Whose WATCHING us?

By
Real Estate Broker/Owner with Godzyk Real Estate Services NH License 033394

A better question than "Who is watching me" may be "Who is listening to us?" First off, in some states the seller must post if cameras or listening devices are in use. However, in some states they are not. Even worse, even if it is required, some sellers are not posting. Therefore anything you say or do when looking at a home, you should assume is being watched and or listened to.

 

Let me share  a story. I took my buyers to a new listing. The listing agent set up showings every 15 minutes through out the day. Of course the 2 showings before us were late and now there was 3 couples looking at the home Welcoming us at the front door was a RING DOORBELL.  I already had "the talk" with my buyer about cameras and listening devices.

 

Once inside we walked through the home as the other 2 couples walked about as well. A beautiful newer home, but the smell of cats wafted through the air. One of the things I noticed in the kitchen, living room and master bedroom were the RING STICK UP CAMERAS. What was alarming to me is the lights that blinked on and off. Someone is watching us....

 

As we walked through, one couple not very shy and not very quiet, willfully complained about the cat smell. How they would have to rip up every carpet and fumigate the place. They boasted "how could anyone ruin a new house with cats?" Now the other buyers and their agents went one way and we went out back to check out the yard. If it was not 5 minutes later my cell phone ringing. It was the listing agent telling me "if my buyers do not like the house, we can leave. That the seller was offended." 

 

As i put the phone on speaker, my buyers saw my face. I asked if she could repat that and my buyer heard. Well Mrs. Listing Agent, my buyers actually love the home. That maybe she should call the other showing agent as their buyers seemed not to like the cat smell and were not shy to tell everyone in ear shot. That further more, perhaps if her sellers need to watch and listen to every buyer, they should pay more attention to who is talking. 

 

Mr. Buyer seemed to laugh it off as Mrs. Buyer was beyond angry. They did love the home though. DO they make an offer? We will see. But they did comment they did not know why I had mentioned not talking about certain things inside the home. They also commented on how calm i was. They loved my response to the listing agent who has called and or texted 5 times now with an apology.

 

IN SUMMARY, having a GREAT AGENT should be on your list of things to do before Buying or Selling. As you can see your choice on who you hire matters. I am a big stickler to details and outlining each step of the buying or selling process before we start the journey.

 

IN THE END choosing me to assist you whether buying or selling gives you the assurance you will be taken care of through the inspection process.

  

I leave you with my infamous thoughts, My philosophy is simple, provide more personal and professional service to guide my clients through each step of the buying or selling process. All Agents are not created equal and every buyer or seller should take the time to hire the BEST not just the biggest. Those that hire me, find a dedication like no other.

 

To CONTACT Scott Godzyk please call 603.661.2121 or EMAIL: Sctprop@aol.com .

 

About the Author: Scott Godzyk is the Owner/Broker of the Godzyk Real Estate Services in Manchester NH. Proud to be locally owned and operated with 37 years of experience, Scott is a leading Agent for Listing and Selling Homes in this area. We are Full Time Agents ready to serve all of your Real Estate needs. Servicing Hillsborough, Rockingham, Merrimack and Belknap counties. 

 

    

 

 

 

We stand by you through every step in selling your home
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Comments (22)

Kathleen Daniels, Probate & Trust Specialist
KD Realty - 408.972.1822 - San Jose, CA
Probate Real Estate Services

FEATURED IN CRAP-TACULAR

 

Mr. Crappy Says

Smile, you are on Camera!

And We Can Hear You Too!

💩💩

💩

 

 

May 05, 2022 01:35 PM
Bill Salvatore - East Valley
Arizona Elite Properties - Chandler, AZ
Realtor - 602-999-0952 / em: golfArizona@cox.net

Thank you for sharing the information. Buyers and sellers in your area will benefit from your expertise. Wishing you continued success.  Have a wonderful day and sell a house.  bill

May 05, 2022 02:49 PM
Anna "Banana" Kruchten
HomeSmart Real Estate - Phoenix, AZ
602-380-4886

Love this one Scott and actually find it funny that some agents just seem to 'step' it without knowing they're doing so!!  And Mr Crappy agrees!  For years our clients have known that they are being watched and listened to so be careful of what they say etc.  They know we'll talk once we're 'alone' and have total privacy. 

May 05, 2022 02:59 PM
George Souto
George Souto NMLS #65149 FHA, CHFA, VA Mortgages - Middletown, CT
Your Connecticut Mortgage Expert

Scott Godzyk in this age of technology we really need to be careful, and you were.  Your Buyers were very fortunate to have you watching out for them.

May 05, 2022 04:16 PM
Scott Godzyk
Godzyk Real Estate Services - Manchester, NH
One of the Manchester NH's area Leading Agents

They sure do Grant Schneider 

May 05, 2022 04:53 PM
Scott Godzyk
Godzyk Real Estate Services - Manchester, NH
One of the Manchester NH's area Leading Agents

Very true Kathleen Daniels, Probate & Trust Specialist . Also when it comes to ads pooping up on certain sites after you mention a product or location

May 05, 2022 04:54 PM
Endre Barath, Jr.
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties - Beverly Hills, CA
Realtor - Los Angeles Home Sales 310.486.1002

Congratulations on the Feature, my take is.... I always try to put my buyers in the best light and want to give them the advantage.... like you I warn them not to speak about anything inside the house.... ultimately if they like it.... we submit an offer and I mention the negatives the other parties bitched about to the listing agent on the phone before submitting the offer and let them know that we will be fine with my buyers, Endre 

May 05, 2022 11:12 PM
Buzz Mackintosh
Mackintosh REALTORS - Frederick, MD
“Experience, reliable, leadership”

You never know who is listening or watching you these days. Best to stay mum until you know you are in a private area.

