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AIBU?

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Original poster

To expect people to have manners when viewing a house

77 replies

Woobeedoo · 09/08/2021 09:23

So house is on the market. It’s taken a lot of work (decorating, decluttering etc) to get it to how it is and I’m really proud of how it looks now to how it did.

DH, child and I went away for a long weekend Friday am, dropping keys at agents on the way. They had block viewings for Friday and Saturday so we thought we’d just let them get on with it.

We got back a short while ago and immediately I spot a big red juice spill on my previously clean doormat. Going through the house I discover dirty/greasy hand drags on almost every wall, a gouge out of the wall 7ft high (how?!), a cracked dressing table where someone has either sat or leant heavily on it, scuffs on one bedroom wall and the most filthy bannister hand rail - when I wiped it, it came away grey. Don’t people wash their flipping hands?

I’m not asking for people to wear silk slippers, cotton gloves and tip toe through the house not daring to even breathe but a little bit of respect for someone else’s home is a given surely? As the home owner I shouldn’t be expected to have to fix furniture and re-paint walls after just 10 house viewings.

Urgh. I probably need to be more zen during this process but I’m not impressed right now.

OP posts:
Boredmotherofone · 09/08/2021 11:20

@SarahAndQuack

The agents should definitely be taking responsibility there.

I stayed in when the house I rent was put on the market - I just sat in a corner working quietly as I needed to work and there was nowhere else I could be - and it amazed me how rude some people were. A couple of blokes just opened the door and walked in off the street without knocking or waiting for the agent to come and let them in, which really pissed me off.

I sincerely hope you made them leave?
SarahAndQuack · 09/08/2021 11:41

Oh gosh, yes! To be fair, the agent was absolutely on my side and very apologetic to me both times, though it wasn't in any way her fault.

I have heard that some people use viewings as an opportunity for petty theft - you've got such a good excuse, haven't you, for just trying the door and seeing if you can pick something up, and if anyone asks what you're doing you just say you wanted to see the house.

randomlyLostInWales · 09/08/2021 11:44

I'd complain to the agents manager.

My DPs had to stop an agent entering a house they were selling in stiletto shoes on wooden floors - agent couldn't see what the issue was - they unsurprisingly went with someone else and left a compliant.

Agent who was supposed to show us this house turned up without the keys - we were moving 100s of miles we'd sold our house and need to move fast and been clear we were here that one weekend. It was pure chance owner passed by asked us what was going on and let us look around.

I ended up showing people around our last hosue - wasn't suposed to be like that - but people were unbelievabley rude. I had to phyically remove my chidlren toys of some people's children who seemed surpised I wasn't letting their kids leave with my children toys. They were rude about stuff that wasn't being sold with the house - and one woman actually asked if our kids were all planned Shock.

Agents can be extemetly poor and people unbelievable rude - YANBU to expect better.

BedknobsNoBroomsticks · 09/08/2021 20:06

Sounds more like a party than house viewings. Complain to the agents.

Littlecaf · 09/08/2021 20:16

When we sold our house the estate agent said “people do open cupboards and wardrobes”. I thought maybe just built in ones, ie kitchen cabinets and built in bedroom ones - nope one couple went through my chest of drawers - I was working in box room/office next door and heard her whisper “that drawer isn’t tidy” and heard my side drawer being pulled out! Luckily just old makeup in it!

StoneofDestiny · 09/08/2021 20:43

Take pictures and complain to the agents

Theboywiththearabstrap · 09/08/2021 21:09

Do you think someone from the agency used it to stay in over the weekend? I would be asking the neighbours if they saw anything unusual

EastWestWhosBest · 09/08/2021 21:11

@Foobydoo

Are you sure someone hasn't held a party at your house? I would ask your neighbours if they notice anything.
That was my thought.
alltheemptyfields · 09/08/2021 21:21

YABU to expect. Unfortunately.

It's shocking, but people are on another level of rudeness.

I recorded viewers when I sold my last property (just for the fun of it), it was a learning experience. I expected bad, people are just unbelievable.

alltheemptyfields · 09/08/2021 21:23

The fridge! The content of furniture not included in the sale! People look at absolutely everything. It's just as funny as it is rude

Sally2791 · 09/08/2021 21:30

Damage definitely the responsibility of the agent, don’t let them off!

