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Original poster

Shoes off

127 replies

JoJoe1986 · 21/08/2020 00:49

Hello, I'm just about to put my property on the market and wondering if its rude to ask potential buyers to kick off their shoes when going upstairs? We have new carpet which I'm keen to keep clean and in theory it could be in their benefit should they put an offer in? Im nervous to ask as it's an awkward request. Would you be offended?

OP posts:
LaughingDonkey · 21/08/2020 06:47

Yes, I would remove shoes. Actually not removing shoes in someone's home makes me uncomfortable as I was was brought up in the house where shoes were off in the hall. All that dirt and who knows what on those street shoes....

Like others suggested I would get shoe covers considering pandemic and cream carpets, viewers should be ok with it.

Good luck with sale :)

Porseb · 21/08/2020 06:55

I'm using the pandemic as an excuse and have instructed agent that all viewers to remove shoes before coming in to view. The agent is already giving them instructions about not touching surfaces and I've been told to leave doors and windows open for air flow.

SmileIke · 21/08/2020 06:56

Get some shoe covers. If you don't want shoes on your nice carpet are you ok with sock fluff and sweaty feet snf their smells seeping into the fibre? I'm being dramatic of course. I always make sure I wear nice socks when viewing a house, i feel bad to keep my shoes on even when they say its ok. I think shoe coverings are the best idea here.

custardbear · 21/08/2020 06:57

Yes the plastic overshoes are your friend here !

Don't let them do what my mum did though (she worked in a lab) she noticed half way around our local coop that she still had them on after finishing work Shock

Seeleyboo · 21/08/2020 07:01

Do people actually wear outdoor, grem riddled, dog pooped shoes in house. Blagh. I don't know anyone who wears shoes in any home. The thought of it. Blagh.

Bluntness100 · 21/08/2020 07:01

I’ve been asked to do this on viewing a house. I felt it was a bit anal to be honest, but complied without question, but a raised eye brow to the awkward looking agent..

Personally I’d not make this request. You’re selling it so it won’t be your carpet much longer, and the buyers can have it cleaned if they are concerned. Carpets getting generally dirty isn’t a permanent thing, they are cleanable and it’s not a big deal to have your carpet cleaned.

KaptainKaveman · 21/08/2020 07:08

I've got very nice and expensive wooden floors in my house - no way would I allow filthy shoes or dangerous stiletto heels anywhere near them Grin

premiumshoes · 21/08/2020 07:10

Why do so many people have dog shit on their shoes Confused

mrsmummy1111 · 21/08/2020 07:10

@premiumshoes

I think people who refuse to take shoes off in someone else's house are unreasonable!

Why? It's ok to not want to do this. Can you not just consider some people are fine with it and some are not without making the people who are different to you unreasonable?

Well no, not really. Because it's still my house, not theirs. If you invited friends round and they refused to take their shoes off on their new carpet, you'd be ok with that? I think your response in fact is incredibly unreasonable
premiumshoes · 21/08/2020 07:13

Well no, not really. Because it's still my house, not theirs. If you invited friends round and they refused to take their shoes off on their new carpet, you'd be ok with that? I think your response in fact is incredibly unreasonable

This isn't not the situation I was talking about. I was simply saying people are not unreasonable for wanting to wear shoes or not wear shoes inside someone else's house. I said right at the start I would leave, not that I would keep my shoes on regardless. My point was simply that there is no need to call either viewpoint unreasonable. Your 'what if' scenario doesn't come into it. It's not what I was talking about.

LadyFrumpington · 21/08/2020 07:14

Some of the responses on here... 🤨
Back in the real world...

when looking for a house last year we removed shoes for almost all viewings (exception was a few fixer uppers)
Everyone who viewed our property also removed their shoes.

The blue shoe covers is a good idea though

Nestofvipers · 21/08/2020 07:17

@Seeleyboo
Yes they do. In my opinion it’s grim. I don’t understand any of the arguments for wearing shoes indoors or why some people say they wouldn’t want to take their shoes off in a strangers house.

Suzi888 · 21/08/2020 07:25

@JoJoe1986 NO! I ask everyone to take their shoes off. It’s your home if they don’t like it they can leave. Especially during covid, they could’ve stepped in anything. They should wear a mask too.
Buy shoe covers and ask them to put those on instead.

I always ask, shoes on or off.

If someone doesn’t want to they can always leave Wink Just say new carpets and you want it pristine for the buyer.

premiumshoes · 21/08/2020 07:29

I don’t understand any of the arguments for wearing shoes indoors or why some people say they wouldn’t want to take their shoes off in a strangers house.

