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?

Whether they have nice decorations, furniture and belongings. I am very partial to interior design and I like to see someone's personality reflected in their home.

If people have white/pale tiles I admit to looking closely to see whether the floor has been merely mopped (in which case there will be dirt in the corners) or properly washed .

I notice books and standard of hot drinks most. I am extremely tidy myself (for me, not for visitors), but I don't notice or care about mess in others' houses. I'm even quite relaxed about dirt, although two inches of dog hair all the way down a friend's stairs was a bit too much!

Pet hair and animal smells.

Bookcases - I love looking at books

How cosy it is.

Cleanliness, smells, especially bad smells, clutter.
Bathroom/loo/kitchen needs to be clean.

Jimi looks around at dirty little hand prints on every conceivable surface & sighs..

-Is there toilet paper (nightmare: in someone else's house, do a wee or aunt flo arrives , want to freshen up, can't find the TP- don't want to root through their cabinets!).

-Is there enough food greedy and are the food prep areas clean enough.

-Damp, mould (unfair as sometimes the house/flat does this if it's old) and is it too cold? Could I imagine slugs (major phobia) lurking in corners (they do in damp old houses you know! I've been to some student ones with them!

My house is a mess, I am not bothered about mess such as piles of books/DVDs/toys. Dirt/damp worries me. Loo roll + a snack/tea are just nice.

Smell

People wouldn't notice my cd collection unless they had a nosey through the baskets under the stairs but would find them in alphabet order! Same as books are kept in cupboard only kids book randonly shoved on bookcase.

I notice blankets or throws. It's the sign of a comfy house to me. I like a throw over me over an evening! I like houses that where there is a little pile or thrown over the arm of a chair

Whether they have nice decorations, furniture and belongings. I am very partial to interior design and I like to see someone's personality reflected in their home.

Ah, but what about houses where it 'goes too far'? Where it's almost clinical minimal OR it's so ornate it's like an art gallery/exhibition.

I feel like I'm on a trip to the V&A. Elbows in.

ooh, ive thought of one.
i do notice if people leave the tv on.
i hate that.

i don't care if its something dc are watching but if i turn up and we stay in a room with a tv showing some shite i can't concentrate.
my sister does that. v annoying to me.

squizita - there are two separate issues here - whether someone has personal taste that is expressed in décor, and whether you like their personal taste! Often I don't - as in, I wouldn't want to live in it - but I still notice it!

Temperature first, then whether they offer me a coffee(or other beverage of choice) then the toilet.

I get cold easily, poor circulation and all that. I have one friend who is always too warm so I always remember to wear an extra jumper at hers. She makes a splendid coffee though, she used to be a barista

I really notice when people stay standing up. You know, you go in, you say hi, you give them a hug ... and they stand awkwardly until eventually someone asks you to sit down.

And some people have houses that aren't conducive to just plumping yourself down for a good chat, and that's obvious too. I have a lovely mate who in the five years I've known her has never realized that it is actually quite unwelcoming to turn up (planned) and find there is one single, solitary chair in the living room and she has to fetch one from the kitchen so you can both sit. I find that weird.

Other than that, sorry, but I notice smells, especially pet smells, and mouldy bathrooms. Especially bathrooms with damp towels going smelly. Bleugh.

Lack of wellies and workboots at the door. I have horses and dogs and work on a farm so muck boots, riding boots and wellies all outside the front door at the porch, no childcare required as they come with me so they have wellies too, DH runs gundogs so his massive wellies there also. all my friends have a similar lifestyle to me so this is usually the setup outside their doors too but I always get a shock at people without this. its probably pretty normal to most people but its always the first thing I see

I agree, LRD - some people don't really ever seem prepared for visitors and don't understand the meaning of the word hospitality. Whereas others are just amazing - I have one friend who really missed her vocation in life as an Ambassador's wife - she is Hostess Extraordinaire.

My sitting room is visitor-ready about 95% of the time - it's tidy, clean and has flowers/plants/some kind of seasonal decoration going on at all times.

Yes, that's it - and they tend to look a bit worried and dither at you. Then they wonder why you're not sure you were welcome.

Cleanliness I suppose, and smell.

I'm a neat freak, so utter chaos does slightly unsettle me I suppose, but if a place is dirty, I'd rather not hang about.

I do notice bits and bobs, but I don't particularly judge them. Different tastes and choices and all that.

I don't get the books thing, we have thousands wall to wall in the study. Guests don't see the study.

So presumably I would be judged and found lacking.

Agreed, Bonsoir - my sitting room is guest ready at pretty much any time.

temperature (hate being cold, especially if I'm forced to take my shoes off)

artificial smells

homey-ness - not very keen on houses that are showhome-neat

Definitely smells and temperatures. Too hot is as a bad as too cold I think. I particularly hate visiting someone who clearly wants your shoes off but has perishingly cold floors. Went to a dinner party once and it was hysterical - every single guest spent the meal with their feet tucked up under their chairs trying to keep them off the freezing new wooden floor.

We have tons of books but they've all been banished to the study as guests kept commenting on DH's WW2/Nazi obsession Only kids books now so probably very judged by visitors. Meh.

Too much clutter makes me itch to clear it up and I definitely judge people with tons of knick knacks everywhere.

I'm slightly worried about guests coming to ours now..

We have a fair amount of books but all stored behind doors in a cupboard, including kids ones. So look book free

I hate clutter so no nick nacks/ homely crap around and books/ stuff/ toys/ etc all hidden behind fitted doors

None of of drink coffee so never occurred to me to buy. We rarely drink tea either but usually have tea in house

All our coats/ shoes etc are hidden in cupboard so no obv place to Leave yours unless you ask

We don't have pets though/ or dirt/ mess/ smelly house/ and we do have fresh baked cookies :)

Art, your house sounds lovely!

Smell. Whether it's pleasant or otherwise. I think all houses have their own unique smell but if they obviously haven't been aired or are dirty then that's really off putting.
Same goes for a house smelling of too much cleaning product or artificial scents. One of my friend's houses always smells strongly of bleach, for example, which I really don't like.

I'm very careful about airing my own house and having fresh flowers and things to help it smell good but maybe mine stinks too.

I've never noticed if a house is untidy and if I do, I don't care. Dirty bathrooms are very noticeable though.