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.

Red Make America Great Again cap resting on an open book with a blurred map in the background, symbolizing guest judgment. - 1

Anything MAGA.

duck_diva2022 , Natilyn Hicks Photography Report

White dog with blue eyes chained outside, a common thing guests instantly judge about a house the moment they step inside. - 2

Dog chained up outside their house and set up as an outdoor pet most of its life.

hat_nancylee , UMUT 🆁🅰🆆 Report

White dog resting inside a metal crate, representing one of the things that make guests instantly judge a house. - 3

Confining animals to cages (all the time).

moonlit.rabbit.rescue , Pavan Naik Report

Wall decorated with various crosses, a common home decor that guests might instantly judge in a house interior. - 4

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.

hitchlives , itsmoeyo Report

Moose head wall mount in a wooden interior, an example of things that make guests instantly judge a house. - 5

Stuffed animals on their walls. Fox news on the tv.

laceandbooks , sergunello Report

Cat inside a litter box with scattered litter on the floor, showing one thing that can make guests judge a house. - 6

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.

noi_max , Tom Thai Report

Bookshelf with decorative dream sign and fairy lights illustrating things guests judge when entering a house. - 7

For me it’s the absence of books.

mskittenk , Nadiia Shuran Report

Man in blue shirt looking surprised, sitting in living room with plants and neutral decor, guests instantly judge house. - 8

Family members yelling/fighting while I’m there. Like what’s happening when you DON’T have a guest over??

thankyou_forsunshine , stockking Report

Bright modern kitchen and living space with clean lines and minimalistic design that guests instantly judge in a house interior - 9

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.

tnut42 , Go to Dominik’s profile Dominik Report

Close-up of an anime figure with red hair wearing a watch, illustrating things guests instantly judge in a house interior. - 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.

anon , Pascal Report

Worn and stained pillows on a bed showing one of the things that make guests instantly judge a house interior. - 11

Not having pillow cases on the bed. You know those sheets and blankets are filthy then.

TemperatureExotic631 , plantsandpoison Report

Dirty dishes piled in a sink showing a common thing that makes guests instantly judge a house upon entering. - 12

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.

peacedreamer6 , rawpixel.com Report

Person cleaning a toilet with brush and cleaner, highlighting one of the things that make guests instantly judge a house interior. - 13

Dirty toilet.

tjibbehoek , Karolina Grabowska Report

American flag waving on a flagpole against a clear blue sky, illustrating things guests instantly judge a house by. - 14

An American flag in the front yard. I’m sorry but it’s giving unsafe.

therealriex0 , Brett Sayles Report

Someone Asked, “What’s A Red Flag When You Visit Someone’s House?” And 43 People Didn’t Hold Back - 15

“live. laugh. love.”

thatdorkpaul , stencilrevolution Report

Minimalist bedroom with modern furniture and large windows, showcasing things that make guests instantly judge a house. - 16

Looking like a show home. It makes me nervous when I feel like sven just sitting down is going to mess up the place.

ladleshireonsea , Getty Images Report

Young girl resting on bed with blanket, illustrating things that make guests instantly judge a house on entry. - 17

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.

v , Richard Stachmann Report

Person holding a remote control watching TV in a living room, illustrating things guests instantly judge a house. - 18

TV blaring in every room.

hslinnyc , Getty Images Report

Someone Asked, “What’s A Red Flag When You Visit Someone’s House?” And 43 People Didn’t Hold Back - 19

Big dogs jumping up on me with nobody helping me out. I’m short.

booniekitterpillar , Getty Images Report

Someone Asked, “What’s A Red Flag When You Visit Someone’s House?” And 43 People Didn’t Hold Back - 20

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.

rong_er_22 , stockking Report

Someone Asked, “What’s A Red Flag When You Visit Someone’s House?” And 43 People Didn’t Hold Back - 21

Dirty washroom and dirty kitchen sink.

anna15liz/ , Jonathan Castañeda Report

Someone Asked, “What’s A Red Flag When You Visit Someone’s House?” And 43 People Didn’t Hold Back - 22

Cockroaches.

starry_mist78 , matheus ferreira Report

Someone Asked, “What’s A Red Flag When You Visit Someone’s House?” And 43 People Didn’t Hold Back - 23

Children not allowed to make noise.

geoff_boz , Getty Images Report

Someone Asked, “What’s A Red Flag When You Visit Someone’s House?” And 43 People Didn’t Hold Back - 24

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.

katiekater220 , Ries Bosch Report

Plastic containers with colorful lids stacked on a wooden surface, a common item guests instantly judge in a house. - 25

MLM inventory for their “business” or they buy a lot of MLM stuff. Minus a normal amount of Tupperware.

mountcoffee , freepik Report

Minimalist modern living room with gray sofa and wooden floor, highlighting things that make guests instantly judge a house interior. - 26

A complete absence of art.

woodge , Max Vakhtbovych Report

Someone Asked, “What’s A Red Flag When You Visit Someone’s House?” And 43 People Didn’t Hold Back - 27

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.

good_deel , Teresa Wang Report

Someone Asked, “What’s A Red Flag When You Visit Someone’s House?” And 43 People Didn’t Hold Back - 28

Ashtrays (usually full).

lamkin.elaine , SLNC Report

Collection of teddy bears and stuffed animals in a home setting that guests may judge upon entering the house. - 29

If they collect Teddy Bears and call them their children. Taking a different to holiday each time, just pure madness.

justfifi4u , MChe Lee Report

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.

conciergetravelphoto Report

Cat litter tray in the kitchen.

harry49hale/ Report

Single layer toilet paper.

FairyKatsumi Report

Person sitting on a stool wearing brown boots and blue jeans inside a house showing first guest impressions. - 30

Wearing shoes around the house.

4knitsakes , freepik Report

A voodoo doll with a couple pins stuck in it..

danielhanson007 Report

The big light is ON and it’s mid day and sunny outside.

deevaj96 Report

Cats on kitchen counters.

blalock_bob Report

I look at baseboards and around door handles. That tells me a whole lot

desert_carebear_ Report

Overgrown front yard with unkempt grass and bushes, one of the things that make guests instantly judge a house. - 31

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.

itsantpropst , anon Report

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.

j.scribbl3 Report

No photos of family.

marycatherineegan Report

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.

alegnamediasuite Report

No pets.

bratty_swemo69 Report

If they have less than 10 plants.

eighthundredfiftysix Report

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Someone Asked, “What’s A Red Flag When You Visit Someone’s House?” And 43 People Didn’t Hold Back - 32

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