Common Courtesy

I am not sure if it’s arrogance or just a complete disregard for people other than oneself, but I thought it was time to speak up and perhaps encourage people to think about others first.

What has surprised me – although not shocked me – recently are people who go to real estate open houses.

My brother and his family recently sold their house and currently two of our direct neighbours are in the process of selling theirs.

While I appreciate people need to look through closets, attics and tiny spaces to get a scope of the layout of a house and turn on appliances and fireplaces to ensure they work, there are certain things you do not need to look through or touch such as inside dressers drawers or, in the case of my nephew, baby monitors.

And until the keys are in your hand and money is in the seller’s bank, this house is not yours and you need to treat it with respect.

Take your shoes off so you don’t track dirt through the house; if you turn on an appliance, such as a gas fireplace when it’s warm outside, turn it back off before you go; don’t touch things that don’t belong to you; and leave your pets at home.

Yes, on Saturday I watched a potential neighbour get out of her car with a dog on a leash.

I realize people treat their pets as people – I do, too. But this is not your house. Regardless if this house seller has a dog, you have no right to bring your pet into someone else’s house.

I am disgusted with the potential homebuyer and even more so with her real estate agent. I realize the real estate agent has the potential to make a lot of money, but she should have insisted the dog stay at home or in the car.