SarahAndQuack · 09/08/2021 21:30

I am just coming back to say that, a few hours after I posted on this thread, I looked out into my back garden to find three total strangers standing there, talking earnestly. We still have an 'under offer' sign up as the sale is still going through - though it's more like STC as we're talking about completion dates now - and these people apparently thought they'd let themselves into the garden to have another look around, in case they could gazump whatever offer was on the table. Delightful.

SarahAndQuack · 09/08/2021 21:34

@alltheemptyfields

The fridge! The content of furniture not included in the sale! People look at absolutely everything. It's just as funny as it is rude
OMG yes. Our house was a rental in a very bad state so we'd added things like light fittings which we planned to take with us. They weren't anything unusual, but not bargain basement so we obviously didn't want to just leave them. The number of people who came to view the house and wanted to argue the toss about whether we'd leave them just stunned me. They cost a tiny, tiny fraction of the sale price! It really wasn't a big deal.

Same with a spice rack my DP made by hand. It's lovely; I love it, but it is not the sort of thing to make-or-break a sale. And yet so many people, when the agent said 'that's not a fixture,' wanted to argue about it. I think some people just get into a very weird headspace when viewing houses.

Singlebutmarried · 09/08/2021 21:37

As with PP my thoughts went to part while you were away. Or 2 of the EAs are having an affair and have shagged on all your surfaces.

prettypinkflamingo · 09/08/2021 21:45

@HoikingUpMyBigGirlPantss

We had someone viewing our old house who asked to use the bathroom whilst being shown round and he did the stinkiest shit ever (and didnt flush). Was NOT impressed!
When I was viewing a house it was the agent that did a big stinky shit in the downstairs toilet while we were looking in the garden and upstairs! I had a quick look in the downstairs toilet as we were leaving and nearly choked!!
hopeishere · 09/08/2021 21:47

Sounds very suspicious. What have the agent said?

Rainbowsew · 09/08/2021 21:47

Unfortunately some people do just treat it as a day out. I learnt my lesson being too accommodating. One family massively took the piss leaving me minding their children in the garden (I was sat on the rug with my baby whilst DH showed then round) and I swear her bratty spoilt child stole one of my DC s toys, never ever found it after their viewing and she was tantrumming over it, if I'd found a strange toy in my child's possession after a visit somewhere they'd have been taking it straight back! what made it worse, we were chatting and I was friends with someone she knew who was lovely Sad

They never even got back to the agent about the place, fine if you don't want it but have the courtesy to say so!! So yes people treat it as a fun day out Angry

BananaMilkshakeWithCream · 09/08/2021 21:50

That’s disgraceful and I’d be fuming too! Whenever I’ve viewed someone’s house the most I’ve touched is the door handles.

OliviaNewtAndJohn · 09/08/2021 21:55

Estate agent should have shoe covers at the door, and hand sanitiser, at a minimum.

AllAroundTheWorldYeah · 09/08/2021 22:32

Apparently it's quite common for estate agents to let themselves into houses that they know are empty, for hookups or crash pads. So a party wouldn't surprise me

Saz12 · 09/08/2021 22:39

People are staggeringly unbelievably rude when viewing houses on the basis that “You want to sell it to me and the customer is king”.
Its a wierd mentality given how many vendors want to sell to someone “nice”.

Complain to agent and insist they make sure people take more care.

WorraLiberty · 09/08/2021 22:43

My first thought was a party too

I'd definitely have a word with the neighbours

Notimeforaname · 09/08/2021 23:23

Yea the agent hung out there for the weekend I'd say Grin

Duchess379 · 09/08/2021 23:30

I'd be going mental at the agents - were they not with each viewing or did they act like it was an open weekend??

GertietheGherkin · 09/08/2021 23:47

Good God 😳
What kind of people was this agent showing around your house?
That sounds like an appalling catalogue of damage over a weekend.

The agents will just deny it though sadly, unless you can produce photographs/ evidence showing what it was like when you left Friday they'll just fob you off.

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