Do your viewers take their shoes off when they go into homes?
We are asking because the issue was raised in an article at the weekend by the Mail, which advises “Don’t ban shoes”.
The piece tells vendors that in order to be successful, “Put a mat by the door to save your carpets, but never insist on visitors taking off their shoes. Some people feel incredibly uncomfortable without their shoes on and uncomfortable people seldom turn into buyers”.
This drew the comment: “I wouldn’t want to sell my house to any one too scummy to remove their shoes before traipsing all over the carpets.
“Taking your shoes off should be default upon entering someone else’s house unless they tell you otherwise.”
The same article, by the way, also suggests that vendors save money by considering online agents, and using mirrors to make the place look bigger.
It does stop short of advising the smell of newly baked bread and freshly percolated coffee.
But shoes?
Stockinged feet?
Smelly socks (possibly)?
Toenails (0h no)!?
To be honest, EYE never realised this was such an issue – but is it?
Comments (12)
We run a strict shoes off or shoe protectors on policy. Simple! and we would decipline a staff member for not following this policy..
We tell vendors about this on Vals, it wins instructions.
I’ve won instructions simply for taking my shoes off. I never ask. Just do.
I (nearly) always offer when valuing a house – it shows respect and even if the owner says no, they usually appreciate the gesture.
I usually insist when showing people round – the last thing I want to have to deal with is nasty, smelly dogsh*t walked through my clients’ house by someone who’ll get embarrassed and leave without cleaning up. They won’t offer now and I’m left trying to clean up someone else’s mess.
I also guarantee that they are also the “wrong” kind of people to be doing business with – if they can’t handle taking their shoes off imagine what they are going to be like when the survey comes back…
Took mine off once to reveal what the vendor described as “odd socks”. I pointed out that they were in fact designer and that I had another pair just like them.
I visited 8 properties in Nottingham one day last week and was asked to do so twice. It wasn’t a problem and yes, one had a bowl of disposable shoe covers – and these were rentals! I think that being asked to do so shows some pride in the property and may help the potential purchaser/renter understand how much care is taken of the home (rather than house).
With rentals in particular, it may also start them off well in treating the property with respect.
You should never ask viewers to take their shoes off …….. health and safety! MF was spot on, offer disposable shoe covers, we do and we still have the same box after a decade!
Oh and the same applies to agency staff with their employers. An injury lawyer is just waiting outside!
I always ask the vendors what they would prefer.
Always take my shoes of on a val.
Everyone takes shoes off if raining
I always offer to remove mine when I first meet them at valuation stage and that tends to inform whether we do going forward. Some carpets don’t warrant even asking and I wipe my feet on the way out!
Wow surrey1. That’s your customer that you are talking about.
Do any of the software providers allow for this question?
Given the carpets won’t belong to the current owner for very much longer why be so precious?
I remember being asked the question a very long time ago
“Shall we take our shoes off?”
“You decide; they’ll soon be your carpets” …and they were.
Provide disposable shoe covers?