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Original poster

Kids to a house viewing …

36 replies

Badgerforbreakfast · 07/09/2022 08:25

Yay or nay?

We never usually take them (upper primary age) but circumstances dictate we might need to on our new viewing but I’m worried it’s a huge faux pas?

They are very well behaved and respectful!

OP posts:
BruceAndNosh · 07/09/2022 08:28

Your children sound OK.
There are a lot of children that should NOT be taken to viewings- mainly cos their parents won't keep a proper eye on them

DreamingofItaly2023 · 07/09/2022 08:31

We took DS to all of ours (no other option but we also wanted his opinion) and it wasn’t an issue. He is well behaved and just the one of him so easy to keep him close and supervised.

midgetastic · 07/09/2022 08:32

It's not the behaviour- what if they feel the opposite about the house to you ? Then you are overriding their choices b

Mmmmdanone · 07/09/2022 08:32

I think that's totally fine. They will probably love being involved.

HorribleHerstory · 07/09/2022 08:33

We have always taken ours from tiny baby right up to teen. It’s something both adults really need to be there for and hardly something you can get a babysitter for, way too ad hoc, short and last minute in my experience. Most people viewing ours have brought children aa we’ve been selling family places.

I don’t see there being an issue at all.

Sofachoices · 07/09/2022 08:37

Absolutely fine in my opinion 🤷🏻‍♀️ We took our toddler to every one that we viewed as we had no other childcare options.

We had 11 viewings the day our property went on the market (😅) and from memory there was about 5/6 of them that brought children with them.

CharlotteSt · 07/09/2022 08:40

A child came to a viewing when we were selling. She pointed out a wedding photo and said I looked like a princess so it's fine by me 😊

RaininginDarling · 07/09/2022 08:46

We once had a viewer who let her late primary school age child roam around our house on his own during a viewing - he helped himself to my DP's childhood toy, which was worn and delicate - and sat on a book shelf - he then went looking in cupboards, picking things up, unchallenged by his mother. We were renting so had no say. It was awkward and tense having to politely ask somebody else's child to put things back, in front of a parent who didnt see the imposition. I dont blame the child, he was just being a kid. If I was selling our house now, I'd want to know if children were attending a first viewing and I'd want to be present, just in case. Second viewing would be different - I'd assume a serious buyer and they'd chosen to bring their kids into the decision making - but in both cases, delicate items that might be child magnets, would be tucked away in advance.

HavfrueDenizKisi · 07/09/2022 08:59

I've taken my kids with me when necessary. Don't think it's an issue at all but obviously you must keep them with you at all times.

MintJulia · 07/09/2022 09:00

Yes, of course. They are part of the family and their views should at least be heard.

Why not?

Nonunsnonunsnone · 07/09/2022 09:01

Mine wiped a greasy handprint on a newly painted wall, sort of felt I had to buy the house then. It's still there!

Ihatethenewlook · 07/09/2022 09:04

It’s never crossed my mind to not take my children to a house viewing, from toddlers to teenagers. Do people honestly have children so unruly and disobedient that they can’t set foot in someone’s house for 5 minutes?

BruceAndNosh · 07/09/2022 09:07

Do people honestly have children so unruly and disobedient that they can’t set foot in someone’s house for 5 minutes?

Sadly yes, or they have ineffectual parents

Hummingbird33 · 07/09/2022 09:09

I think it's fine as long as they're well behaved / not left to run riot. I have taken my young children to many viewings.

mondaytosunday · 07/09/2022 09:17

Toddlers who will tear around - no. Children who can behave well - yes. If you are talking 8 or above then definitely! I'd want my kids to see a possible new home.

mondaytosunday · 07/09/2022 09:18

You could just take them for the second viewing as house hunting is probably pretty boring for them though.

Goldbar · 07/09/2022 09:25

If you have no childcare, you don't really have a choice as to whether to take them. There's no way I would book a babysitter for 3 hours (usually the minimum for the agency we use) for a 10 minute house viewing.

However, although our DC is fine now, when they were younger DH and I would have taken turns viewing the house and standing outside with them.

stickygotstuck · 07/09/2022 09:29

Why wouldn't you?

Surely a child older than 1 or 2 should see where they could potentially end up living.

pinkyredrose · 07/09/2022 09:31

midgetastic · 07/09/2022 08:32

It's not the behaviour- what if they feel the opposite about the house to you ? Then you are overriding their choices b

Huh?

Tessasanderson · 07/09/2022 09:32

No problem at all with a stranger bringing their child in to view.

Just the same as i would have no problem at all kicking parent and child out if the kid was unruly, miss behaved or touched anything they shouldnt.

If a parent cant control their child in a strangers home then they have zero parenting skills. They would be out of the door before they touched a wall.

IMustMakeAmends · 07/09/2022 09:34

We've taken ours and they've been really well behaved. Stayed with us, and held our hands all the time.

Just don't let them do what my brother once did in a showhome... It involved a bathroom and an unplumbed show toilet 🙈

eurochick · 07/09/2022 09:34

We've always taken our daughter. And plenty of viewers brought children to see our house. Of course you can't let them run wild in someone else's house but that's just basic parenting.

MugginsOverEre · 07/09/2022 09:35

As long as your children are well behaved, stick by you and are quiet then I can't see a problem.

I once showed a house to a couple and the usual 20-30 minute viewing took well over an hour because they would not keep their interrupting kids quiet. They were about 5 and 7 years old and did nothing but tug on my sleeve to show me a rock, or to tell me about something from school, or that their grandad likes to go fishing etc when I was attempting to tell their parents about the house's features, utility bills or whatever else. I don't think I managed to complete more than a couple of sentences without an interruption. I then had to ask the parents to stop them climbing on the buildings in the farm yard (neighbour's property) and the parents said, "Aw it's fine, they'll be okay" and I had to tell them that it was not okay because it's a working farm, someone else's building and climbing on structures not meant to be climbed on will cause damage!

I've taken my own kids to viewings and it's never been a problem because they know to behave.

Akite · 07/09/2022 09:36

We house hunted with a 1YO and then again with a 3,4 and 6 YO. They came to the majority of the viewings - both adults there obviously, usually a weekend and no alternative childcare.
they didn't wreck anything or touch things they shouldn't - we were still parenting even when looking round a house.

NapInTheSun · 07/09/2022 09:37

We did and it actually helped us get the house as they were keen to give it to a family