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Jeff Dowler, CRS, The Southern California Relocation Dude (eXp Realty of California, Inc.)

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Rainmaker
5,772,575
Ron and Alexandra Seigel
Napa Consultants - Carpinteria, CA
Luxury Real Estate Branding, Marketing & Strategy

Jeff,

Doesn't California law insist that you disclose that you are videotaping, otherwise it is illegal to do so.  A few years back there was a case where someone had secretely videotaped his household, and he landed in jail for doing so.  

If they disclose, I am OK with it.  The market videotapes the comings and goings, and one of our markets has cameras in the parking lot also.  A

Feb 27, 2015 06:46 AM
Rainmaker
1,153,794
Kevin J. May
Florida Supreme Realty - Hobe Sound, FL
Serving the Treasure & Paradise Coasts of Florida

About 3/4 of the homes I show have video surveillance, which I promote. The audio is where I take the conversations outside when discussing potential offers. There are very few places where you can be assured of anonymity these days.

Feb 28, 2015 12:00 AM
Rainmaker
1,622,432
Inna Ivchenko
Barcode Properties - Encino, CA
Realtor® • GRI • HAFA • PSC Calabasas CA

No, it would not change my behavior. These days, most of the houses have some kind of cameras inside or/and outside. Yet, I might suggest my clients not to be very judgmental.....you know what I mean.

Feb 27, 2015 04:53 PM
Rainmaker
786,080
Claude Labbe
RLAH / @properties - Washington, DC
Realty for Your Busy Life

Jeff, standard protocol is to presume you are being recorded.  Better to be overprotective of your clients than not, and so, I tell them to presume cameras are on.

I just watched Citizen Four this evening, and so I'm even more paranoid than the average realtor now.

Feb 27, 2015 11:34 AM
Rainmaker
666,539
AJ Heidmann ~ CRS
McEnearney Associates, Inc. - Alexandria, VA
YOUR Alexandria & Arlington, VA Real Estate Expert

Between pin hole, nanny cam, lipstick, and just plain old hidden cameras (which are all available to the general public) it just makes sense to assume that you are being monitored in my opinion.

Feb 27, 2015 11:05 AM
Rainmaker
911,228
Jeff Pearl
RE/MAX Distinctive / LIC in VA - Lovettsville, VA
Full Service Full Time Realtor

No, but these days everyone should just assume as standard practice that they are being filmed or recorded.

Feb 27, 2015 08:58 AM
Rainmaker
5,868,472
Joan Cox
House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO
Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

Jeff, we are seeing more and more of this, and usually warn buyers ahead of any showings this could happen.   

Feb 27, 2015 08:09 AM
Rainmaker
5,772,575
Ron and Alexandra Seigel
Napa Consultants - Carpinteria, CA
Luxury Real Estate Branding, Marketing & Strategy

Jeff,

That is true, and I would caution clients not to say a word, just to go through the house, and then discuss questions with you outside..Here is another thought, if the listing agent knows that is happening, should that agent disclose it?  I think it might be a good idea to ask an attorney!  A

Feb 27, 2015 07:59 AM
Rainmaker
927,795
Ron Marshall
Marshall Enterprises - Saint Michael, MN
Birdhouse Builder Extraordinaire

Chief Cook who is a realtor knows that there could be cameras and audio recording equipment at any listing.  She advises the clients to not comment on much of anything during a showing until after they are back at the curb....and she had done this for over ten years, Jeff.

Feb 27, 2015 07:21 AM
Rainmaker
4,434,127
Gita Bantwal
RE/MAX Centre Realtors - Warwick, PA
REALTOR,ABR,CRS,SRES,GRI - Bucks County & Philadel

I have read that sellers record showings so it is always good not to discuss strategy and price in the house  just in case they have hidden cameras.

Feb 27, 2015 07:14 AM
Ambassador
5,048,883
Jeff Dowler, CRS
eXp Realty of California, Inc. - Carlsbad, CA
The Southern California Relocation Dude

Ron & Alexandra Seigel 

Yes I believe that is correct (from a non-attorney perspective) but that does not stop someone from doing it. I am pretty sure the one camer I sw was not recording as I saw the video display on the computer, but the other one? Not sure, there was a light on.

Jeff

Feb 27, 2015 06:54 AM
Ambassador
6,393,154
Bob Crane
Woodland Management Service / Woodland Real Estate, KW Diversified - Stevens Point, WI
Forestland Experts! 715-204-9671

It should be expected.

Nov 16, 2019 08:40 PM
Rainer
279,878
Dipti Thakkar
LAER Realty Partners - Andover, MA
On a team with Praful Thakkar

Sometimes I see this - just wondering why one should do that.

Jul 08, 2018 10:08 PM
Rainer
23,743
Eric Valente
Calabasas, CA
Eric

Sometimes you see cameras, but in many cases you don't. Hidden cameras are becoming more in more popular. They are connected to cell app and the owner has an access to them anytime anywhere. 

Feb 28, 2015 10:48 AM
Ambassador
5,048,883
Jeff Dowler, CRS
eXp Realty of California, Inc. - Carlsbad, CA
The Southern California Relocation Dude

I suspect that recording, or at least monitoring, is going on more and more all the time and is not obvious. As everyone points out, it pays to be cautious and not do or say something that can jeopardize our buyer clients' ability  to negotiate

Jeff

Feb 28, 2015 09:09 AM
Rainmaker
3,986,258
William Feela
WHISPERING PINES REALTY - North Branch, MN
Realtor, Whispering Pines Realty 651-674-5999 No.

