Selling home/Hand Sanitizer: Is It Rude to Set Out Hand Sanitizer

I don't think it is strange at all. I'm in Real Estate and look at homes all the time. People do much stranger things! Just put a note that says...

Baby in home with fragile immune system. Please use sanitizer for his/her behalf. Thank you.

I don't think it is rude...I would also request shoe covers or removal of shoes prior to entering the home...I would have a nice basket full of shoe covers and the hand sanitizer on the foyer table with a note stating that due to the new baby, we are asking everyone to...I do home health for a living and we are required to do such things upon enterning and leaving someones home..

Yes, I would be offended and I wouldn't use it. My daughter has the flu right now so I just had a long talk with the doctor about it. She said it is spread by coughing, so really the hand sanitizer won't help a whole lot. To protect yourselves and baby make sure to wash hands and clean surfaces that are commonly touched, such as doorknobs.

I would find it off-putting, and I use hand sanitizer all the time.... but I bring my own. I don't think you can word a note nicely enough to not offend. It's like holding up a big sign that says that the people looking at your house are dirty. I would probably walk out without further exploration.

I don't think it would offend anyone but most people only touch light switches and door knobs. I'd leave a nice note inviting them to use it due to the flu season being here and thank them. After all viewings I'd walk around and use a sanitizer wipe on door knobs and light switches, can't hurt to wipe the counter. I have been a buyer before and only touched those things listed.

Not at all, I think is not only a FANTASTIC idea, but also a very necessary meassure, specially if you have a baby and the flu season is here. I would also place a graciuos note "inviting" people to feel free to use is upon entering your house. Nobody in their right mind should be offended by it. You are doing what is right for your family, NEVER feel guilty over that. Kuddos to you!!

NO it is not rude. I have two children and I even asked friend, family and our church family to use sanitizer. I had it at the back and front doors. I used a small note on the door that said, "We have a new baby and I have a lowered immune system, please do not be offended but please use hand sanitizer. Thanks for your cooperation and your visiting our new family".

When it comes to your new babies health you may on occasion hurt someone's feelings but where will they be when you are up all night with a sick child??? Spare no one. Besides, anyone who has common sense knows that the line in defense is hand sanitizer or hand washing. Good luck on the sell and new life.

I don't think it would be rude by any means and if someone DID get offended by it then oh well-that's their issues not yours. Just know that even taking these type of precautions isn't going to necessarily "protect" you from getting the bug. It's already been through my house this past two weeks and I have yet to come down with it myself-yet and crossing my fingers because we all know mommies can't get sick :-). My mom works for an internal medicine doctor's office and they are saying the swine flu is EVERYWHERE and EVERYBODY is getting it! So simply going to the grocery store you can pick it up. Hand washing is always the best and shouldn't be replaced by the hand sanitizers but it's good for those inbetween moments. People should understand you wanting to help keep your family healthy and like I said before if they don't then Oh well. Swine flu is not a death sentence for everyone like the media has hyped it out to be. Yes, it is true that some have died over it but I think taking the necessary precautions as you would with ANY other type of sickness watch those symptoms and act upon it asap if you even "think" something isn't right. My girls ran fevers of about 103 and ended up with a croupy cough as they usually do this time of year even with something as the common cold. My hubby had the fever, vomiting, diarhea, and croupy cough as well and ended up with double pneumonia on top of everything else. So as you can see they had different reactions to the same bug. Just take all the precautions but just know too that it's entirely possible for it to come from somewhere else and you would have no clue "where" you got it from. I make it a rule now as soon as my girls get off the school bus to immediately go and wash their hands with warm soapy water then every day I take my lysol spray and spray ALL the door knobs, light switches and will continue to Lysol my home about once a week to "try" and cut down on the germs coming into my home. I am OCD as well so some may think all this is craziness but we all have our reasons :-)I am also looking into purchasing a product called Kiddie Boost which is an immunity booster for kids over the age of 12 months but I am still investigating this because I just came across it and want to make sure it's safe. I think I might post and ask if anyone here has heard of it-lol! Good luck keeping the bug away and good luck on selling your home!

I also am a bit germ phobic, even before my kids and the two grands that stay with me. I have found that when it comes to" outsiders "coming and going into my home,and there is alot of that, instead of offending my visitors i simply disenfect doorknbs,light switches...with sanitizing whipes and good old lysol spray. Good luck on your sale!

I wouldn't be offended but I probably wouldn't use it either. When I was looking at houses to buy, I never touched anything except maybe door knobs, light switches and cabinet doors. The shoe covers are a good idea regardless that way people aren't tracking dirt onto your floors. But as far as protecting you and your baby from illness, good old fashion hand washing will do the trick.

Good luck selling your house!
S.

