Do people look in wardrobes etc when viewing?

[LazySusan11]

I wouldn't dream of looking in a persons wardrobe when viewing a potential new house but wondered what others think.

We're currently on the last stretch of a huge declutter ready to put our house on the market. Dh isn't the tidiest of people he tends to stuff things in his wardrobe, out of sight out of mind. I'd hate for someone to look in there and see his mess! If you're viewing a house what would you open/not open?

If it's a built in wardrobe, you may well find viewers look inside.

If they were fitted wardrobes I would.

A built in wardrobe hats advertised as a feature of the property, possibly yes, especially if the boiler or anything is in there.
A free standing wardrobe that will clearly move with you? - no, I think that would be a bit rude.
But tbh, I would expect most cupboards to be pretty full if people have tidied for viewings, and also, fuckem if they judge you for a full cupboard, you never have to see them again.

I would look in built in wardrobes/cupboards to get an idea of the space - how deep they are, hanging or rails etc. I wouldn’t look in free standing ones.

Blimey, I'm amazed people do that, it seems like such a violation of privacy!

I'd look inside anything that's built in and staying out but I wouldn't judge on the contents unless something kinky fell out!

My house is new on the market. No-one has looked n the wardrobes yet but my stomach did turn over when they looked in the 'glory hole' under the stairs and in the loft. These are the two places we had stashed the recycling, spare kitchenware, decorating equipment, rugs etc..

Yes if it's a built-in one. Also airing cupboards etc. Wouldn't bother me at all if they were crammed full though in fact I'd secretly be relieved I'm not the only one!

Yes, as PPs have said, if the wardrobes and cupboards are fitted or built in.
I always asked first

Having worked in property I can confirm that viewers will open any and every cupboard and drawer, built in or not. They will rifle through clothes and make comments about the contents. They will open suitcases and pick up personal papers that may be left around.

Most viewers are not buyers, they are people for whom poking round other people's homes is a hobby. You may find your home viewed by your neighbours too. I would recommend that you tell the agent you will do the viewings yourself, that way you can stop a lot of the nosiness and control what happens. The agent won't do that.

Are you serious carabos? I have never ever looked at personal things when viewing or looked in drawers wardrobes or cupboards! Maybe I'm a polite viewer!

Yes, if built in. No, if freestanding.

I would open kitchen cupboards and storage cupboard.

I wouldn't, and haven't. I view a house to see if I like the location, the neighbourhood, the room sizes, flow, garden, light levels etc.

Cupboards are something I can put in myself if I want to. On a second viewing I might think about where the hoover and coats are going to go, but I think I'd ask the owners where they put theirs first.

I would check anything that is staying , so built on wardrobes and airing cupboards. Having found a horrible bodge in the latter it is a good idea.

Would also check kitchen drawers work and cupboard doors don't fall off if second viewing. It all indicates maintenance levels.

No idea who lives somewhere that people view houses as a hobby - and the question to the agent is always about their selling position.

Yes to built in. I have deceptive built in wardrobes. Look like a full row but are on a slant so get bigger and bigger until the end one is huge and the first one is triangle and tiny!

Yes, if they are built-in storage. Decent storage space is pretty important to many buyers so I'd expect people to inspect them. If you're concerned about people seeing your stuff and you want to present your home really well, it's worth considering boxing up things you rarely use / random junk and hiring short-term storage for it. Houses do present better without the clutter of everyday life!

Built in, yes, as I'd want to see the configuration. I'd look in all of the them too, and not just give a cursory glance to check their condition....

Yes I had a look in built in cupboards. Although in one house they were all so rammed with stuff I couldn't actually gauge the size.

I found, when selling, that most people asked or I offered for them to look in the cupboards. Buyers need to look in the built in cupboards, kitchen cupboards etc.

I took all the deep out the cupboards and stuffed it into my freestanding cupboards and drawers!

We looked in the built-in ones when we viewed. Never occurred to me to open a free standing one though.

Yes to anything built in.

I don't care what crap you have in it, it's of no interest to me, but I want to see what I can fit in it, if it smells damp and if there's anything odd in it (not a full cupboard, old boiler etc).

Tell your DH to sort his shit out now and take less when you move.

yes into built in units and kitchen cupboards.
those are damp hot spots and considering you only view houses twice or so it's pretty essential imo.

If it was a fitted wardrobe then yes of course