In somebody else's house, what do you notice most?

[4littleones]

when you go to somebody else's house, what do you notice/judge the most?

I always find myself looking at dirt in the bathroom. Possibly because I'm alone in there, but also I think if you having guests round, you should at least spend 10 mins wiping the bathroom.

but I know everybody has different standards and priorities so just interested to know what you notice most?

Definitely the smell of a house is the first thing I notice. I love animals but don't like a house to smell of animal,s and I don't like that kind of stale air smell. A house doesn't have to smell nice though...no smell at all is perfect! And then it's things like pictures on the wall, photos, bric-a-brac or lack of, books...things that make a house feel like a home. And a clean toilet.

One thing I never think or judge people on is how tidy their house is, which actually surprises me because I always feel absolutely mortified if someone comes round unexpectedly and our house is a mess...I'm convinced I'm being judged but chances are I'm probably not! I like to spend a bit of time tidying our house before people come round though.

I notice if it is lived in. I hate sterile, immaculate houses. They make me nervous, and I'm always terrified I'll make a mess. Unless there is real filth I am much happier in a less tidy house.

Me too flexi

I feel relaxed at my friends houses as there are plenty of toys to trip over on the floor, comfy settees and lots of tea and coffee and biscuits!

I always feel uptight at my own house with guests as I constantly worry about tidying it up before and after a visit!

I once visited my best friend who lived sixty miles away, so didn't see often and her lounge was thick with dog hairs. She had known I was coming for a couple of weeks so I felt very hurt and unwelcome, especially as I had a crawler with me. It wasn't until many years later that she told me she'd had glandular fever and was only getting over it. So I think if you know someone is coming, not to make an effort can be seen as unwelcoming. If you are unwell say so.

When I go into someone else's house, the first thing I notice is whether there is somewhere for me to put my coat and leave my shoes. Somewhere obvious, I mean. So that they're not in the way too much, and so that when it is time for me to leave, I can get them myself and not be reliant on the host to locate them. I remember being stuck in a friend's house once when she was stuck on the sofa BFing and having to take a call, and me feeling too awkward to ask for my coat back and didn't know her well enough to go rooting.

Other than that, I am always after ideas for how to improve my own house so I like looking for storage ideas, nice fabrics, lighting.

I am not at all bothered by anyone else's clutter, kitchen debris or overflowing with dirty dishes sink.

I always check for ideas too- like someone with an office under their stairs etc

Since pinterest I can be nosey all day :)

I do like a nice mug ......

I do like to see a few open windows, at least for a bit of the day. There are houses on my street that in all the time I've lived here, I've NEVER seen an open window

I like to see books

Not a fan of studio prints - if you do insist on plastering your DC photos everywhere, make them the natural DIY type

If it is warm. My MIL hates the heating on and the thermometer at christmas read 9 degrees, I was shivering, it was awful as I couldn't hide it. Other than that unless it is really, really filthy I am not fussed.
Sadly I was always the friend who forgot to offer drinks but I am improving.

Is the cup clean, is the toilet clean, do they have an uncontrolled dog, is there an obvious hazard to DD (broken glass - I have had this!)

Not really fussed about anything else. Though I do judge an absence of books

wow it seems everybody is a lot less judgemental than I expected! I was actually asking because I'm having people over at the weekend and I'm running out of time to sort my house out! it was meant to be a garden do. But now it's forecast to rain

I notice if they haven't offered me a drink. It's the first thing I do when guests arrive. PIL never offer a cup of tea etc and I always notice, sometimes I secretly time how long it will take them!

I am now fretting about the books thing. We have a gazillion books, but they are all on shelves in our home office (which is quite large) and not where visitors can see them.

I have been told by visiting friends that they like our house because it is clean-but-not-pristine. Tidy but with a hint of messy too.

Personally I like clean, but not showhome-like. I'm allergic to dogs, so appreciate it if friends with dogs have made an effort on that front.

Oh yes, and whether or not they can offer a half-decent coffee (Millicano is fine) rather than the default tea. I don't drink tea, but will nurse a cup politely before tipping it away if nothing else is forthcoming. But why do people assume?

4little I am sure it will be fine. What do you mean sorting the house? Is it a tip? or normal day to day cleaning and tidying has been done, just a bit dusty, people living in and children messiness?
If it is the latest it will be fine!

How, no matter how much or how thoroughly I do it, everyone's house always seems so much cleaner and tidier than mine.

The lack of books mushiness always bemuses me. I have two degrees related to books, but don't have any book shelves.

If they have a cat. I'm allergic.

Cleanish kitchen. If it seems mucky I won't enjoy my cuppa. Also semi-skimmed milk in tea .

However, the main thing is that the host is welcome and not pretentious.

Number one is pet hair/pet smell.

My sister has 3 cats and her flat is spotless.

Dirty animal hair and smell always makes me want to vom its yack.

Also whats the semi skimmed milk in tea issue?

mushiness

I typed judginess a few times to get it right. Bloody phone.

Agree that how welcoming the host is the major thing.

Otherwise -

Bad smells (i.e. pet / sewagey / spoiled food).

Dirty bathroom. I visited some friends once, and the bathroom seemed clean at first, until I noticed the big poo sat in the bottom of the toilet basin. The worst bit was that there was no toilet roll in there with it, so I was thinking, well, they obviously haven't bothered with even a quick wipe of their bum, so can I trust them to have washed their hands before getting me a cup of tea and a biscuit?

Shadow, sometimes a poo just won't flush. They could have wiped, flushed (without watching) and washed, but the loo roll went down and the poo stayed buoyant? It has happened to me. Also- my DD has just learnt to take herself to the loo. Sometimes she does this without me knowing and I will find she has done a poo, left it, not wiped or washed. She's only a toddler so can't really be too hard on her as she's done well taking herself to the loo without having an accident, but once a friend came and found the remnants of one of these episodes. Luckily she was very understanding and laughed about it.

i love other peoples houses but the thing i always envy is if they have a cosy welcoming feel.
i try to make my home welcoming but some people can just make every bit of the house ooze 'come in, sit down'

i don't understand book snobs.
we read all the time. DS1 is studying English and his room has few book. we have book shelves but to be honest if anyone comments approvingly of my book shelves i would now think less of them. i would worry they were a book wanker.