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Someone Asked, “What’s A Red Flag When You Visit Someone’s House?” And 43 People Didn’t Hold Back
Being a guest at someone else's home can be a challenge, especially if you're a homebody or like things to be a certain way. Even seeing a sock out of place may cause a person to judge your home. The cleanliness of a home can say a lot about a person. According to a 2021 Ipsos poll, 74% of Americans judge a holiday gathering host based on how clean their home is.
But cleanliness is not the only red flag people can immediately clock. There can be smaller, less noticeable details that, to some folks, scream: "I don't want to be in this house a second longer." Under a recent post on Threads, folks started sharing their own picks after user @mskittenk asked everybody: "What's a red flag when you visit someone's house?" She then shared hers: "For me it's the absence of books." But the commenters didn't hold back, adding things like interior design choices, certain smells, and even the way some hosts interact with each other.
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#1
Dog chained up outside their house and set up as an outdoor pet most of its life.
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#3
Confining animals to cages (all the time).
Stardust she/her 11 hours ago
I feel bad for this cockatoo my younger cousin owns, they keep it in a cage all the time so he’s never learnt to fly and bites everyone including his owners
#4
For me it’s the absence of books.
Arthur Waite 10 hours ago
My library-file is over 1000 books, all in my computer. Growing all the time. Someone who didn't know me would think I was illiterate.
#5
Stuffed animals on their walls. Fox news on the tv.
#6
Loads of religious stuff. It's one thing to have a religious book on the coffee table. I went to a house once, they had religious pictures in every room. They literally had a picture of Jesus looking out the front door as if to say he flipping lived there. I guess a burglar might think hmm, maybe I will leave this place alone.
Tinkershark 14 hours ago (edited)
In my experience the ones who plaster it everywhere are overcompensating, and more likely the ones not showing their faith in behaviour. Not people who just have some of their holy iconography or symbols, but when it has become a whole decor trend for them. It is the religious equivalent of couples who won't shut up on social media about how in love they are. Bit of a red flag for the sincerity of the relationship, you know?
#7
Overwhelming pet smells. Don’t get me wrong, I love little furry friends, but if it hits me like a brick I can’t stay long.
Smeghead Tribble Down Under 12 hours ago
Bad smells (ie, dirty kitty litter, old pet food left sitting bowls, smelly fishtank etc etc) screams animal neglect to me.
#8
If you feel like you are in a lobby. No plants, no art except stock, no family pictures, no books, no shoes by the door. Just perfectly void of life and perfectly clean. That creeps me out.
#9
Family members yelling/fighting while I'm there. Like what's happening when you DON'T have a guest over??
Shark Lady 11 hours ago
As soon as things get loud or slightly aggressive that's my cue to make a swift exit.
#10
Nothing wrong with being into anime and having merch. But if I notice a lot of posters and figures of characters that are very young and childish looking particularly ones that are clearly meant to be sexualized I'm gonna ask a lot of questions.
#11
Looking like a show home. It makes me nervous when I feel like sven just sitting down is going to mess up the place.
#13
Filth and clutter.
liora_uncensored:
Extreme filth. It’s one thing if a bedroom gets a bit messy or dishes pile up… life gets hectic and cleaning gets put on the back burner I get it. it’s another entirely if it’s such filth it’s outright unsanitary.
cerinamroth 10 hours ago
If I see that kind of thing, my immediate thought is for the person's mental wellbeing.
#14
Not having pillow cases on the bed. You know those sheets and blankets are filthy then.
#15
I find it kind of disconcerting when someone’s children seem afraid to speak, be too loud, walking on eggshells, etc. I understand not all children are loud and that’s not a sign of their happiness one way or the other all the time, but I just feel like kids should feel safe and comfortable enough to hoot and holler in their own home.
Stardust she/her 11 hours ago
When you are the extrovert child of an introvert and a narcissist, you are not allowed to be childish or yourself at all when at home as you risk getting yelled at or beaten
#17
Dirty toilet.
BrownEyedGrrl 7 hours ago
A plumber once told me that there's nothing worse than going into someone else's dirty bathroom.
#18
“live. laugh. love.”
Michael None 6 hours ago
I live in the midwestern us and I see a lot of "salt life" bumper stickers and nick nacks and it always makes me ashamed to be human. Are you so dumb that you don't realize the ocean is thousands of miles away?
#19
Smell of cigarettes. I really don’t like the smell of cigarette smoke. Fresh it’s tolerable but once it gets in the walks it’s gross to me.