May 06, 2022 03:46 AM
Andrew Mooers | 207.532.6573
MOOERS REALTY - Houlton, ME
Northern Maine Real Estate-Aroostook County Broker

Camera watching with a blinking red light, a microphone channel opening and listening in. Plan that both are at property showings and be professional, don't be discussing your purchase strategies in the living room which seems quiet and private. Even out in the yard can "be wired for sight and sound" Scott Godzyk .

May 06, 2022 04:02 AM
Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Realtor

Hello Scott... North Carolina is a state where we have to disclose use of cameras and listening devices. I've long cautioned my buyers not to say much while inside a home (unless, of course, there's a message they really want to deliver like cat smell). We had a huge law suit in the state where a buyer found out after closing on a home that his conversations with his agent had been listened to inside the home. He said his negotiating posture had been compromised as a result. He won that law suit.

May 06, 2022 04:30 AM
Kat Palmiotti
406-270-3667, kat@thehousekat.com, Broker/REALTOR® - Kalispell, MT
Helping your Montana dreams take root

Those sellers may have cost themselves a sale. We never know who is listening and/or watching.

May 06, 2022 04:57 AM
Carla Freund
Keller Williams Preferred Realty - Raleigh, NC
Carolina Life RealEstate & Relocation 919-602-8489

Scott, I have that talk with buyers in advance too. Being a big relocation area, I commonly have buyers who are selling a home in another state or area. It is interesting because they get notifications when someone is at their home. They may listen or may not. They hear what people say for a good distance with the ring doorbell. Honestly, if you don't have thick skin, you shouldn't be listening. And, you really shouldn't be listening without people knowing.

May 06, 2022 05:14 AM
Gwen Fowler SC Lakes & Mountains 864-710-4518
Gwen Fowler Real Estate, Inc - Walhalla, SC
Gwen Fowler Real Estate, Inc.

Great job.  Looks like you are on top of things.  

May 06, 2022 05:48 AM
Beth Atalay
Cam Realty and Property Management - Clermont, FL
Cam Realty of Clermont FL

Good morning Scott Godzyk, with all the technology, we know we are being watched/listened to. It's best not to say anything positive or otherwise while previewing the home. It's in the best interest of the buyers. Congratulations on the feature! 

May 06, 2022 07:32 AM
Dorte Engel
RE/MAX Leading Edge - Bowie, MD
ABC - Annapolis, Bowie, Crofton & rest of Maryland

Dear Scott,

Maryland is a two-party consent state, so if sellers want to video and listen, they legally have to get written permission ahead of time. Might people still do it? Probably some of them. Good advice to your clients to keep mum until you are in a private location to discuss the pros and cons. It is a process, and even the "cat haters" might have thought better and made an offer anyhow. For sellers to watch and listen to the sausage-making is really not helpful to them or anyone else.

May 06, 2022 07:23 PM
Dorie Dillard Austin TX
Coldwell Banker Realty ~ 512.750.6899 - Austin, TX
NW Austin ~ Canyon Creek and Spicewood/Balcones

Good morning Scott,

You never know who is listening for sure and always wise to have that discussion with the buyers. In Texas you are suppose to disclose if their are cameras or listening devices but I always tell buyers just assume there ate! I found it interesting you would have more than one agent in the house with buyers. We have to wait for an agent and their buyers touring to come out before the next agent and buyer goes in.

May 07, 2022 07:48 AM
Gary J. Muccio, Associate Broker
Keller Williams of Central PA - Camp Hill, PA
Exceptional Customer Service!

Hey Scott! 

Congrats on  being featured. Great article and so true for all of us. Here in PA a seller cannot listen (although we'd never know if they are). And, I always remind my buyers prior to entering that we should assume we're being watched and potentially listened to as we tour the home. I suggest we talk on the street or when we're away from the property. Continued success to you! 

May 07, 2022 08:20 AM
Myrl Jeffcoat
Sacramento, CA
Greater Sacramento Realtor - Retired

Technology certainly has changed the world we navigate these days.  Some of it has the ability to protect and invade at the same time.

May 07, 2022 11:54 PM
Margaret Rome Baltimore 410-530-2400
HomeRome Realty 410-530-2400 - Pikesville, MD
Sell Your Home With Margaret Rome

Scott Godzyk  Congrats on the deserved featured post. Your response to the LA was spot on!

May 09, 2022 07:07 PM
Ed (Edward) Silva, 203-206-0754
Mapleridge Realty, CT 203-206-0754 - Waterbury, CT
Central CT Real Estate Broker Serving all equally

I caution all of my buyers before we go into a home to be quiet about what they see and wait for us to get outside to comment.  There is always someone listening or watching

May 11, 2022 02:32 PM