Picture this: you pull up to a house you have been eyeing online, step out of the car, and whisper to your spouse that the front yard is a mess. Real estate agent @michelleenciso4 says that comment might already be on tape, and it is the first thing she tells every buyer she works with.
Her message is simple and a little startling. When you tour a home, assume you are being watched and listened to, and assume it starts before you ever reach the front door.
@michelleenciso4
Before you even get out of the car
She opens with a line that will sound familiar to anyone who has ever had advice they did not ask for: you did not ask, but she is going to tell you anyway. These are the things she says to every buyer before they walk through the door, and, as she puts it, not just before the door but before they get out of the car.
Her first rule is to always assume you are being recorded, both visually and with sound. Most people already know that plenty of homes have a doorbell camera. She says more and more homeowners also have outside security or surveillance cameras, and some have cameras inside the house too.
The catch is that you will almost never see them. By her estimate, nine times out of ten you will not notice a camera is there, but the device may be watching which rooms you walk into and listening to what you say.
Why it matters if you are caught on tape
She gives two reasons to be careful. The first is about manners and professionalism. If you are talking trash about the house, it makes you look bad, and it makes your agent look bad too. Nobody wants a seller to hear that their kitchen is ugly or their paint choices are tragic.
The second reason is more strategic, and it cuts the other way. If you end up loving the property, you do not want the seller to hear that either. When you gush about how much you adore the house, a seller who is listening learns that you are emotionally invested. In her words, that puts you at a disadvantage, because they now know the negotiation is leaning in their favor. If they hear that this is the one and it is your dream home, you have just shown your hand before you have made an offer.
What she tells buyers to do instead
Her advice is to stick to factual statements and keep comments to a minimum. Do not chat about your feelings, your budget or your plans inside the house, and do not do it directly outside the property, either. Save it for the car.
If you are standing out in the street, she says, you probably have a good chance of talking privately. Otherwise, talk on the phone later or wait and talk at the next property. The caption on her post sums it up with a laugh: save the negotiating strategy, the opinions and the “I love this house” comments for the car, because the walls may have ears.
A closer look at home cameras and the law
It helps to understand why this advice has become so common. Video doorbells and indoor cameras are now cheap and easy to install, and many sellers use them to keep an eye on a house that is listed for sale, especially if they have moved out or if pets and valuables are still inside. Some systems record sound as well as video, and some stream to a phone, so a seller can hear a showing in real time.
The rules about recording conversations differ from state to state. In some places a person generally needs the consent of everyone involved to record a conversation, while in others it is enough that one person agrees. Cameras on the outside of a home that capture the front walk are treated differently from a hidden microphone in a living room. If you are curious or concerned, your agent or a local attorney can explain what applies where you live. Many listing agents also post a notice or ask sellers to disclose cameras, but you should not count on seeing a sign.
Practical habits for showing day
Here are a few simple habits that follow from her advice. Keep your tone neutral. A calm “thank you for letting us see it” costs nothing. If you spot a problem, such as a stain on the ceiling, make a note on your phone or take a photo with permission, and discuss it with your agent afterward.
Decide ahead of time what you will talk about and when. Agree with your partner that the real conversation happens in the car, or over coffee afterward, and not in the kitchen. Be careful about phone calls on the front steps, because voices carry and a doorbell microphone can be surprisingly good.
Be respectful of the home, too. Treat it the way you would want a stranger to treat yours. Do not open private drawers or medicine cabinets, take your shoes off if asked, and never assume nobody is home just because the lights are off.
The bottom line
Buying a home is one of the biggest negotiations most families ever take on, and information is power on both sides of the table. Her warning is a reminder that the negotiation can begin the moment you step onto the driveway. Stay polite, stay quiet and keep your excitement, or your doubts, to yourself until you are safely back in the car with the doors closed.
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