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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To have a show home with a toddler?

22 replies

Postingforafriend1 · 01/05/2023 18:19

LL selling house, forst viewing is tomorrow. I've spent all Bank Holiday deep cleaning the house from 10 in the morning till 6 in the evening, I've just finished and I'm very tired. DD2 has now just gone on a rampage, got all the chalks out in her room and stepped into the carpet, chocolate hand prints on the wall, pulled all the baby wipes, I could go on. Normally she is winding down now but is still on a rampage and just looking and laughing at me when I'm trying to stop her.

AIBU to just hand estate agents the key tomorrow, and say 'I have a toddler' before walking out the door.

OP posts:
wibblewobbleball · 01/05/2023 18:21

Stop her from being "on a rampage" immediately. Wet wipe to the walls now, and pick up the chalk but the rest can wait. Put her to bed, and get an early night yourself. Clean the rest in the morning when it'll feel easier and probably only take 10 mins.

PineappleLatte · 01/05/2023 18:21

Must be trying hard to stop her by posting on MN about it!

Saffronn · 01/05/2023 18:22

YANBU. You are doing them a favour to have viewings in the first place.

(I say that as a landlord….)

Tryingtohelp12 · 01/05/2023 18:22

I’d say try and make it looks clutter free if you can. Houses with lots of clutter indicate lack of space/storage. Of course if it’s show home ready that will help but buyers should see past it. Good luck!

RedTulipsSpring · 01/05/2023 18:22

Just do a spritz round when she gets to bed.

PuffinPuffinPenguin · 01/05/2023 18:23

You could have solved the chocolate handprints by not giving your toddler chocolate when you're trying to keep your house clean. I almost never give mine anything chocolatey or coloured with cocoa powder because the staining is unreal. This is why milkybar is so popular. Also you should keep the chalks and crayons out of reach and just get them out when you need them. So a lot of this was avoidable. Sorry. I know it's still shit that you made all this effort for it to go to waste.

Original poster
Postingforafriend1 · 01/05/2023 18:24

Part of me is to knackered to chase after her, I've got a magic sponge in reserve.
Can't do it in the morning as have work so got to be up and out for 7.
I know I'm renting and I don't have to make it look like a show home but for my own pride I can have people walk around a home I don't feel is clean.

OP posts:
takealettermsjones · 01/05/2023 18:25

I'm just surprised at letting a two year old have free access to chalks in their room. The chalks would be up on a very, very high shelf and only used under careful supervision in my house 😆

Take the chalk/chocolate off her and plonk her in the bath. Clean the carpet/wall etc after she's in bed.

MichaelAndEagle · 01/05/2023 18:26

I wouldn't bother anything more than my usual tidy if it was my landlord selling up.

Original poster
Postingforafriend1 · 01/05/2023 18:26

Chalk is now on the windowsill.

OP posts:
Sirzy · 01/05/2023 18:29

Normal mess is one thing but what you have let happen is too much.

DNAwrangler · 01/05/2023 18:33

I wouldn’t spend all weekend cleaning because land lord is selling the house. Why would you?!

Original poster
Postingforafriend1 · 01/05/2023 18:35

DNAwrangler · 01/05/2023 18:33

I wouldn’t spend all weekend cleaning because land lord is selling the house. Why would you?!

I hate the thought of people judging me as they are walking around. I know it's stupid really as I'm just making myself homeless.

OP posts:
fishonabicycle · 01/05/2023 18:41

Why on earth have you got chalk chocolate and wipes where a toddler can reach them? Take them away from her and put her in the bath and stop posting on Mumsnet.

Original poster
Postingforafriend1 · 01/05/2023 18:43

She's normally really good, after chocolate will wipe her hands and put wipe in the bin, ever really gets them all out or puts hands all over walls, chalk was an error on my part. It's like she's seen a clean house and sees it as an empty canvas

OP posts:
Ivanovaa · 01/05/2023 18:44

I’m already dreading this. We are also having viewings soon, as we are leaving our rental. We have three young kids and quite some clutter. I will make sure the place is clean but I’m also working and do not have time to leave the place spotless and tidy at all times. Clean and organised but we do still live here and I can not keep it like those minimalist homes in magazines..

Lcb123 · 01/05/2023 18:44

food Should only be at the table, then hands cleaned.

SherbetDips · 01/05/2023 18:45

Erm parent your child..

Noteification · 01/05/2023 18:45

Why would you spend all day deep cleaning to do your landlord a favour ? You must like your landlord a lot. Presumably you're being evicted. Jeez, just say no viewings will have to wait till you've left

Speedweed · 01/05/2023 18:50

Only white/beige food and no crafts between now and the sale being agreed!

Unexpecteddrivinginstructor · 01/05/2023 18:54

Speedweed · 01/05/2023 18:50

Only white/beige food and no crafts between now and the sale being agreed!

Why? OP will not benefit. It does sound as if dc is a bit too hyper today, but we have all been there. I would suggest that the landlord maybe pays for a hotel for you for a couple of nights and then has an open house weekend.

CatOnTheChair · 01/05/2023 19:08

You are doing the landlord a massive favour allowing viewings before you move out.
Do what you can on the worst of it this evening, and forget about it.

I wonder if it's worth telling the estate agent they can have all of the afternoon of X date, and that's it - clran in the mirning, then go out for lunch and the afternoon.

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