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Are You on Camera?

By Bridgett Raffenberg

Real Estate Sales Representative with Re/Max Results Plus

April 13, 2008 05:53 AM

I was showing a house yesterday. It was our second viewing and the buyers love the house. While we were going from room to room, we all went on and on about how great this house was (it truly was fabulous!). As we were walking around, something popped into my mind.... what if the owners/sellers were recording us? I don't know why that came to mind but my intuition is usually pretty trustworthy. camera

I just sat down at my laptop and decided to read a bit of news at my brokerage's company site. Low and behold, there was a large article written about the use of video taping and recording while selling a house.

So, is it just a coincidence? Probably so. However, it did make me think about how incredibly easy it would be for a seller to hide a small MP3 player with recording capabilities under a table or chair. I would like to think that no one would be that ruthless but I am guessing I'm wrong.

Have you all ever considered this???? Any war stories???

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Steve Hoffacker

Steve Hoffacker LLC - West Palm Beach, FL

Certified Aging In Place Specialist-Instructor

Bridgett, how very perceptive of you. Mot only is it possible, it's done all the time. Therefore, I alsways try to act as if someone were eaavesdropping on my conversation. Check the laws of your state. In Florida, you cannot be recorded without your consent, but you may have given that consent in your employment agreement.

Apr 13, 2008 06:04 AM

Brian Schulman

Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage, Lancaster PA - Lancaster, PA

Lancaster County PA RealEstate Expert 717-951-5552

Wow, Bridgett - what an interesting thought. I'm a supporter of cameras in public places - but inside a home for sale? Quite frankly, I think this would be a counter-productive thing for a seller to do. So prospects or buyers' agents have negative things to say about a home. Is that an actionable misdemeanor?

If word of such monitoring got around, I'll bet no one would want to show the house.

Apr 13, 2008 06:07 AM

Kim Harris

Sound Realty - Kirkland, WA

Designated Broker/Owner/Sound Realty

Bridgett,

Have not run into this since the early 90's. There seemed to be a time when "security" entered into every conversation concerning real estate; and taping open houses and broker's opens occurred. I would tell clients not to say a word while in or near a home they were interested in purchasing. This of course went away with other crazy schemes that tried to hear what the public or agents were really thinking. Always tell another agent the truth when asked what you or your client is thinking. Life is too short to do anything else.

Joe Virnig

RE/MAX Gold Coast REALTORS, Ventura County, California - Ventura, CA

No Ordinary Joe

I've often thought about the same thing myself. It would be great feedback for a seller to listen to. It's probably best to have any substantial conversations outside. If it's not being done now, it will eventually catch on. Anyone who's ever watched HGTV's Sell this House has had to have thought of it.

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Bridgett Raffenberg

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