Bringing kids to showings (agents, agreement, inspection, contract)
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Is this abnormal? We have been bringing our two school age children with us to showings when we see houses as we don't have sitters nearby. Then we have our realtor, so there are 5 people going into the house to look at it. Is the norm to find someone to watch the kids? Mine are very well behaved, but sometimes I notice that sellers wait in the cars on the street and I wonder if they are mad we have our children with us. We don't allow them to touch ANYTHING!!
Just curious about your view on both sides selling and looking.
Look, I understand the realities of life make finding a sitter or somewhere to leave the kids impossible. But as a seller, I don't want someone else's kids in my home. I don't know you. I don't know your kids. You say they are well behaved, but your definition of behaved may differ from mine. I don't know if they are touching anything. I don't know if they are leaving handprints on my my appliances or walls or door jams. You are looking at a house to purchase and live in - how closely are you actually looking at your kids? For those reasons, I don't like it, but I know that it happens. I have no idea if it's uncommon or even inappropriate.
I could see homeowners having more of a problem with toddlers though, no? These are children who are school age, even if we could find a sitter, we would still choose to bring them back for the second showing as we do value their opinion since it will be their home too.
as a seller it doesn't bother me. I have kids. I try not to bring my kids with me when I look at houses because mine are quite young and i'd rather not be distracted.
I'm in agreement with ClayRing, but would also agree that if you're SERIOUSLY considering an offer, and really need to get the kid's approval (which is kinda nuts to me, but I don't have kids), bring them along for the very last showing, which should be very brief.
If I were a realtor, I'd probably think it's rude. After all, this is a business transaction. A good realtor is a professional, and they deserve to be treated as such.
I dont perceive it be rude or inconsiderate at all. I think its perfectly acceptable. If sellers don't like it, tough luck...I'd use a 4 letter word here but it would be starred out. I am the buyer, the customer, its my way or the highway. I would never even consider getting a sitter to look at a house. I take my kids everywhere that its appropriate to take them, and its not at all inappropriate to bring them along.
You will find a lot of folks are stuck up snots when it comes to kids, and they really need to get over it and find other ways to be offended. I would never expect someone not to bring their kids, and I would have choice words for someone who objected.
If they broke something or messed anything up, I would pay for it no questions asked....
Agents dont like kids b/c they have opinions or they whine and they make the agents life a little harder than the perfectly easy life they already have...when I'm looking, I'm the customer - its not my job to make someone's life easier at my expense.
I don't think kids have any need to be at showings. Even with "well behaved" kids, you can't focus on the houses and remember what you need to remember. Kids are too much of a distraction.
And no one needs kids' opinions about buying a house. It's not their money. Probably more than 95% of my clients show the kids the house after closing. Kids aren't there for the showings, nor the inspections, nor the final walk. They look at houses during the day, WHEN KIDS ARE IN SCHOOL, and they don't need a babysitter except for their teacher.
One of my first clients ever, brought their kids to view the house. The kids hated it for no other reason than it wasn't the other house that was already under contract. These buyers backed out because of the kids. I asked them, "Who's buying this house, you or the kids?" They got it and the kids didn't see another house until closing.
Not all people can look at houses during the day while kids are in school. Jobs don't allow that kind of flexibility.
But I agree it can be distracting a little, however, it wont be distracting enough to keep us from buying a house. Thanks everyone for the opinions!
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