WalterWhiteSavannah 1 hour ago
Even before I quit i never understood how anyone can smoke in their home or cars.
#20
Big dogs jumping up on me with nobody helping me out. I’m short.
David Paterson 10 hours ago (edited)
For me, small dogs that make a serious attempt to burst my eardrums.
#21
MLM inventory for their “business” or they buy a lot of MLM stuff. Minus a normal amount of Tupperware.
#22
Porcelain dolls. I had a display in my store with a vintage doll pram. This man said. "Oh this would be perfect for my doll collection.." then looked me in the eyes and said "some people think that's creepy" It's me. I'm people.
#23
The neighbors at the old house had their basement set up like there was a party. Complete with mannequins posed all over. Some sitting with drinks, some standing “chatting”. Super weird.
#24
Dirty washroom and dirty kitchen sink.
#25
Wearing shoes around the house.
Stardust she/her 11 hours ago
In my house there’s usually a limit to how far you can walk with shoes on after which you either leave or have to remove your shoes
#27
Ashtrays (usually full).
#28
If they collect Teddy Bears and call them their children. Taking a different to holiday each time, just pure madness.
#29
Children not allowed to make noise.
#30
A complete absence of art.
Huddo's sister 14 hours ago
This is my house at the moment, except one painting above my tv cabinet. I've been here almost five years, but didn't want to hang any pictures until I could get the rooms painted, which hasn't happened yet.
#31
No hand soap in the bathroom, dishes with old food piled up, taxidermy pets/ relatives (I have seen family have each other as coffee tables & propped up on the couch), no vegetables in the home, If the home is too clean it makes me feel like you're hiding something (a home with kids and pets should look lived in), Quality towels for you and falling apart towels for guests, too much religious stuff, urine on bathroom floor.
#33
Single layer toilet paper.
DennyS (denzoren) 5 hours ago
I didn't even know single ply exists. We only get double ply here, but there are budget and expensive ones.
#34
A voodoo doll with a couple pins stuck in it..
Gingersnap In Iowa 17 hours ago
Geez... everyone knows you don't display your voodoo dolls for everyone to see.😳
#35
The big light is ON and it's mid day and sunny outside.
Nicole Weymann 14 hours ago
We have small windows, and "sunny" doesn't necessarily cut it in north facing rooms with trees and shrubs when I'm trying to find the right shade of puzzle piece 🤷
#36
Cats on kitchen counters.
Smeghead Tribble Down Under 11 hours ago
Cats are cleaner than most kids and a lot of adults. I'd much rather see a couple strands of cat hair on a counter or table than some screaming little feral's ar'se juice.
#37
I look at baseboards and around door handles. That tells me a whole lot
Multa Nocte (she/her/8647) 16 hours ago
If you are worried about stuff like that you should stay home.
#38
It’s not even about the inside, it’s about the outside because if that lawn is unkept and that grass is overgrown i don’t even need to see the inside, the outside told the whole story.
Nicole Weymann 14 hours ago
A whole story of non-pedantic non-árseholes? I gotta say if it takes a manicured wasteland of a toxic golf green to invite OP in I'm happy for my dandelions and daisies acting as a safeguard. I like my greenery to be alive with - or rather *for* - bees and butterflies.
#39
Not feeling like they did anything to prep for my visit. Like a a guest room without fresh vacuum lines and sheets that still smell like detergent.
Nicole Weymann 14 hours ago
I'm not sure if that's trolling. Does OP routinely visit friends for a cup of coffee and inspect the guest rooms, just in case? I'd not expect a hotel level treatment from any friends I'm well enough acquainted with to crash there.
#40
No photos of family.
Blue Bunny of Happiness 11 hours ago
Zero family photos in my house. I know what my family look like and see them in person, so why do I need photos?
#41
Books and animals. If you don't have them you're probably dumb and heartless. And if I see a Bible I'm leaving forever.
What do you think ?
Nicole Weymann 13 hours ago
I'm messy. Luckily my friends are, too. I'm divided about the supposed "no pets" red flag, but I don't have pets, so I may be projecting. I REALLY didn't like the lawn judge (currently at #15).
Load More Replies... Nicole Weymann 13 hours ago
I'm messy. Luckily my friends are, too. I'm divided about the supposed "no pets" red flag, but I don't have pets, so I may be projecting. I REALLY didn't like the lawn judge (currently at #15).
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