Out of everything you can think of when looking at homes as a buyer or a real estate agent, I bet you didn’t think I would say to remember to always ask this question when you are touring a home to avoid embarrassment:

May I use the bathroom?

If the owner is home, ask. If the owner is not, ask the real estate agent showing you the home, BUT flush the toilet once BEFORE you use the bathroom.

I know. I know. It sounds stupid and tedious. But other than it being a courteous thing to do, it’s practical and important; here’s why:

1. It’s not your home.

2. You don’t know if the toilets are working.

• I’ve experienced a situation where the client snuck away to use the bathroom only to be told by the screaming owner the pipe had been shut off so the toilet doesn’t flush.
  
• I’ve also seen where someone left a lot of bowel movement in a toilet that hadn’t been used in years and rarely checked. Let me just say flies and things developed leaving the owner to spend money to fix everything.

3. You don’t want to be held responsible (nor does your real estate agent) for breaking the toilet or causing a plumbing problem.

• I remember one time when a pregnant buyer had to quickly run and use the bathroom. Everything looked fine, flushed the toilet and the water started bubbling up, overflowing and everything. After running and shutting the water valve off, making frantic phone calls to the listing agent to get the owner and a plumber, we found out the owner’s child had stuffed something down the toilet. Thank goodness my client didn’t have a child or we may have been accused of causing the problem.

4. It’s the right thing to do.

If you have children, be polite, too. Use an extra baby wipe of yours to clean up any mistakes and spills. Don’t use the owner’s towels, you’re not at a mall bathroom.

TIPS: The next time you are out touring, don’t drink too much and make sure you use the bathroom before you go. If you have to use the bathroom in the middle of a home tour, don’t wait to the last minute. If you can’t stop back at the real estate agent’s office, try to map when you will see a vacant home and be prepared with toilet paper, flush the toilet first and…

…please ask if you can use the bathroom when you are touring a home to avoid embarrassment.