What about the Smart Home Devices When a Long Beach Home is on the Market?

Keypad being set for smart device

The outside cameras and doorbell cameras are familiar to many people. But what about the interior of a home? Videos on during showings have been a showing occurrence for a number of years, but be aware of capturing sound without consent in California, which has certain restrictions about this. 

Smart devices generate and store data. So agents and buyers and other visitors to a home on the market should be aware that technology may impact privacy, and that conversations about a listing inside a property may not be confidential. While sellers are advised to give notice about video recording at the entrance to home visitors,  agents are not responsible for the installation of such technology, so parties should be aware of holding conversations about negotiations or other remarks while they are in the property.  Agents and buyers should actually assume that surveillance devices could be present when visiting a property, and act accordingly.  So do not discuss offer strategy, inspection findings, or other opinions about the property while you are in it.  It's easy to forget this, but even casual remarks may have an impact on the seller's impression of a prospective buyer and how a subsequent offer can be viewed.

A homeowner may not even be aware of the device's capacity, as privacy policies and  terms of setup can be lengthy, and then not reviewed after installation.  A buyer and agent should not take for granted the privacy of conversations while in a property.

Especially in new homes, connected technology is less of a "feature" and more part of the infrastructure.  So being more aware of how smart devices function can lessen any surprises after a showing. 

For more information about your home's value in this market, I can help with local market information in Long Beach and surrounding area. 

Julia Huntsman, REALTOR, Broker | http://www.abodes.realestate | 562-896-2609 | California Lic. #01188996