When buyers walk through houses to see if they would like to make an offer, they might do anything from snooping through the drawers to opening up the refrigerator.

These are alright since buyers want to know what they’re putting an offer on. But then again, there are the other viewers who have unorthodox, odd and just uncouth behavior.

Some home buyers bring their kids who aren’t being supervised, and these kids then go through drawers or help themselves to food in the cupboards. There are others who use the bathrooms without permission and don’t flush or flush when the water isn’t even turned on.

Then, you get your people who complain about something in every room, even when the owners are in the house.  

For the most part, buyers just want to view the inside and outside of homes to see if they are what they are looking for. After all, they’re looking for a place to spend their lives.

In fact, recent research by the cleaning company Vileda showed that 95 percent of home viewers went straight for the windows to check out the view. They also wanted to see the surrounding neighborhood.

If you’re home is open for viewing, you will still get the nosey people who open every closet, every drawer and cabinet. But the research showed that 70 percent of people looked upward to check out the height of the ceilings and features such as crown moldings.

Here are some of the do’s and don’ts of home viewing, whether it is a private showing or an open house.

Tips for good home viewing etiquette

Be timely

If an open house says 2-4 p.m., then be there at least by 3:30. Homeowners and agents will want everyone out by 4, so make sure you’re giving yourself enough time to see everything you want.

If an open house has lots of potential buyers or just curious people walking around, wait until one group of buyers leave a room before you go into it. It just gives people the freedom to roam instead of being crowded.

If you don’t have enough time to look around the house or if the open house is too busy, as the agent if you can schedule an appointment to view the home. Some agents may require you to do this anyway.

Avoid making a mess

If it’s a rainy or snowy day outside, take your shoes off at the door. No one wants footprints of mud in their clean carpets or freshly mopped floors. To be even more cautious, just take off your shoes no matter what the weather.  

Also, be mindful of bringing in good or drink. Coffee is tasty, but any spills can stain the carpet – a cost that the homeowner is going to have to cover.

Stick to any refreshments that are provided by the homeowner or agent, and be sure to keep from dirtying any carpet or hardwood.

Lastly, remember that you’re in someone’s home. If they have any art, memorabilia or something of the like, don’t touch it without asking the homeowner first. You wouldn’t want someone touching your stuff.

Theft is also a common issue with open houses, so whether you’re hosting one or visiting, be mindful that someone may be trying to steal. It’s boring for children to tour homes, and it’s going to be tough for them stop from touching everything they can’t touch.

And your cute little Pomeranian can fit in your purse, but some people are very allergic to the dander left behind.

Remember, it isn’t your home yet

Unless they are selling the furniture with the home, don’t make yourself at home. Anything not included in the sale shouldn’t be treated like it’s yours, and sitting on couches and chairs can ruin any presentation set up by the owners.

Sometimes when you view homes, the owners are there and walls are thin. So, just keep your unkind comments about their color choices or cluttered closets to yourself until you are in the car.

But do inform your real estate agent about any structural or other problems that you saw in your tour. It could possibly help in the negotiations.

Viewing homes is all about respect of others and respect of someone else’s property. Sellers will remember the better home viewers, so being on your best behavior could help in the end.