I just put in engineered wood floors and it says on the instructions not to wear high heels on it. When we put our house on the market, you bet I will ask people to remove their high heels. I would be livid too.

I don't have any advice for the damage done to the OP's floors. I did want to say that perhaps there should be something in the description about the no heels policy when entering the house so realtors and their clients can choose different footwear before making the appointment. Or maybe a reminder when they make the appointment?

UPDATES: I called my agent, she called the showing agent. Showing agent called me and tried to apologize by lying.........

At first the agent told me they did not see the sign and her client did not wear high-heel. I told her I have evidence and you'd better be honest....then her story changed to she did not see my sign till the very end when they were leaving my house, and her client was wearing long pants so she is not sure if her client was in high-heel.........

Some people just keep lying even if they got caught......I told that agent I am upset but appreciate her calling to apologize. However, since there is damage on the hardwood floor, I will be contacting her if there is concern raised during the home inspection (by other buyers, we actually have two offers, but are keeping showing since the offers are contingency).

My agent is wise and advise me to go in a gentle way too. It is NOT about the act someone did not take shoes off, it is all about the DISRESPECT of those people.

They are young, they are in high-heel, they saw the sign and mocked about it, they have no excuse and no manner. I am not going to sell my house to someone like this anyway, it is just SAD that trying to please this kind of people in order to get an offer.

Thank you all for sharing your thoughts.

Just another poster who would appreciate a home where the owners cared enough about the condition of the floors to require shoe removal/booties. I would TOTALLY see that as a positive...they may be picky, but of course that is a benefit when you are buying real estate! It would send the message of "well-maintained home" to me.

I would lay off the steam mop so much, though...I don't think wood floors like that much water.

Previous Poster wrote:
"Here's the thing - the OP has a sign requesting that people take their shoes off. It doesn't matter if the potential buyer and/or the real estate agent agrees with that request or not...they are going into another person's home and they should abide by the wishes of the current owner. It's as simple as that."
THIS is the correct response, as it makes no difference if others like or do not like to take their shoes off for a showing.
I know for a fact that water based poly urethane can take a long time to fully cure to its complete hardness.
Good to hear that you have a couple of offers.

Thank you for the update, wamot! It's always great when the OP comes back to tell us how things ended up. It sounds like those buyers and the agent deserve each other.

wamot, congratulations on the offers; hope your house sells soon.

camlan, you make a good point but it didn't sound to me that this house is going for the "patina of age" look ;-). I like character floors too!

I would not deal with a seller who is such a pain with people not walking barefooted. Do you tell people to take their shoes off when you invite them and they come well dressed? Pathetic

I certainly agree that if the buyer did not want to abide by the request to remove her shoes, she should have just left.

The amount of steaming of a new hardwood floor that is apparently going on (based on the OP's description) is very likely bad for the finish and the wood itself, and could well be a contributing factor to any dents. A surface raised by steaming would certainly show dents more easily.

I find the surveillance video thing creepy.

kabir,

I feel sorry that you had such strong emotion after reading my post, but I think no one will force you to see and buy any house.

I see people do belong to different classes, and you just have no manner and certainly will not be welcomed by most of the commentators here.

Someone walks in your "for sale" house with their shoes and you make such a huge cry about it, shows the class very well. I own 30 plus houses which are high end by few standards, and put hardwood flooring in them the day I buy. I know wood does not get damaged by heels. Even if it does, have some class to take it in stride!!!

So insisting on visitors taking off their shoes is a CLASS thing???

Ummm, no.

We are in the UK and we don't know anyone who wear shoes in the house. People keep saying that people here don't take theirs shoes off. That's nonsense

Kabir,
If I were taking you around showing homes, and you refused the once - in - a - while request to remove shoes, and you refused, I would think you were a very strange cat indeed.
30 High end homes... yeah, right.

Let's cut to the chase here.

This isn't about what's normal about removing shoes or not. There was a written request that people please remove their shoes when entering.

If I'm in the market and I see that sign, I oblige. THAT's common courtesy. The OP has proof they saw the sign and disregarded it. They should have removed their shoes or turned around and left.

I've looked at homes with new carpeting and they put runners on the floor so the carpet stayed clean.

It was definitely wrong for the realtor to ignore the request of the homeowners, because they're the ones paying her commission.

"To me, seeing the note like the OP's when house hunting would cause me to appreciate the home even more. My thoughts would be that they clearly take very good care of the house and that's exactly the kind of homeowner I'd want to buy from."

That's exactly how I feel.

To the OP, you put everyone on notice about not wearing shoes. If you can prove who damaged the floor you would have a solid case for a lawsuit because again, they were put on notice, ignored it, and then damaged your property.

The idea not to sue over this is preposterous. Your home was damaged out of pure negligence. It's not you being difficult, it's the person who showed your home. THEY should get the reputation for being irresponsible, negligent and reckless, by ignoring the notice. Once someone is on notice, that's it.

This is not a shoe on or shoe off situation, or about how anyone else feels about shoes in the home. It's a legal situation of an agent put on notice, and refusing to comply and the resulting damages.

I personally do remove my shoes when I am asked to.

