Showing people round house - taking shoes off

GracieP

3KIDSNOMONEY wrote: »

Can't really believe that someone would not buy a house just because the vendor asked them to remove their shoes - that seems far more weird.

I'm glad you have gotten offers on your house, I hope they are for what you want. But not wanting to buy a house where you've been made feel uncomfortable isn't weird, it's psychology 101. If being asked to remove your shoes makes you feel uncomfortable you will spend the entire viewing wanting to leave. A house that you are relieved to get out of does not the make an impression that says "buy me - live in me forever!"

We all make these subconscious decisions every day. Big retailers spend a fortune on examining the psychology behind the way we buy. The way we turn when we enter a shop, the smells and sounds that make us more amenable to suggestion. And for good reason, it works to some degree on even the most strong-willed of us. And as a house seller you are a retailer, selling not just house, but a lifestyle.

Jokaty82

I have just read this whole thread - wow what differences of opinions.

But lets get one thing straight, just because people don't remove their shoes, doesnt neccessarily mean they are dirty!! I mean puuuurrlease! Thats ridiculous.

One person could always remove their shoes before entering house, yet never wash their hands...how do you know?? Doing one thing doesnt imply another.

I live with my mum and dad, my mum is very fussy about cleanliness.
However, we wipe our shoes then walk up stairs, then remove them in bedrooms and change into slippers. My dad removes his shoes at the door, but that doesnt mean he is any different to me. I always check to see if my shoes are dirty.

The OP states they don't want dog poo in the house, I wonder how often people step in it and then proceed to walk around with it in a house....seems odd to me.

When we viewed a house last year, we were told to remove our shoes. It was cold and January. It was after work and as we had never been asked in previous viewings was unexpected. It did not put us off the house, yet I was very aware of my socked feet, whether they smelt etc and my funny socks. Everytime we stopped I couldnt help but focus on my feet.
I just felt uncomfortable.

I think everyone differs, but viewing a house is a formal occasion and I didnt feel particularly at ease and just wanted to get my shoes on asap!! So rushed round the house more than others.

nibs

I would never wear shoes in my house or any house I was visiting. I once had a visitor who had stepped in chewing gum and then walked round my house in her shoes. Result, a big sticky mess on my front room carpet. Nice.
I wouldnt ask visitors to remove their shoes, though most of my family and friends take them off anyway.
I was brought up in the 70's and wasnt allowed to wear shoes in the home, and sitting here thinking about it i even remember that nobody used their front doors either! We always went round the back of our house and our friends houses and always kicked our shoes off before we went in.. Forgot about that.

Soot2006

I spent my childhood running around barefoot and still love to kick off shoes at any opportunity ... in one of the houses we viewed, vendor asked us to take off shoes. We did. Then without thinking I wandered off into the back garden (that gloriously sunning week in April!) ... came back in with "outdoor feet" (was in sandals so no socks) ... felt SO embarrassed when the vendor looked at my feet, then looked at my shoes and asked me to put them back on before viewing the rest of the house !!!! ...

Castleman

3KIDSNOMONEY wrote: »

This comment will probably not be appreciated but it is perhaps the case that those who think that is is over the top to remove shoes in houses think that people who was their hands before meals have OCD too.

This comment will probably not be appreciated either, but it is perhaps the case that those who have 3 or 4 kids and no money have wasted all their money on cigarettes and alcohol if not heroin and crack cocaine.

We all love logical conclusions :rotfl:

Craftyscholar

Cissi wrote: »

In my experience it's definitely the houses where shoes are worn indoors that have filthy floors.

In my experience (over 60 years of visiting friends and relatives) I have only once been asked to take my shoes off.
None of the houses I have been a guest in have had filthy floors.
By the way my house isn't filthy either :mad:

3KIDSNOMONEY

What i have been said has been taken the wrong way i was trying to highlight the silliness of how extreme some people have taken views about shoes being removed.

What i meant was to say that someone has OCD because they remove their shoes in houses is ridiculous - in the same way as i said that people who don't remove their shoes don't wash their hands before eating. I was trying to showing the assumptions that are made! I hope that makes sense now.

BTW just because a carpet/floor looks clean it doesn't mean it is.

3KIDSNOMONEY

Castleman wrote: »

This comment will probably not be appreciated either, but it is perhaps the case that those who have 3 or 4 kids and no money have wasted all their money on cigarettes and alcohol if not heroin and crack cocaine.

We all love logical conclusions :rotfl:

Don't really know what to say to this - getting a bit silly really so i will bow out now.

Cissi

3KIDSNOMONEY wrote: »

What i have been said has been taken the wrong way i was trying to highlight the silliness of how extreme some people have taken views about shoes being removed.

What i meant was to say that someone has OCD because they remove their shoes in houses is ridiculous - in the same way as i said that people who don't remove their shoes don't wash their hands before eating. I was trying to showing the assumptions that are made! I hope that makes sense now.

BTW just because a carpet/floor looks clean it doesn't mean it is.

I just want to clarify as well: that's exactly how I understood your post. In my previous reply I didn't either mean to imply that those who wear shoes indoors don't wash their hands, I was also just trying to underline how ridiculous some of the assumptions were regarding OCD etc.

That was BTW also the case in one of my earlier posts which I think was taken the wrong way: the reference to children wearing shoes all day long - I was just trying to show that you can prove almost anything by producing "scientific studies", never mind if the link is far fetched or irrelevant!

GracieP

Cissi wrote: »

That was BTW also the case in one of my earlier posts which I think was taken the wrong way: the reference to children wearing shoes all day long - I was just trying to show that you can prove almost anything by producing "scientific studies", never mind if the link is far fetched or irrelevant!

Cissi wrote: »

I too can produce a scientific newsflash: I sincerely hope that the "shoes off is bad for you" brigade don't make their children wear outdoor shoes indoors at all times?

Well then, I sincerely hope that you take the time to improve your written communication skills, as the post you are referring to didn't read the way you intended.