AIBU to think the question, "would you like me to take my shoes off?" is rude?

[Underhiseye2]

Just that really. An estate agent came to value my house today. The first thing he did was introduce himself and we shook hands. The second thing, he stepped inside and looked around and asked "shall I take my shoes off?".

I would never dream of not taking my shoes off on entering someone's house, except maybe my MILs because she is a filthy mare, it's automatic.

Is this question code for, "I think your house is dirty"? Straight up, I am not the house proud lady that my own mother was, but man, this place is clean and tidy. We are part hard-wood floor and part carpet (which could be seen from where estate agent was standing).

People don’t seriously think you can tell someone’s class by their shoe habits?! Total nonsense. Please tell me they’re just joking?

The whole premise of this thread is bonkers. He was obviously being polite and people who think otherwise must be very difficult people in real life.

YABVU! It's not rude at all!

My good friends are all shoes on. If I'm going to someone new I take my cue from the host or ask.(and hope like fuck it's ok to keep them on)
I don't wear shoes in the house(neither does DD,OH only occasionally) but I always encourage guests to keep theirs on if they want to.

Are you a new home owner? Or never have 'strangers visiting your home? You will find most plumbers/electrician/delivery person etc walk into houses with their shoes on in this country.

So he is actually very polite to ask!

“It’s not rude... particularly if you have light carpets”

Light carpets are the height of rudeness.

Joke surely? Some people don't choose their carpets, they get what they are given.

YABU. Shoes are not a main vector of dirt in the house - do you also follow the EA to the bathroom and ensure they wash their hands properly? And close the lid before they flush?

I say that coming from a dual heritage family, including one side with a complete shoe prohibition in the house (Asian).

www.theguardian.com/society/shortcuts/2017/apr/10/shoes-hygiene-home-trainers-germs-house

As Carrie Bradshaw said in SATC, “Had I been told I needed to take my shoes off, I would’ve worn a hat for height. Now I feel I may bump my head on the coffee table” ☺️

I don't know anyone who removes shoes in the house. The thought disgusts me. I don't want peoples sweaty bare feet shedding hard skin, calluses and possible veruccas in my house nor do I want to smell anyone's smelly socks.

@HopelessLayout please tell me you don't buy into those arbitrary rules...? It's total bullshit

They do make sense in the context in which they developed:

If you have a huge house with public rooms where guests are likely to arrive dressed up for the occasion, then of course you don't want them to remove their shoes.

If you're a farmer or labourer and your wife has just spent the day waxing and polishing the floors then of course she won't want you to track manure or factory filth all over the same floor your baby will be crawling along.

In that way a person's lineage usually determines their attitude to shoes in the house.

@LenizarLyublyu
I was kidding and you’re quite right. But it’s no less silly a proposition than the OP’s suggestion that the EA was rude to offer to remove shoes which was just bonkers.

My dad thinks it's rude to take shoes off. So given that the estate agent meets all types of people it's probably best for him to ask!

I don’t want people to take their shoes off unless they have muddy shoes - sweaty feet walking all over - euw. I don’t take mine off either unless I can see it’s expected (by pile next to door).

And it's further fraught because we're shoes-off (not religiously so, but on the whole). However, we don't have a pile of shoes in the entrance because that looks awful. Even 'neat' piles of shoes look awful.

So people wouldn't necessarily know.

I still maintain that the OP has led a beyond sheltered existence, for it to even occur to her to think asking this question is rude.

YABU

Most of these comments are two sides of the same (bonkers) coin.

Ewwwwww shoes!

Ewwwwww feet!

Ain't nobody got time for that.