How many dents are in your floor? If it's indeed very noticeable, buyers may not bring it up during inspection, but may nevertheless take it into account in their offer.

On the other hand, I wouldn't bring "class" into this discussion, and wouldn't waste my time trying to "educate" other people, even if they behave the way you see fit. Also, would you really "not going to sell my house to someone like this anyway" if the price is right?

Also, are you in a state where you are allowed to videotape and audiotape someone without their knowledge and consent?

Oh, for heaven's sake.

"Also are you in a state where you are allowed to video/audio tape without consent"

Seriously? It is HIS HOME! If someone comes onto your property, you don't need their permission to have them on tape. It isn't a public area.

Six years ago when we were looking at homes with an agent, we did come across one house that had a note that said, quite politely, "Please remove your shoes when viewing our home." I told the agent I would just prefer to leave because I don't remove my shoes, but SHE insisted since we had come a bit out of our way that it was okay NOT to....

Wouldn't you know...it was the house we bought.

While it may be the norm in some areas to remove shoes upon entering a house, there are people for whom this may be difficult. There are people who are told to wear shoes all the time--people with foot, knee or back issues, people with diabetes. Diabetics need to wear shoes to prevent injuring their feet, which is more likely in unfamiliar surroundings such as a house they have never been in before. Some people have physical issues that make taking off and putting on shoes difficult unless there is a chair for them to sit on.

Unless the market in a given area is really hot, I think it would be wise for a seller to provide alternative means of protecting the floors--runners over the major walkways, shoe covers, etc.-- rather than rely on having buyers who are willing and able to take off their shoes.

Shoes are an integral part of a person's dress, whether its a man or a woman. Most people do not step out of a trench before coming to look at a house. The soles of a shoe are pretty clean. A nice door mat also helps the cause than being such a pain in$%$%$%..

Given the most recent posts, I think this post from above bears repeating:

Here's the thing - the OP has a sign requesting that people take their shoes off. It doesn't matter if the potential buyer and/or the real estate agent agrees with that request or not...they are going into another person's home and they should abide by the wishes of the current owner. It's as simple as that.

For pity's sake, we get your take on wearing shoes already, Kabir. What Is harder to fathom is the hostile and shaming tone. If you don't want to take off your shoes, don't. What's "pathetic" is to keep harping on and on about it with no practical advice or insight relevant to the discussion.

I always assume I will need to remove my shoes when entering anyones home (for sale or not) and plan accordingly.

"The soles of a shoes are pretty clean"???? I have stepped in dog do-do more times than I can count. We have had people with what must be tiny stones stuck in their soles and scratched our hardwood. Also we have an asphalt driveway. No matter how well we take care of it, tiny pieces of asphalt will track into the house and make nasty marks.

I do not insist that people remove their shoes when visiting our home but most do anyway.

Re: recording. It's illegal in some states to make an audio recording of someone without their consent, whether or not they're in your home.

However it tends to be legal to have surveillance cameras in your home without notification or consent as long as they're not in the bathroom, changing room, that type of thing.

I once had somebody track black tar onto my new carpet. I am sure they had no idea it was on their shoes but it was.

But I really don't think there is much to debate on removing shoes or not when entering someone's home where a sign is posted requesting it. If a buyer is turned off by it then they can leave.

Also the surveillance camera is a great idea. In the last two months in my old neighborhood, vacant houses for sale were broken into and the houses stripped of copper pipes.

""Also are you in a state where you are allowed to video/audio tape without consent"

Seriously? It is HIS HOME! If someone comes onto your property, you don't need their permission to have them on tape. It isn't a public area."

Not quite true. Yes, you can have surveillance cameras in your home, but there are 13 states in the country where you are not allowed to audiotape other people without their prior consent, regardless of where the taping takes place.

Also, it's not like these people were entering the house unauthorized. Think about it. If you visited someone in their house. Would you be happy if you found out afterwards that your hosts were tape-recorded you without your knowing? If you are buying a house and are looking at it, do you expect that your conversations are being recorded?

Gee, this has turned out to be a contentious thread!

I'd be upset too, if my floors were damaged during a showing, and enraged by visitors who scorned my wishes. But I'd say this was at least partially your fault for softening the wood by steaming it. What were you thinking? OF COURSE steam will weaken hardwood.

Most wood floors steamed or not will be damaged by spike heels.

I used to wear spike heels all the time when I was younger. I did a lot of damage to floors because I did not get the heel tips repaired. Also, my friends damaged mine.

Once I was going down carpeted stairs at work. My heel caught in the carpet, pulled the fibers, I was holding the railing, as I fell, I pulled the entire railing out of the wall. I only weighed about 120 lb. Carpet and drywall damage. I was young and knew I had really caused it but the men in the office had no clue.

If you wear spikes get them repaired!

And put a sign at the door, premises under video surveillance.

All of the people above who noted that they always take their shoes off when visiting...How do I let you (my guest) know I do NOT want you to do that in my house??????? Ewwwwww.....

