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Original poster

Is taking a toddler to a property viewing massively bad form?

47 replies

soundsystem · 05/04/2017 12:21

When we bought this house, we didn't have DC so it wasn't an issue. Now we have DD(2.5) and DS (10 weeks). Not worried about DS as he can be popped in a sling, but is taking DD with me really not on? She isn't particularly boisterous, and would stay with me and hold my hand as we go round, so won't be rummaging in people's drawers/getting sticky handprints on their freshly painted walls...

Where we're looking, it's open house for two hours on a Saturday and then offers on the Monday, so we have zero flexibility to arrange viewings when someone can watch her. Where possible, we'd leave her with a friend, but this won't always be doable (we have no family nearby and friends undertsandably do tend to have their own weekend plans.

What do you think? If you were selling would this annoy you, or would it not bother you?

(Note, we are looking at family-sezed houses in the catchment for a particular school, so I'd think vendors would be expecting buyers with pre-school aged children)

OP posts:
MadeForThis · 05/04/2017 12:22

I would expect people to bring their children.

IAmTheWorwax · 05/04/2017 12:22

We didn't have a choice, I didn't even consider it being bad form.

BreakfastAtSquiffanys · 05/04/2017 12:22

I think as long as you keep hold of her, it's fine

Finola1step · 05/04/2017 12:24

It isn't ideal but in the situation you describe, needs must. We did similar when we we're looking. It was fine, we just cut down the amount of chat.

PuntCuffin · 05/04/2017 12:25

Never occurred to me not to take my toddler house hunting. It actually helped gain insight into how the layout would work with a young family. Steps etc that I might otherwise have not even worried about, I automatically made sure DS was safe, so it subconsciously helped the decision making process.

AmethystRaven · 05/04/2017 12:27

We took DD when we were looking, it didn't occur to me not to! Similarly I wouldn't have minded at all when we showed potential buyers round (not a family house though). I think most people will be fine about it, you just accept that the world and his wife might traipse through your house when it's on the market as one of them might buy it!

Porpoiselife · 05/04/2017 12:29

It's fine. As long as she's not tearing round the house like a looney and bouncing on their sofa don't worry about it.

Original poster
soundsystem · 05/04/2017 12:31

Oh wow, I was expecting everyone to say under no circumstances should I take her!

I previously would have assumed it was fine, but I mentioned it to a family member who was aghast! Glad it's not as frowned upon as I was led to believe Grin

OP posts:
Hullabaloo31 · 05/04/2017 12:47

My 2 came with me (4 and 1 at the time). Big one is well behaved and polite (and fell in love with the cupboard under the stairs as we'd not had one before!) and smaller one was carried. What else are you going to do with them?!

It actually worked in our favour as the sellers were an older couple down-sizing and really wanted a family to move in!

MammyNeedsASpaDay · 05/04/2017 13:06

I have taken my kids to see showhouses. I know it isn't the same, but you can't be expected to leave them out if you have know choice.

MammyNeedsASpaDay · 05/04/2017 13:07

*no

redjoker · 05/04/2017 13:09

someone came along with a two year old when viewing my house, didnt see it as an issue, toddler did try and change channel and had to be wrestled for TV remote but I didnt find it odd

FerdinandsRevenge · 05/04/2017 13:09

Mine came, if they want to sell to a family, they have to expect families to look!

It's a toddler not a goat

Kiroro · 05/04/2017 13:10

Take them, of course. Only issue would be if you had zero control over them and let them touch / climb / whatever.

Floggingmolly · 05/04/2017 13:12

Don't let them touch anything. I once came back to find several toy boxes emptied all over the floor!

CountMagnus · 05/04/2017 13:14

Of course it would be OK - and if there are other families there you could throw in loud comments like "well this never going to work for a family" to put them off bidding ...

Error404usernamenotfound · 05/04/2017 13:15

It's a toddler not a goat Grin

I took DD aged 2 to house viewings, not doing so wasn't an option for various reasons. There was never an issue, the estate agents responded well to her, and she was well behaved (apart from climbing onto a sofa like she owned the place Blush - no jumping though)

Doublechocolatetiffin · 05/04/2017 13:20

It wouldn't even have crossed my mind not to bring our DD if we were looking. It'll be her home too and she is a human. I can't understand why it would be a problem.

Ecureuil · 05/04/2017 13:38

Who else would have had our children while DH and I were looking at houses? We currently have to take our 3 year old and 21 month old to viewings. The alternative would be DH and I looking separately.

YouMeddlingKids · 05/04/2017 13:43

Someone came to view my house with a preschooler, who opened every cupboard door/drawer and even ate some of my chocolate! Parents did nothing 😠 so don't do that, but otherwise it's fine 😁

NameNotANumber · 05/04/2017 13:44

I'm a PA in an Estate Agents and sometimes cover viewings. Perfectly normal for children to come along on viewings.

So long as you look after them then that is fine. Colleagues have reported parents ignoring their children who climb on beds / pull stuff out of cupboards / jump on furniture - that is not ok.

If you are worried perhaps take it in turns to go in separately and then have a quick wander round together but honestly it would be fine.

Briette · 05/04/2017 13:46

I would never see this as a problem. Plenty of people turned up with small children the last time we were selling and none ran around out of control (though several entertained me with their funny reactions). The more the merrier!

Oogle · 05/04/2017 13:51

I took my DS to 2 viewings but when we went back for second viewings on those houses, we went without him as we found him too distracting Grin He was 18 months at the time and a complete nightmare! He's 2.5 now and would be pretty well behaved, I think.

purpleprincess24 · 05/04/2017 14:05

We went to view a house in Florida once, with our children who were around 10 years old.

When we got out of the car, the owner rushed over and said "children have to wait in the car" ... they would even let them sit outside, expected them to literally stay in the car, in the hot sun!!

Needless to say we got back in the car ourselves and didn't go see the house.

Gooseygoosey12345 · 05/04/2017 14:21

I would expect people to bring children but I would expect the children to behave. Sounds like your DCs aren't going to be the type to jump all over the furniture and rummage through cupboards so I really wouldn't worry :)