Kids to a house viewing …

[Badgerforbreakfast]

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!

We did if we had a viewing outside of nursery hours because we had no other option. But she was a toddler, she was holding our hand or carried the whole time and not allowed to touch things.

We took our two little girls to the house viewing we purchased as It was out of school hours
But they are well behaved and they fell in love with the huge garden and mentioned how much they loved it
I think it actually helped us get the house as the vendor mentioned to the estate agent how much his children loved the garden and wanted another family to enjoy it

I didn’t. There were so many variables that were entering into our decision (schools, price, distance from family, parity of bedrooms) that I didn’t feel it was fair to show it to tweeens who would get fixated on one aspect of the house itself. Luckily we knew they would like whatever we chose, we just didn’t want family arguments over exactly which one we should choose. Nor, having lost a few bidding wars, did we want to add their disappointment to ours.

The only times we haven't is when viewings were allowed again during Covid restrictions, and a couple of sellers requested they stay outside with us viewing one at a time. Otherwise, they've viewed every house we have.

I remember going to house viewings with my mum & dad when I was about 10. My younger brother and sisters came to a couple of them too (they would of been about 3, 5 & 8)
We were all fine and just looked around the rooms, out of the windows etc. we didn’t mess around. My parents took us as they knew we wouldn’t run around and touch things we shouldn’t.

I think it's always better not to, so you can actually pay attention (assuming yours are as chatty and annoying as mine are). But there is absolutely nothing wrong with it. Most EA during COVID have said no children at viewings, but we've taken ours almost every time (because no childcare and viewings too far away to fit into the school day and make it back home). It's never been an issue for anyone. When there were more restrictions in place, dh and I just went into the house one at a time, the other stayed outside with dc and then we switched, just to minimise footfall.

I don’t think it’s necessary to include children in initial viewings tbh. I know my EA actively discouraged it.

It’s not ideal but we took ours where we had to. And they accepted our offer on the house.

I'd ask the vendors first via the EA if it was okay rather than just turn up with them. If your kids are quiet and well-behaved, it ought to be fine. As a vendor, I've allowed it, and I think it's been a good thing for kids for them to be involved. But if they had been badly behaved, that would have been a 'please leave now' issue, as I have no kids and so my houses have not been set up to be 'safe' for unruly little monsters.

Sold our house recently and loads of people brought their children along to viewings. Didn't bother me at all most of them were around the same age as your kids so old enough to just walk around quietly with their parents.

Would think fine at that age. I unavoidably had to take a then toddler to one, and while I kept her close (and well behaved) it did mean I didn't actually get a proper look at the house.