Home surveillance is changing how buyers navigate property tours. According to a LendingTree survey of 2,000 U.S. consumers, active recording devices during home showings are becoming standard practice—and they are directly influencing buyer behavior and negotiations.

Key Findings

• Recording is widespread: 56% of recent home sellers kept active cameras or microphones on during showings. Meanwhile, 72% of recent buyers reported seeing or suspecting recording devices during tours.

• A double standard exists: While 62% of consumers say they would use recording devices if they were selling a home, 64% of buyers express concern about being watched or listened to during showings.

• Buyers change their behavior: Due to privacy concerns:

o 22% avoided discussing budget or offer strategy.
o 22% hid their excitement about a property.
o 21% held back negative feedback.

• It deters potential sales: 19% of buyers have walked out of a showing due to recording devices, 18% decided against making an offer, and 34% say active surveillance makes them less likely to submit an offer overall.

Why Sellers Use Surveillance
While most sellers activate recording devices for security—such as monitoring vacant property (61%), protecting valuables (43%), or tracking who enters (42%)—others use the footage as leverage. Some sellers report using audio and video to gauge buyer interest (18%), listen to feedback, or gain insights to use during negotiations.

Advice for Buyers
LendingTree Chief Consumer Finance Analyst Matt Schulz advises buyers to assume they are on camera the moment they step onto a property.

To protect your privacy and negotiating power:

• Focus strictly on evaluating the physical space while inside.

• Save all discussions about offer strategies, maximum budgets, and emotional impressions for when you are safely off the property and away from potential recording equipment.