"Hand Sanitizer for your safety and ours!" I am about to start house hunting and would not be offended. I'm just not sure where you could place it. Maybe you can place a sign at your entry way on a small table that appears as if it's for ALL persons who enter your home. Such as "Dear Friends and Family, welcome to our home! Have a squirt on us!" :-) That way it's really for anyone and not specific to house hunters. It may be a good habit to start anyway...considering it myself!

Well honestly I would not be offended..But having said that..as a prospective buyer ..one generally only touches the front door.. Possibly the counter top in kitchen...I will say I got obsessive about not getting the flu,I had even been leaving my daughter at home when I ran errands with my hubby..then she got a uti and I had to take her to pediatrics office,5 days later we had the flu..not sure if it was h1n1..but it was definitely a flu...we had all symptoms and it lasted for a total of 10-14 days....So as you can see,even being extremely careful...it cannot always be avoided. I think most people,going in to view a house ,try not to touch anything... I hope...lol..good luck

I don't think it's rude at all, but don't expect everyone to do it. When we had our home on the market a few years ago, I had a giant bottle of hand sanitizer out because of our toddler, and I often asked people in my home to use it or wash their hands -especially if they were sniffling and blowing their noses. Why anyone would be put off by people trying to stop the spread of sicknesses is beyond me. I also feel that if you're "rude" enough to come into my home -whether it's to look at it or visit while you're sick, then it's not rude of me to ask you to try not to spread your germs everywhere.

Hi BD! I am a Realtor and have been in quite a few homes. I don't think it is rude, but I would keep in mind that there are folks that will not use it, even though you asked. You will have the buyers that appreciate a "clean" homeowner and the others that are annoyed by it. Just like asking someone to take their shoes off at the door. You would be surprised at how many will say no and not go into the home. Frankly, if that is the case than they weren't going to buy it anyway. If they really liked what they saw up to the point of the "no shoes" or "please sanitize" sign than they will do as asked and continue through the home.

Putting it out with a nice tent card, maybe even a "thank you" bowl of candy or something beside it, is completely acceptable. Just don't rely on it completely. You will still want to Lysol and wipe door knobs and cabinet doors after showings. Most folks will not use your bathroom or anything, but they will look in cabinets, closets and conveying appliances.

Hope this helps! Good Luck!

I don't think it's rude at all...in fact think that's an excellent idea. Although, I can't imagine what people would be touching in your house as they view it. I know I don't touch people's things when I go through them...well, unless there's a closed door...which in that case I would absolutely not be offended if I saw a note to please use sanitizer before looking at your house.

I would state the note something like this:
Attention Home Shoppers:
For your safety and ours, please use this hand santitizer prior to proceding throught the house OR touching door knobs and other items in this house.
We have an infant who has immunitity issues and would greatly appreciate your cooperation.

I would certainly comply and understand if I saw that...of course, I use my handy dandy wipes when I get back to my car after I've been in someone's house I don't know...it does go both ways.

GOOD LUCK!

Hi BD,

I'm a realtor and can tell you that most people will be grateful rather than offended. I offer hand sanitizer to my buyers when we get back into the car since we were just touching door knobs, cabinet knobs, etc.

My only suggestion (other than what was already said...I especially like the idea of put a basket with booties by the front door...makes you look well organized and that you keep the house well maintained) is to use language that it's for both your new baby's protection as well as the buyers previewing your home. That way they feel you are thoughtful as opposed to making an imposition on them.

Good luck with selling your house and congratulations on the new addition to your family!

L.

Not rude at all to put it out, however you might want to ask that those who choose not to use it (because it isn't good to use for many reasons, esp for people who are chemically sensitive. If you are not aware there are a lot of chemicals in those sanitizers), just not touch anything. That way you are covered if people prefer not to use it. You could also set out cheap disposable gloves for those people.

The first house I bought also had out carpet cleaning booties to put over your shoes before walking in. Another great idea it keeps people from tracking in who knows what all over your house.

Until someone buys it, it's still your house and people need to respect those rules.

Hope this helps.
H.

I wouldn't bother. It's not like if you do risk offending and word the perfect note and put out the stuff, you can be sure everyone complies. I would just be vigilant hand-washers and watch what baby puts in her mouth. You can't protect her from every germ and that's not a good idea anyway. Flu shots -- of course!

I would be offended and would not consider buying the house. I personally probably wouldn't look any further. I know I don't seem to be the norm but I would be offended.

I would not be offended, but most people dont touch anything, maybe a door knob or a cabinet knob. The bigger problem is the transmission through sneezing, which you cannot prevent. Just crack a window on each side of the house and take care of your immune system. If you go the grocery store, you present yourself more risks that those coming in your home (unless you are really lucky and have 100 showings a day!). J