I tell my clients before wwe go in that we may be taped so we should keep all comments to ourselves, unless I tell them otherwise.

Feb 28, 2015 07:30 AM
Rainmaker
4,800,082
Gabe Sanders
Real Estate of Florida specializing in Martin County Residential Homes, Condos and Land Sales - Stuart, FL
Stuart Florida Real Estate

I haven't noticed one yet, Jeff.  But when I do, I may just have some fun with it.

Feb 28, 2015 02:00 AM
Rainer
246,371
Jason Potrzeba
Home Loan Investment Bank - Warwick, RI
Senior Account Executive

During negotiations I suspect that the homeowner could have an unfair advantage if they have already seen on camera how much a potential buyer loved their home. This could put the homeowner in a position to hold their line and dig in a little more on any reductions in price...

Feb 28, 2015 12:13 AM
Rainmaker
921,504
Annette Lawrence , Palm Harbor, FL 727-420-4041
ReMax Realtec Group - Palm Harbor, FL
Making FLORIDA Real Estate EZ

Increasingly so.

Unfortunately, it is justified because agents are not managing their buyers properly and letting them disperse through the house. Then the drawers get opened.

At stop number 1 I advise buyers there very likely is monitoring equipment active in the house. I further advise they say NOTHING until we have return to the Pilot and the doors closed.

Actually, is this not the same advise you give when showing condos? There are eyes and ears monitoring everything you do. Do talk in the condo, the hallway, the elevator or the parking lot.

REAL STORY: Entered property and at door owner place a sign and dish requesting agent business card. Dropped mine in, perhaps I'll win the drawing.

Authentic house with the old crank out casement windows. To determine if windows would be water tight in a 70 MPH tropical storm, with my finger I push the window panel to check and worn mechanics. Owner called SCREAMING...."You touched my windows!!!"

I sure did.

Feb 27, 2015 10:01 PM
Rainmaker
5,104,931
Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Realtor

Oh yes, indeed. And these days I just presume there are cameras in the home right from the start so I warm my clients not to say too much inside the home and that we can do a "post mortem" in the car after we leave.

Feb 27, 2015 08:08 PM
Rainmaker
634,482
Kathleen Luiten
Resort and Second-Home Specialist - Princeville, HI
Kauai Luxury Ocean Home Sales

I've noticed monitors but it doesn't change how I show the house or the comments I  make.

Feb 27, 2015 06:20 PM
Rainmaker
4,319,419
Praful Thakkar
LAER Realty Partners - Andover, MA
Andover, MA: Andover Luxury Homes For Sale

Jeff Dowler CRS - only once! The sellers had already relocated out-of-state so it was justified, I guess.

And good news is, my buyers did buy that home.

Feb 27, 2015 01:24 PM
Rainmaker
2,443,250
Evelyn Johnston
Friends & Neighbors Real Estate - Elkhart, IN
The People You Know, Like and Trust!

Yes I have and yes it will make you stop and think.  I now warn my Clients to never give their opinions within the home.

Feb 27, 2015 01:05 PM
Rainmaker
2,224,473
Debbie Laity
Cedaredge Land Company - Cedaredge, CO
Your Real Estate Resource for Delta County, CO

I haven't noticed this, but I was told by an agent on a bank owned home that I was filmed. That was after the showing. There weren't any problems with my buyers, but she just informed me of that afterwards. 

Feb 27, 2015 12:27 PM
Rainmaker
1,683,912
Larry Johnston
Broker, Friends & Neighbors Real Estate and Elkhart County Subdivisions, LLC - Elkhart, IN
Broker,Friends & Neighbors Real Estate, Elkhart,IN

Yes we were with some clients in a home and noticed some recording equipment atop the refrigerator on a shelf.  They were in the midst of ridiculing the owners taste in decorations.  After pointing it out to them, things suddenly got real quiet.

Feb 27, 2015 11:55 AM
Rainmaker
666,539
AJ Heidmann ~ CRS
McEnearney Associates, Inc. - Alexandria, VA
YOUR Alexandria & Arlington, VA Real Estate Expert

Jeff - It is the ones that I can't see that worry me the most.  I generally will caution my clients from making any statements that may offend/tip off the seller to their interest in the property.  Since my son was born in 2008, I learned you a high end baby monitor back then could broadcast a signal 6-10 houses away in any direction, so imagine what a good system today can do.  Better to take notes inside and take in my car on the way to the next listing.

Feb 27, 2015 11:03 AM
Rainmaker
4,572,117
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

Hi Jeff -- I'm not sure if Alexandra Ron & Alexandra Seigel is correct but that was my thought as well when I read your question.   Regardless, it's best to keep comments to ourselves until we are in the car where I will record our conversation(just kidding...or not)....shades of George Orwell, right?

Feb 27, 2015 11:02 AM
Rainmaker
3,988,007
Debbie Reynolds, C21 Platinum Properties
Platinum Properties- (931)771-9070 - Clarksville, TN
The Dedicated Clarksville TN Realtor-(931)320-6730

Yes I have but I always caution my buyers to not talk about specifics in a house because there could be nanny cams or recording devices that we can't see.

Feb 27, 2015 09:51 AM
Rainmaker
443,220
Cindy Davis
SD Home Source Realty - San Diego, CA

I have never noticed this, but will be more aware now! Wow, yet another think to watch out for!

Feb 27, 2015 07:35 AM