay, but as the vendor I wouldn't accept.

no I view it in the same way as I would a guest in the house and wouldn't expect them to pay if it was accidental.

Doesn't the auctioneer have insurance for this sort of thing? If they were showing the house to the viewer while you weren't there then surely they have a responsibility to keep your property safe.