Some kids are great.  Other kids well...... They're kids that should be left at home. 

Children are not a problem when you include them in the conversation.

Most of my Clients don't bring children.  When they do they are pretty well behaved and stay with their parents.

With our young families nap time is pretty important.   We are lucky, in the $450K and below, they need to be out of the house for one or two days and we get multiple offers.

In previous years, we had to work around those times! 

No guidelines hard and fast. I watch first, to see whether the parents are monitoring the kids. Some do, and some don't. I say something only when the parents aren't minding the store. In general, I don't want kids touching things, running in the home, or jumping on anything!

It is best to encourage prospects not to take children with them when looking at homes. Kids can certainly be a distraction.

They certainly can be. I had one over the weekend at an open house turn on the disposal, then became so distraught over what she had done the buyers left abruptly.

some should be muzzled and shackled....

Most of my buyers do arrive with children in tow - generally they are well-behaved, but when they are not, I think you've got an obligation to remind the parents to keep them in order. After all, you have been entrusted with the showing of someone's home.  Can be an awkward moment for sure, but I think you've got to do what's right.

Hi Paul - I don't consider children to be the problem but I do question their parents at times.  I've been pretty fortunate to have clients who are quite respectful of the home showing process.  

Paul S. Henderson at times, I also play a role of babysitter when that happens....

No I do not have guidelines but do suggest that maybe they would like to get a sitter. When we find the right home we can come back with the kids.

I tell them that it is unusual to bring children along on showings because they can slow the tour down and make us less efficient. In the back of my mind, I'm also worrying about the impression the kids might make on the listing agent. Ill-behaved children can be a strike against a buyer in a competitive market. 

Not only during showings! j/k ... My approach is similar to Cindy Davis.

Sometimes hard to control the situation without sounding like a jerk, try bringing  an iPad with cartoons ready and waiting. The kids will sit and watch while you show your buyers around the house.

I always bring a goody bag with treats and toys without parts. I also have extra flash lights and tape measures. I try to teach them about being a real estate agent so they will be our future agents!

Paul S. Henderson I don't have to worry about children with commercial real estate, but I would recommend they leave the children at home with a sitter.

If they really get out of control I will remind the buyers we are guest in the sellers home.

Children seldom present a problem for the BUYER AGENT. However, as the agent representing the seller they ARE a problem. Little skipper bolts to the back of the house to the family room and leaps on the staged bed in the boy's room. Mom and Dad go left to the master suite, and tiny toddler Tina is mesmerized by the sparkling pool through the open sliders to the lanai.  

I DO SEE TROUBLE.

So I must do the buyer agents job. Herd the folks up, and have them join hands. Of course they are offended. I encourage them, "When you own this house you can do whatever you want."

One such stampede resulting in someone opening the dresser, removing a pouch of jewelery and dropped it on the floor then schooched it beneath the dresser.. Nothing was missing. But just think about that. And when the owner found the pouch....what do you think happened?

Buyer agents, it's your job to instruct your buyers regarding proper behavior.

I have not had that problem. If the kids touch anything I advice them not to touch anything and the parents get a clue.

I can't say I remember when children became a problem at a showing. I don't have guidelines, as I've found that parents typically set those when they walk into a house with their children. The real issue is not having too many houses to look at in one "go" with kids, as they don't have the patience for it.

Yes....if the children are "adventurous" the rule is stay with a parent and hold hands...nothing gets broken and no one gets hurt.

Good morning Paul. We run our own open houses for homes we flip. We ask each person or couple to make sure everyone stays together as they are being shown the home. Most will immediately get the message.

They can be.  I will mention if it becomes an issue.

They might be - it's been years since we've worked with a Buyer who brought children with them...

Nothing in writing.. This is part of the reason that Don and I show together.  Sometimes it's a group with small children or in-laws and out-laws that scatter like a covey of quail.. Having a team to do the showing allows us to split up if we need to.  

Sometimes people of any age can be a distraction but it all depends on the individual situation. Most people, children included, will not be a distraction as long as they are quiet and respectful while buyers are touring the home. Pets on the other hand should be moved to a different area of the home while buyers are touring because some buyers have allergies or fear of animals that may take their attention away from the property itself. I hope this helps!

Paul this is a great question, last weekend I had a home multiple offers, They had 30 plus showings  on Friday alone, Sellers left the home to find candy wrappers, peanut shells and their grandkids bike that was hanging in the garage, in the backyard and their toys from spare bedroom in the living room. My sellers question was where was the agent? Rightfully so.  I thought where was the parents and the agent, and who took down the bike? Not an easy thing to calm the seller down from.