Shoes off for a viewing?

[HollyLollyMolly]

My house went on the market today and I have a couple of viewings booked in for tomorrow.

I have cream carpet throughout my house, that I've kept immaculate with a strict shoes off in the house rule.

Would I be unreasonable to ask people viewing the house to remove their shoes?

Could you get some shoe covers for the people who don't want to/can't take shoes off?

People should have the manners to remove their shoes in your home. Most estate agents do. I don't think you're unreasonable at all.

however some people are very self conscious, so I'd provide shoe covers and people can do either or.

though if it's nice weather I wouldn't bother I'd just put down a door mat outside and one inside.

Maybe get some shoe covers. I’d personally have no issues taking my shoes off, as I wouldn’t have them on in my own or friends house, but some people can be funny.
Besides, if they don’t have socks on, people could be walking verruca or foot fungus all over your house.

I was asked this once and I declined to view it.

Luckily I hadn’t come far.

Put a doormat down so they can wipe their feet.

Nah I’d be really put off by this, as a potential buyer. And don’t offer shoe covers, such a waste of plastic, that would put me off even more

I've been asked to do this a couple of times over the years with viewings.

Best to provide throwaway shoe covers

I always ask, when viewing, if they'd like me to take my shoes off. I can't believe people are offended by this

I think you should supply the blue shoe covers. We had to remove our shoes to view this house then we had to go back and get them to put on to go out the back to the garage and then Off again to go through to leave. We got the house for a bargain price cause I think others were put off.

We said shoes off for viewings for our rental house, including the agent and photographers. The new occupants will thank you for it.

I don't understand people saying it would put them off. It would do the opposite for me as I'd feel happy that they'd looked after the carpet and kept germs to a minimum.

I’ve been asked this twice when viewing and didn’t mind at all. Especially given it was a carpet I was potentially buying. Agree with others though, I would offer a plastic shoe covers as an option. You can get a box quite cheaply.

What’s wrong with taking shoes off ? Takes 5 seconds 🤔🤷‍♀️ at least you know the floors and carpets are nice and clean and looked after , not someone walking on a new carpet with shoes on and most likely have even stepped on a dog shit and peoples spit on the ground outside ?! I wouldn’t want to trasfer all this shit and germs on my living room floor . Even if you can’t see it , it’s there , specially if you have small babies crawling , you don’t want them on the floor with all the germs that you could avoid by taking off shoes .

All the houses ive visited, i have taken my shoes off . The agent sometimes asks too

I'm in the process of buying and I had to take my shoes off visiting the property. There were shoes outside the door so I knew to expect it.

Thank you for everyone's feedback.

I won't have time to pick any shoe covers up before tomorrow's viewings but I've just ordered some for the next lot.

If it put somebody off asking, I wouldn't really be bothered about losing their purchase. I've got a great deal of pride in my house and I'd rather maintain my cleanliness and wait longer for a buyer if needed, than potentially have someone walk grime through my house.

Why?

I have a friend who is disabled and has to wear splints in her shoes - she has no feeling in one foot and cannot walk without the splints as she cannot feel the ground under her to safely place her foot flat.

She has had at least 2 viewings refuse her entry because she has explained she cannot remove her shoes. She also doesn't have the mobility to hop on one foot to put on shoe covers etc.

I don't think it's unreasonable to ask - but please be mindful of other peoples needs and not be a dick if they need to decline.

Because I didn’t want to take off my shoes. I often wear DMs which are a PITA to take on and off. But also, I just don’t want to take off my shoes.

I didn’t make a fuss. I just declined and went home. No biggie.

I think that sounds sensible. I viewed a house once. Didn't realise a cat had shat on the mat ( no, really). I skidded as I walked in and made a big cat poo stripe on their hall.carpet.

It was not a pristine house but I did feel bad.

It was a busy open house day...so just my luck it was me and not someone else 🙈🙈🙈

Can't believe somebody would decline a viewing because they'd been asked to take their shoes off! FFS - have some respect, you're in somebody else's home, you don't walk around in outdoor shoes. In the middle of selling/buying at the moment - took my shoes off to view all houses, and asked that people remove theirs to go upstairs in mine. I don't mind shoes downstairs in my house as it's all solid floors so it's easy to mop, but don't go walking muck all over my bedroom carpets, you utter filthbags!

I was asked to do this and I was wearing these lace up things so took forever to undo and redo up plus when I wanted to go out to the garden had to put them on again then off again - please tell your agent that they need to warn potential viewers.

I would provide shoe covers or request shoes off. Lots of estate agents ask anyway.

When my husband and I viewed our house they showed us the garden first while waiting for others to leave. My husband spectacularly spread mud all up the stairs and into the first bedroom onto pale grey carpet. The poor estate agent was horrified as he forgot to remind us to take off shoes. He must have scrubbed that carpet because when we bought the house you wouldn't have been able to tell!

I did have respect.

I didn’t barge in wearing big boots covered in filth.

I just went home. It was a total non-issue.

No. Buy a job lot of shoe covers and leave inside the door. I wouldn't view a house if I had to take off my shoes. I have very painful problem feet, and can't walk barefoot.

That's absolutely mad