Getting over people being in your house when you aren't there...

OK, so the point is to sell, of course. But are there any other anal homeowners who feel so odd about the realtors coming in and out when you aren't there? I just listed Friday...I already got a call today while WE were out looking at homes that someone was coming by. I was thrilled, but oddly nervous/anxious. I mean, it's still our home...we have white carpet upstairs so I actually just put a post-it on the front door: at the homeowner's request, please remove shoes!
I know...I'm too much.

Re: Getting over people being in your house when you aren't there...

I always felt weird as a buyer looking through people's homes. DH never wanted to open their closets.

I would cringe if they were home...never wanted to be there when the seller was home!

Don;t blame you about the white carpet....it is still YOUR home!

Re: Getting over people being in your house when you aren't there...

Re: Getting over people being in your house when you aren't there...

I used to be really uncomfortable with it at first, but after a few weeks it wasn't so bad... I just worry that they won't lock the door right on their way out, or that I've left something personal lying around, etc!

Re: Getting over people being in your house when you aren't there...

Re: Getting over people being in your house when you aren't there...

I used to think it was odd when we were looking if the home owner was home, especially when the realtor would ask us what we thought of the house....We couldnt be honest if we didnt think it was worth the money.....or thought it needed to much work...We didnt want to insult the owner....you know.

Re: Getting over people being in your house when you aren't there...

While we were looking at homes, there were many times that the homeowners were there -- and sometimes it was really uncomfortable. First, if they knew us, it was uncomfortable (small town) and then sometimes they would lead us on a tour (with our realtor in tow). So you had to ooh and ahh at everything --- meanwhile you are thinking --- this place is a dump!

It's no wonder we bought a house that was vacant!

I really much preferred them not being there - and if I were to sell my home through a realtor I would leave.

Re: Getting over people being in your house when you aren't there...

I would be careful about the shoe thing...that si something that would turn buyers off--it is a buyers market and they can be tough. Good luck

Re: Getting over people being in your house when you aren't there...

We've looked at 60-75 homes. Only a few homeowners have been home when we went to look, but they all left the house when we arrived. Our realtor makes appointments in advance so the homeowners know when they need to be out of the house. I don't know if this is the norm in NY, but it is in CT.

We saw a few houses that had a note about removing shoes. Honestly, we always get annoyed by those notes. If the weather was good and our shoes were clean, we kept our shoes on.

Re: Getting over people being in your house when you aren't there...

We looked at tons of houses, and some people realtors asked us to remove our shoes. I never minded because I figured this is not my home, and people have the right to ask for simple accomodations like this.

You will probably get over people being in your house, though as soon as you put your house on the market, it really isn't quite your house. Initially, we bent over backwards to not be there when people came by, but our place was on the market for quite awhile, and eventually we figured we had to go on with life. A lot of people wouldn't show up either, or showed up hours later than they said, so it just wasn't practical to always leave. I just tried to stay out of people's way, and give them time alone with their realtor. I also didn't really talk to them much other than hello, unless they asked me questions directly.

Re: Getting over people being in your house when you aren't there...

I haven't had to sell a house, but that would freak me out to have people walking through my house when I'm not there. I've seen a lot of those "House Hunter" type shows where people let their kids run through the house and play with the toys of the kids who live in the house. On another show, someone lay down on the owner's bed and another person was touching stuff in their closet.

That's the extreme end of bad behavior I suppose, but that's what I'd have in my head. I'm not looking forward to when we leave our apt and our management company starts showing the apt

Re: Getting over people being in your house when you aren't there...

When we were looking for houses, there were many homes where we were asked to take our shoes off. Twice the owners were home, and it felt strange to us.

Re: Getting over people being in your house when you aren't there...

Re: Getting over people being in your house when you aren't there...

Message edited 10/22/2007 4:00:08 PM.

Re: Getting over people being in your house when you aren't there...

One time sticks out in my mind when we were looking for a house. We were with our REA and she had the key. We went in and no one was home, but the TV was on. But as we were upstairs in the bedrooms they came home. My REA ran downstairs and out the door so they weren't scared when they walked in the door. Well the home owners didn't even know we were coming over. Our REA told them they should really have a talk with your REA so this doesn't happen again. Their laptop was even laying out and on. Not good! Make sure you make it known to your REA, that they must be with the people looking at the house at all times. GL!

Re: Getting over people being in your house when you aren't there...

I suggest you put a large rug by the door with a note asking to please wipe your feet.
Telling people to take off their shoes is not going to sell your house.

Re: Getting over people being in your house when you aren't there...

Message edited 1/30/2009 10:10:26 PM.

Re: Getting over people being in your house when you aren't there...

Re: Getting over people being in your house when you aren't there...

Posted by Lanabean
Humph! Take off my shoes! Come on, honey...let's LEAVE!"

Re: Getting over people being in your house when you aren't there...

I went to see a house that asked me to take my shoes off. The house was immaculate and I was not offended at all. I still think of that house and wish we could of bought it

Re: Getting over people being in your house when you aren't there...

Yes, I can't see someone not buying a house because they were asked to take their shoes off. What's the big deal? It takes a moment, and I agree, people have the right to ask that their home be kept neat.

We didn't ask people to take theirs off, but there were times I wished we had when the floors were muddy.