Touring a home for sale? The sellers may be listening in

SALT LAKE CITY — Fans would say the highlight of every episode of HGTV's popular series, "House Hunters," is the reaction of would-be buyers as they tour a potential purchase, often a mixture of delight and disgust.

Sellers aren't part of the show, but in real life, most would be eavesdropping.

More than half of U.S. home sellers (56%) said they had recording devices turned on during their recent listing, while even more buyers (72%) suspect they're being monitored, a recent survey from LendingTree found.

Nearly two-thirds of Americans, 62%, said they'd likely keep cameras, microphones or recording devices active while showing their homes. At the same time, 64% or recent buyers said they were concerned about sellers spying on them during home tours.

The top reasons sellers gave in the survey for using their tech related to protecting the premises. But around one in five admitted they wanted to hear what buyers were saying about their home.

Lending Tree, a North Carolina-based online loan marketplace, said its commissioned survey involved 2,000 U.S. consumers, ages 18 to 80, and was conducted online June 2-11.

What results from sellers eavesdropping during home tours

Apparently, buyers should always assume they're being recorded.

"From the moment you arrive to the house, consider yourself in a reality show," Greg Field, a Tempe, Arizona, real estate agent specializing in solar homes, told Realtor.com, describing recording inside a private home as a common practice.

He recounted seeing a deal fall through after a homeowner took what was overheard personally.

"There was an active smart hub in the countertop. The buyers came, insulted the interior paint job, said nasty things about the seller, and openly boasted how low their offer will be," Field said. "And they said this in front of the person who was watching it on their cell phone live."

When the buyers made an offer two days later, he said, it was rejected immediately.

Buyers, too, can be turned off by surveillance, the survey found. More than a third of buyers said concerns over cameras or other recordings caused them to leave a showing or open house, or decide not to make an offer on a home.

Do buyers need to be alerted about listening devices?

In an April post about what real estate agents need to know about smart technology, the National Association of Realtors advised a "straightforward approach." This includes letting buyers know smart devices are present and telling them to be careful about their conversations.

"Disclosure requirements related to recording devices vary by state and local law, particularly when audio recording is involved," the post stated. "Rather than attempting to interpret legal thresholds, agents should focus on clear communication and reasonable expectations."

Deanna Devey, director of communications for the Utah Association of Realtors, offered similar advice.

"While the Utah Association of Realtors doesn't have a specific policy regarding listening devices, sellers should be mindful of buyers' expectations of privacy, with the best practice being to notify buyers ahead of time if recording is taking place," she said.

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