I feel safe in my shoes. I take them off as soon as I get home but I don't like to remove things when I am out of my home. It's really that simple. I would never put myself in a situation where I had to remove them. I'm autistic and I really struggle with things most people don't even think about. People don't understand why I wouldn't view the house if I had to remove my shoes, ok, fair enough, but is there any need for quite so many sharp comments about how wrong that stance is? It's perfectly ok for people to be different. I have spent years learning what works for me, learning it's ok if I feel uncomfortable to say no, learning I don't have to do things because a stranger said to, the 'I don't understand' dismissive comments are really unhelpful.

OP asked a question and for me, I would not view the house. Other people are fine with removing shoes, I haven't challenged that view point, I accept the differences, why are so many others not able to do the same?

DistinguishedCarrot · 21/08/2020 07:29

I'm confused. Why would being asked to remove your shoes at a viewing suggest that you're not a serious seller who would pull out later??

If I was viewing a house it wouldn't bother me if someone asked me to take my shoes off and if the carpets were very nice looking I'd probably ask myself.

I don't see the fuss to be honest!

PleasantVille · 21/08/2020 07:35

@premiumshoes

I wouldn't want to take my shoes off in a strangers house. I would leave.
If I was selling my house and someone who'd booked a viewing left because they were asked to take their shoes off I'd breathe a huge such of relief that I'd dodged the bullet of a nightmare buyer and ask the agent why they'd wasted my time with a weirdo
WaltzingBetty · 21/08/2020 07:35

I'd do it if someone asked me to, I wouldn't refuse, but I would think it was strange and it would make me reluctant to place an offer on the house as I'd assume you had no real intention to sell and would probably pull out further down the line.

I'd love to understand the mental gymnastics that equate not wanting to ruin cream carpets by trailing outdoor dirt over them, with pulling out of a house sale after accepting an offer

isabellerossignol · 21/08/2020 07:44

In my opinion it’s grim. I don’t understand any of the arguments for wearing shoes indoors or why some people say they wouldn’t want to take their shoes off in a strangers house.

How can you not understand that some people have been raised to consider it bad manners to take their shoes off? What is there to not understand?

isabellerossignol · 21/08/2020 07:45

*I'd love to understand the mental gymnastics that equate not wanting to ruin cream carpets by trailing outdoor dirt over them, with pulling out of a house sale after accepting an offer
*

It's not really mental gymnastics. It's just that I'd assume if you are very precious about the house you haven't mentally checked out of it so aren't intending to actually leave it.

premiumshoes · 21/08/2020 07:46

If I was selling my house and someone who'd booked a viewing left because they were asked to take their shoes off I'd breathe a huge such of relief that I'd dodged the bullet of a nightmare buyer and ask the agent why they'd wasted my time with a weirdo

A weirdo?

Thanks. Absolutely fucking brilliant judgement of something you know nothing about. Still, at least I have you an opening to stick your boot in, eh Hmm

burritofan · 21/08/2020 07:50

Shoes off for new carpet is fine, it was the man who made DP and me take our shoes off – when I had six-week-old DD in the sling – to walk through his fixer-upper wreck when the kitchen floor tiles turned out to be smashed into sharp shards that made me go “...really?”

PremiumMoaner · 21/08/2020 07:54

I've always been asked to remove shoes at a viewing. I imagine it's because they are keeping the carpet free from mud accidents for other viewings. My friend had someone accidentally streak mud through her hallway and back to back viewings.

My dad hates taking shoes off and he actually brings slippers or those plastic over shoe things.

These threads always have people who are very offended at either taking shoes off or leaving them on! I was raised in a family where shoes stayed on (but we had wooden floors so my parents didn't care). But as I've aged I've realised that it is definitely more common (and polite) to take shoes off in my part of the country. If it was rude to take shoes off then I would keep them on.

It's about showing willing to the host. Hate taking your shoes off? Bring slippers. Of course I'm sure there will be people who argue that they the guest and therefore come first...

eaglejulesk · 21/08/2020 07:54

@FiveShelties - you beat me to it, I was just about to mention the open homes in NZ! It's certainly never bothered me taking off my shoes to look at a house.

Fennelandlovage · 21/08/2020 07:56

Been viewing houses recently and most asked us to take our shoes off. Think there are coronavirus implications before you get on to other reasons. Also by the time you are viewing a house with a mask and possibly gloves taking shoes off doesn’t feel like any kind of imposition.

JoJoSM2 · 21/08/2020 07:58

Another vote for shoes covers.

I wouldn’t want people with shoes on traipsing around the bedrooms or bathrooms. However, I’m not a fan of bare feet or sweaty socks either.