Showing people round house - taking shoes off

tbs624

Cissi wrote: »

.... the idea that some people would feel too self-conscious about their feet to concentrate on anything else sounds pretty odd to me, frankly...

That's because it *is* odd: especially when it comes from the same poster who maintains that she is a serious house buyer:rotfl:.................Not every house on the market is struggling for buyers and Sarah Shattered getting uppity because she's asked to slip her shoes off in someone else's home is a sure sign that she's exactly the sort of buyer no-one needs, ie, one with no respect for others. Until your money is on the table it's still someone else's home. After all, just because you are having a look round does *not* mean that you will be buying: you may not get a mortgage , you may be in a chain that collapses, get all in a tizzy over your surveyor's report or the buyer may simply take a personal dislike to you, your feet, and your distinct lack of manners. ..;)

franklee

When you are a guest in someones home then you play by their rules or leave.

I viewed a new build show home the other day and was asked to put on those plastic overshoes, no big deal.

Maybe anyone who would not want to go shoeless could take along their own pair of cheap slippers to viewings and offer to wear them instead? Maybe any seller who feels strongly about this should tell the EA so they can mention it to viewers in advance giving them a chance to have chosen their good socks that day.

Or the light coloured runner in the hallway is a good idea to notice any problems before the viewer gets too far.

I've noticed that EA's do offer to take their shoes off these days.

When renting with a cream hall carpet I asked everyone to take shoes off even the landlord. I said I'm just looking after your cream hall carpet :rotfl:

mjmal51

bumpoowee wrote: »

Just ask them to take their shoes off. Any reasonable person won't mind at all. There will of course be awkward !!!!! who will get indignant, however these people are in the minority - although a disproportionately large number of them live on these forums hence the number of replies to this effect.

Exactly and I bet the OP did not expect the amount of reponses here, it has turned into quite an emotive issue here, especially for the "shoes on no matter what" brigade.
I must be living in a different world, didn't realise there were so many people with foot diseases, smelly feet, socks that need binning, etc. Also people who think that keeping themselves and their houses clean can cause problems, this it the 21st century, it is not difficult and not over fussy.
Anyway back to the main issue and my decision when allowing people to view is that I will politely ask potential buyers to remove shoes or offer protectors. Having a mixture of wood flooring and cream carpets I feel this is reasonable.
If people get upset at this then tough luck, they would probably be awkward buyers anyway and best to weed them out at the outset.
Each to their own point of view.

oldone_2

There is also the matter of discrimination against the elderly and those with disability.Some people find it difficult to put shoes on and off and would need a chair of certain height to perform the task.
People of larger than average weight would also find it difficult, and embarrasing to try and take their shoes off standing up.
Some elderly people need five to ten minutes to take their shoes off, even longer if they become flustered knowing the homeowner is staring at them with arms folded waiting.

jackieb

I've viewed many houses, including one with a spotless cream hall carpet, and have never been asked to remove my shoes. I always wipe my feet, and if you don't want your carpets to get dirty you should have a good mat to wipe your feet on. I haven't stood in dog muck since I was a child either. I think most people look where they're putting their feet.

I don't know if i'd have had the neck to say no to someone if they asked me to remove my shoes, but honestly it would put me off buying the house. I'm not kidding either. I don't feel comfortable without my shoes. I have trouble with my feet, having had several operations, and I get dressed first thing in the morning and put my shoes on for support. I'm embarrassed by my feet. I don't want anyone seeing them. I think it's rude to ask someone to partially undress before they get to see the house you hope they're going to buy off of you.

divadee

i personally would not have a problem, but i can see why may would, and to be honest if your carpets looked less than spotless then i would have a problem, especially if you had sticky carpet going on:eek:

why dont you buy the blue carpet protector over shoe things. They are not that expensive and at least then you can just say would you mind slipping these on. and then people havent got to worry about smelly feet, bad socks, cant take shoes off etc.... problem sorted

PasturesNew

It's a good job the OP isn't a nudist and asking if they should make viewers remove their clothes.


I wonder what they'll do when somebody turns up in a wheelchair to look round.

ShelleyC_2

I never wear shoes at home but have to say would be a bit put off by someone asking me to remove my shoes. It would make me feel uncomfortable and rush my viewing therefore making me less likely to see the house in a good light despitethe ultra clean floors.

I hasten to add when visiting one house in the rain I spontaneously offered to remove my boots but did regret it as forgot I had my socks with glitty handbags all over them :rotfl:

I think the people saying those not wanting to take off shoes aren't real buyers is bizarre. I'd be a bit worried that the person insisting they're removed would be the sort to be a pain in the bottom to complete a sale with.

vegankris

I feel a bit squicky about walking around without my shoes or slippers in case I stand in anything ( I have a weird phobia about standing on crumbs or damp spots!) and I take a pair of slipper socks in my bag if I'm visiting anyone who has this household rule but I don't think it'd occur to me to do this for a house viewing... I would be put off if a seller asked me to take my shoes off.

tbs624

ShelleyC wrote: »

...I think the people saying those not wanting to take off shoes aren't real buyers is bizarre. ....

:rolleyes: That's your misinterpretation of other' s posts Shelley. Check back - it's not the fact that they don't want to take their shoes off that makes them appear as non -serious buyers, it's the fact that their own "foot hang-ups" would apparently prevent them from concentrating on the viewing and "put them off" buying.

Are you really suggesting that a house that is in the right area for your work, your kids' schools, has rooms into which your furniture fits, the right size garden, somewhere to park etc, a shiny EPC with the right coloured bar highlighted, & has the potential to be the home you really want would be lost to you just because the person selling didn't want your outdoor shoes traipsing through the property? Now, *that* would be bizarre.

I reckon some of you were quite simply never told "no" when you were kids.:D