"Dog Chained Up Outside”: 25 Home Red Flags, According To House Guests

We visit someone’s home expecting a warm welcome. Our intentions are good, and we hope the hosts will be just as well-intentioned in return. But as soon as we step onto another person’s property, our brains instinctively start noticing revealing details about the homeowners.  Recently, people online were sharing which aspects of a house gave them a bad impression and can be off-putting for first-time visitors. We reviewed the thread where people honestly described the red flags they’ve noticed when entering someone’s home. These subtle signs can suggest a less-than-pleasant side, leaving guests wary, uncomfortable and fighting the urge to get out immediately.

#1

Image source: therealriex0, Brett Sayles An American flag in the front yard. I’m sorry but it’s giving unsafe.

#2

Image source: hat_nancylee, UMUT ??? Dog chained up outside their house and set up as an outdoor pet most of its life.

#3

Image source: mskittenk, Nadiia Shuran For me it’s the absence of books.

#4

Image source: anon, Pascal 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.

#5

Image source: duck_diva2022, Natilyn Hicks Photography Anything MAGA.

#6

Image source: hitchlives, itsmoeyo 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.

#7

Image source: laceandbooks, sergunello Stuffed animals on their walls. Fox news on the tv.

#8

Image source: moonlit.rabbit.rescue, Pavan Naik Confining animals to cages (all the time).

#9

Image source: noi_max, Tom Thai 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.

#10

Image source: tnut42, Go to Dominik's profile Dominik 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.

#11

Image source: thankyou_forsunshine, stockking Family members yelling/fighting while I'm there. Like what's happening when you DON'T have a guest over??

#12

“live. laugh. love.” Image source: thatdorkpaul

#13

Image source: mountcoffee, freepik MLM inventory for their “business” or they buy a lot of MLM stuff. Minus a normal amount of Tupperware.

#14

Image source: 4knitsakes, freepik Wearing shoes around the house.

#15

Image source: TemperatureExotic631, plantsandpoison Not having pillow cases on the bed. You know those sheets and blankets are filthy then.

#16

Image source: tjibbehoek, Karolina Grabowska Dirty toilet.

#17

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. Image source: katiekater220

#18

Cockroaches. Image source: starry_mist78

#19

Cat litter tray in the kitchen. Image source: harry49hale/

#20

Image source: ladleshireonsea, Getty Images Looking like a show home. It makes me nervous when I feel like sven just sitting down is going to mess up the place.

#21

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. Image source: rong_er_22

#22

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. Image source: good_deel

#23

Dirty washroom and dirty kitchen sink. Image source: anna15liz/

#24

Single layer toilet paper. Image source: FairyKatsumi

#25

Image source: peacedreamer6, rawpixel.com 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.

#26

Image source: hslinnyc, Getty Images TV blaring in every room.

#27

Ashtrays (usually full). Image source: lamkin.elaine

#28

Image source: justfifi4u, MChe Lee If they collect Teddy Bears and call them their children. Taking a different to holiday each time, just pure madness.

#29

The big light is ON and it's mid day and sunny outside. Image source: deevaj96

#30

Image source: v, Richard Stachmann 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.

#31

Big dogs jumping up on me with nobody helping me out. I’m short. Image source: booniekitterpillar

#32

Image source: woodge, Max Vakhtbovych A complete absence of art.

#33

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. Image source: conciergetravelphoto

#34

I look at baseboards and around door handles. That tells me a whole lot Image source: desert_carebear_

#35

Image source: itsantpropst, anon 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.