Comments on: Property Viewing Etiquette: Some Do’s & Don’ts for House Hunters

By: Jessica Winters

Jessica Winters — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 00:02:50 +0000

Proper etiquette states that is considered rude not to ask whether or not the host (or home owner) would desire shoes to be left at the door. In my opinion, (as a nurse) wearing shoes inside is one of the fastest ways to introduce harmful bacteria and viruses into your home. It is one of the most unhealthy habits important to address early to prevent infection in your home. (Shoes worn outside have been in public restrooms, etc. which often have traces of urine and feces on the floor.) If you would like to track all of that into your home where your children lay on the floor and put things in your mouth then that’s up to you!

By: suze

suze — Fri, 09 Nov 2012 18:55:39 +0000

I stayed in the house we were renting while people viewed it for possible sale/rent. We have a dog and our renters insurance was not going to cover us for theft of our personal items by strangers passing through.Appointments were made and I sat in the kitchen. Much to my amazement about 60% of the potential buyers came into the house and wandered at will while their realtor stayed outside texting/smoking/ sitting in their car. There weren’t any huge infringements, but the few personal items left out were moved about, lights and fans were turned on and our back yard gate was left open many times.
We own a house now and are dreading the day we have to put it up for sale.

By: Debbie

Debbie — Thu, 18 Oct 2012 17:53:56 +0000

Oh, and don’t go to an open house just to be nosey. We had several of our neighbors go through our house. I was appalled that someone would do something like this. Also, if you know the price of the house and you can’t qualify for something $50,000 less, don’t waste our time having to leave our home so that you can see it. We have so much better things to do.

By: Debbie

Debbie — Thu, 18 Oct 2012 17:45:50 +0000

Oh the nightmare of having people in your home that have no respect or manners. We had people go through our house that broke our sliding glass screen door by not realizing it was closed and walked through it (??). They did not offer an apology or mention it. All they did was prop it up. We had to go out and buy a new screen door immediately because we had other showings, My philosophy is if you break it you buy it. We finally sold our house, but I didn’t trust anyone in my house again. I NEVER want to go through this again.

By: Jeanine Poole

Jeanine Poole — Thu, 27 Sep 2012 19:57:03 +0000

You sound like a self entitled snob, stop. Buyers market or not, my house, my rules. Don’t EVEN pretend the buyers’ realtor automatically practices common sense. 12 showings, 3 times front door left unlocked. Don’t minimize my experience because yours is different.

By: gigi10

gigi10 — Thu, 14 Jun 2012 23:08:42 +0000

Disagree. Most homes DO HAVE NEW CARPETING. And if you think it’s full of nasty, gross things lurking in the carpet…..all the more reason for ppl to start taking off their shoes off. Wear some or take some socks, for goodness sakes! Sheesh People. I have never seen so many people that think it’s weird or gross to take off shoes before entering someone elses home. It’s actually the opposite in most cultures. Just do as the home owners do, if you see them with no shoes on…that’s a BIG clue for you that you should DO THE SAME.

By: Gigi10

Gigi10 — Thu, 14 Jun 2012 23:03:54 +0000

Elizabeth,your comments are absoultely amusing because I haven’t hear from such a classless lady in a long time. First of all, many would agree that even if your home is on the market, it certainly STILL IS YOUR HOME. You’re still paying the mortgage, right? So the house may not sell at all but it’s still yours. It’s not a commodity once it’s on the market. Does that mean that anyone who chooses to look at your house can stop by at any hour of the day, unnanounced? I would hope not! Furthermore, just because you wouldn’t take your shoes off at a restraunt or church….doesn’t mean you don’t do so at home or someone elses home. Home’s are usually carpeted, restraunts and church…NOT. Unless it’s the cheap kind. Besides, The chinese people do it for reasons that most don’t, its considered to bring bad energy into the home if you wear your shoes in the house. But my main concern is tracking in pesticides, animal feces, pollen, mold spores…etc. It’s just common knowledge that taking your shoes off before entering a home is the healthiest thing you can do for you or your family. I highly encourage you, Elizabeth, to reconsider doing this, for your health may be at risk as well as your future and cuurent relationships, because I just consider what you do rude. You would never be allowed in my home if you flat out refused to remove your shoes, especially if everyone else was doing it. That’s just poor upbringing to refuse to do so.

By: Jodi

Jodi — Tue, 12 Jun 2012 15:54:38 +0000

That list is hilarious! I hope that either the house was amazing or their asking price was very low, because they seem like insane people. As a buyer, I’m amazed by how rude some sellers are. It doesn’t sound like they’re too interested in actually selling the place!

By: Karen

Karen — Fri, 08 Jun 2012 18:15:09 +0000

Maybe she had a bad day dealing with entitled house hunters who are disrespectful towards the property of others, including using their homes as a public bathroom and stealing. Yes, it seems an extreme reaction, but I wasn’t there. I look at the bones of a house, not the fake touches and I don’t judge either way. The house isn’t yours and anything in it is NOT YOUR PROPERTY and that is the real issue here when searching for home. It doesn’t belong to you. People need to learn to not assume. It is only common sense and polite to ask even if something is offered and teach their children the same.

By: Country Girl

Country Girl — Tue, 05 Jun 2012 12:56:54 +0000

I too would have fired the agent who scolded my child for eating a staged chocolate. How absurd is that? When I see what people call those “little touches” of fake and real food i think the sellers don’t believe their house is good enough to sell without them. The shoes / no shoes is a debate that will continue until the end of time…