Many guests take a cue from their hosts. I usually walk around on socks at home, so many guests assume that they also should take their shoes off. Either I tell them not to take their shoes of, or I put on shoes before guests arrive. If I'm caught unawares, I will put my shoes on in front of them.
On the other hand, I don't really care. Whatever makes my guests happy.
The only issue I once had was snowy weather outside with half the guests taking their shoes off, the other half not, and not quickly wiping up any melted snow. So the ones on socks got wet feet :(

As a contractor, my crew and I are wearing work boots in your home as long as we are working there. This is not negotiable. We will put on covers, but if there's a lot of in-and-out, expect a bill for the time you added to the job if you didn't mention this requirement beforehand.

I would never hire a contractor who expected to bill me extra for protecting my floors while working in my home.

So wamot - can we get an update. You said you had 2 offers and were waiting for inspection reports. Did the inspection come out ok? Are you suing the showing agent?

high heels with steel taps do dent oak floors, even 70 year old oak.

I feel for you.

In my first home, a friend came over in her slut stilettos and the house was covered in dents from these.

redcurls....I assume you are you have greeted your guests at the door. If they start to bend down to remove shoes, immediately let them know they can keep them on.

Jewel654:

I'm not going to do things that take more time/money and not get paid. When I bid a job, I assume I can use the homeowner's electricity and water. If that's not cool, I can generate or bring my own, but that's gonna cost the homeowner extra. I assume I can walk on the floors without damage. If a homeowner wants floor protection, I'll put it in my bid.

Jewel654:

I'm not going to do things that take more time/money and not get paid. When I bid a job, I assume I can use the homeowner's electricity and water. If that's not cool, I can generate or bring my own, but that's gonna cost the homeowner extra. I assume I can walk on the floors without damage. If a homeowner wants floor protection, I'll put it in my bid.

I am surprised so many people do not know that stiletto type heels can damage floors. Not just wood but can also crack other types. It creates too much pressure. Generally when you purchase flooring, it is mentioned in the warranty clause.

How much more do you add to your bid, Trebruchet, to put down drop cloths or plastic runners?

Jewel - we paid for the rosen paper and hardboard that our contractor put down to protect our floors. We did it gladly. As for Trebruchet, he said before that they would put on covers (I'm assuming the disposable bootie covers that you can get), but if going in and out a lot, there would be time added. The people working on your home are selling a service...service is largely time based...and since there are only so many hours that a person can bill for, they need to recoup their money. I work in an industry where I wind up having to charge for my time - sometimes I have to travel to multiple locations...my clients pay me from the time I start until I finish, if it takes me 15 minutes to get to one location or an hour...they still pay me for that time.

It would be a mistake, in my opinion, to tell a client that they'll pay extra to protect their floors from worker's shoes.

Most people wear shoes which do not damage floors. There is something called cost of living and doing business! Are you planning to take your wooden flooring with you to the grave!!

In my area, contractors, subs, everyone who works in my house...puts on booties. I totally get that workers need protection on their feet, but come on...do you really think you should track muddy boots through someone's clean home?? Wear covers! I would TOTALLY drop a contractor who charged me more for putting on covers. And I would demand correction if a contractor damaged my floors, stained my rugs, etc.

Any contractors we have had always brought large drop cloths and spread them over the areas where they would be going in and out of the house. No extra charge.

I'm appalled at some of these comments. High Heels DAMAGE any kind of hardwood floor, no matter the quality or cost. High heels put more force on a small area than the foot of an elephant. It is 120 pounds of pressure on an eighth of an inch. It is basic physics, people.

We bought a brand new house 2 years ago and our own realtor put damaging marks on the floors of the house we bought. Everytime I was around her, I had to ask her to remove her shoes but I know she went there on her own and obviously wore them as there are marks.

It isn't a matter of "babying" your floors. It isn't a matter of "floors are meant to be used." High heels are not "normal" shoes and are very damaging. It is a matter of caring about what you own and taking good care of it.

Venting here is one thing. Venting to a buyer's realtor is quite another thing! You don't want to get the reputation as "that difficult seller".

Too late :-)

Wow, there sure area lot of opinions about shoes on shoes off. As an agent, sometimes we are requested to remove shoes. Typically it is on meticulously clean homes. Most buyers don't mind, some grumble, but I have never had a buyer say they refuse to take their shoes off. It is the sellers home. They have the right to ask people to remove their shoes. When my children were babies and crawling around on the floor, no one was allowed to wear shoes in my house. I simply didn't want my babies crawling around in what was on the bottom of people's shoes, it could be anything!

Being in thousands of homes in my career, I can tell you, I have seen floors that have been damaged because of a woman's high heel. There is no doubt about the mark. It looks like a nail head path of holes. It is from a heel where the little rubber thing has come off the shoe . Most people don't ask you to take shoes off because they are afraid you will damage the floors,they don't want the outside dirt on the floor. There are some cultures where it is a must. But the bottom line is,if there were signs and most likely this agent was told when making the appointment to please remove shoes, it should have been done.

The poster requested people remove shoes, if they did not want to do so, they should have not entered the home.That said as others have mentioned, in our culture you will turn a lot of buyers/realtors off if you make a big deal over this. I am so sorry this happened.