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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Viewing houses with kids

34 replies

Hairydogmummy · 09/09/2020 19:46

I've got the house on the market since Sunday. We had two viewing last night and both turned up as families with small children. I wouldn't take young kids on a first viewing of an occupied house even in non COVID times but they had hands everywhere and one family said they'd forgotten masks. It was impossible to distance and the kids too young for them to concentrate on the house as they were trying and failing to get them to stop touching stuff. I don't think it was child care problem from what they said but I could be wrong. I think we'll ask the agent to say adults only unless absolutely necessary? I kind of thought that would be a given and was gobsmacked tbh when they all trooped in!

OP posts:
questionssquestions · 09/09/2020 19:52

I bring my kids. You are not allowed to have anyone watch them, not even grandparents as they are too young to social distance at all. So they have to come with us. Kids stay in garden. We take turns to look around inside. We wear masks.

Your issue isn't with kids coming to view a house, it is with a very inconsiderate couple who let them inside, let them touch stuff and wouldn't wear masks. and presumably an estate agent who wouldn't lay down sensible rules.

TokyoSushi · 09/09/2020 19:53

If you want to sell the house I think you're going to have to let whoever turns up for the appointment view it...

LeonieMacaroni · 09/09/2020 19:56

We viewed a house with our child as we had no one to look after her. We didn't let her touch anything or traipse round anywhere. We then bought the house so I don't think the vendor would have been all that concernedHmm

Likewise when we sold our house we had to accept that strangers would be traipsing round our home and we would get very little say on that if we wanted to sell the place.

NewCarGuilt · 09/09/2020 19:56

@TokyoSushi

If you want to sell the house I think you're going to have to let whoever turns up for the appointment view it...
This.
Fatted · 09/09/2020 19:59

You do realise that the children will have to live in the house at some point as well if it gets sold? I know the parents get to make the decision, but surely a family will want to see where they are going to live.

We took our DC to a house viewing pre covid. I wouldn't go without them.

NameChangeAgain222 · 09/09/2020 20:00

Sorry but I think YABU. They need to come as a couple to make a decision and at the moment they can't have anyone watch the kids. I'm sure they'd prefer to be able to view in peace too! Not wearing masks is unacceptable though, I suggest you buy a pack of disposable ones to give them in case anyone else 'forgets'.

Jaguarana · 09/09/2020 20:03

I agree with you, OP, but got flamed when I said so on another thread years ago.

Then DH reminded me we took DS1 with us when we went to view our last house Blush

Disappointedkoala · 09/09/2020 20:08

We're in the process now and have been told by agents that it's max 2 people to view a property at any one time. GPs looked after our DC for both viewing of ours and viewings we went to but we're lucky to have that help.

Sammilouwho · 09/09/2020 20:15

Our house is going on the market next week and we are in a lockdown area as such I'm expecting families because we can't have childcare other than school times and certainly not with friends or relatives. Similarly we will have to take our little one with us because we have no childcare, but it is still your house, I agree it's not nice having children just messing around but you can't expect people to be able to not bring their children. So yeah, yabu but you are also not bu!

Minimumstandard · 09/09/2020 20:16

I'm sorry, I wouldn't pay for a babysitter to view a house when I might only have one viewing on a particular day for a property I might reject in 2 minutes... Especially as we viewed around 25 properties before we found our house. That said, I wouldn't let my DC behave like you've described and DH and I might take turns viewing if they were being annoying so one of us could stand outside with them.

questionssquestions · 09/09/2020 20:19

It's not about paying for babysitters though. You are legally not allowed to leave them with anyone else right now. So unless you are lucky enough to have them in school or nursery, you can't leave them. At all.

Minimumstandard · 09/09/2020 20:23

Should say that when we viewed houses, DS was immobilised in a carrier on my back so couldn't touch anything or cause any trouble beyond crying (still annoying).

OverTheRainbow88 · 09/09/2020 20:27

@questionssquestions

I’m leaving my kids with my parents/friends etc when needed. Do you think child minders are socially distancing from the kids in their care?!

OP I don’t think you’re being unreasonable. Our neighbour sold their house and families left their kids in the garden and took turns to look around.

CarolVordermansArse · 09/09/2020 20:28

View the house one at a time, one views, the other waits outside with them, unless you can keep them under control.

We had various families view, most of them had well behaved children. However, one messed up my laptop by being allowed to pound it, was finally stopped by the father closing the lid, so the child then went to root in the drawers by the bed. Parents conveniently separated and when to nose through the cupboards, so was unable to be in both places at once.

Another family left me to stop their child wrecking my work while they stood and chatted for hours with the agent, I was trying to make some intricate items for an order and the child kept picking them up and bashing them on the table.

One child took something off the wall and broke it, couldn't be repaired or replaced.

I am considering wiring my personal stuff to the mains when we sell this house, or getting a cage to leave outside and lock them in.

CarolVordermansArse · 09/09/2020 20:29

when = went

OverTheRainbow88 · 09/09/2020 20:30

Hahaha please leave a cage

AgnesNaismith · 09/09/2020 20:32

Hmm I think YANBU, some local estate agents here are specifying no children and offering virtual tours still.

Even local newbuild showhomes are limiting views to two adults, no children under any circumstances.

Mumtumwobble · 09/09/2020 20:34

We moved a few years ago, but we had to take them to some viewings. We didn’t have anyone to watch them. It was either that or not move house.

Minimumstandard · 09/09/2020 20:36

@CarolVordermansArse. That behaviour sounds totally unacceptable...Shock. Not sure I wouldn't have lost it with the parents.

Tbh, I don't understand why children viewing needs to be an issue. Either children are young enough to be in a sling or carrier or strapped in a buggy where they can't cause any damage or they're old enough to behave, not touch things and do as they're told. But obviously some parents have difficulty with that...

elmouno · 09/09/2020 20:38

If you're really bothered, maybe you can get the estate agent to ask the parents to view the house one at a time? Kids can wait with non viewing parent in the car, viewings should be quick anyway.

FelicityBob · 09/09/2020 20:38

@questionssquestions

It's not about paying for babysitters though. You are legally not allowed to leave them with anyone else right now. So unless you are lucky enough to have them in school or nursery, you can't leave them. At all.
Where is this the law?
FelicityBob · 09/09/2020 20:39

We viewed a house last week and left our kids with grandparents. There’s absolutely no way I’d take them with me as they’d be a pain and I want to actually look at the house. I wouldn’t want people bringing kids to view my house either. YANBU OP

VinylDetective · 09/09/2020 20:45

I don’t think you’re being unreasonable at all. Our house isn’t child friendly and I wouldn’t want strangers’ kids wandering all over it. We never took ours to viewings, it’s discourteous.

Twigletmama · 09/09/2020 20:46

I'd understood from various friends who are looking for houses ATM that this wasn't allowed due to Covid restrictions. On the occasions they've had no childcare they've had to view one at a time, whilst one person stays outside with the child.

Misskittykat · 09/09/2020 20:47

We were viewing houses recently and our estate agent stipulated only two people per viewing, masks and gloves to be worn and minimal touching. They should have taken turns as the children were unable to be carried.

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