Am I being watched? Surveillance cameras and real estate.
This may seem like a creepy topic but it is the world we live in today. Inside the real estate industry, security cameras are a highly debated topic. They will only continue to cause more controversy as they become more common. As a buyer of real estate, I believe you have two real liabilities or areas of concern that you should be aware of as it relates to cameras.
Making less than flattering comments. Sellers can become very emotionally attached to their homes and belongings. While at the time it may seem appropriate to make fun of the nautical motif located in the suburbs, it could come back to haunt you. If you’ve followed many shows on HGTV, hidden cameras are often used to have sellers rethink decoration, design and pricing strategies. This makes for great TV but it’s a terrible idea in the real world. Sellers are real people who can become hurt, embarrassment and even angry. These negative emotions could hurt your chances of getting the home you want, even if you don’t want the captain’s wheel hanging on the wall.
Undermining your negotiations. On the opposite end of the spectrum, you don’t want to reveal too much if you fall in love with a house. If your real estate agent is a great negotiator, the seller receiving your offer never knows exactly how badly you may want the house or what you are willing to pay. Negotiation is both an art and a skill and your chances of working out a great deal can be greatly diminished if the seller knows they own the house of your dreams.
So where does this leave us? The answer is really quite simple. Always act as though the seller is walking around the property with you. Remember that cameras can pick up recordings inside as well as outside the home. Don’t discuss or review the property until after you have left. When you find “the house”, you won’t have to worry about what video surveillance may or may not have captured.
As a random added bonus and because this song has been stuck in my head the entire time I’ve been writing this article, I thought I would share it. Micheal Jackson – Somebody’s watching me.
