What Buyers Shouldn’t Say During Home Showings

In Michigan, homeowners can legally record potential buyers
who tour their home. As a buyer, there are a few things you
should avoid saying if you want that house.



Want to sell your Michigan Home? Get a FREE home
value report


Want to buy a Michigan Home? Search all homes for
sale


Today I want to give some advice about what a buyer should and
shouldn’t say when touring a house here in Michigan.

I should preface this by saying that I’m not an attorney; I cannot
give you legal advice. That said, as of early October, it is
legal in Michigan for a homeowner to record buyers who tour their
homes. They can record you using video or audio tapes, so keep
that in mind when you’re walking through a house.

I’ve seen people use baby monitors to record buyers, but more
recent technology makes it easier for homeowners to record people
in their homes.

When you walk through a home you want to buy, I recommend that you
avoid making any comments that insult the house or the
decor. As you look at other homes, it may come to pass that the
property with the bad decor is the one you want to buy. When it
comes time to make an offer, you could be in a bad position if you
have offended the seller with your comments.



“

Don’t insult the house but don’t sound too excited, either.

”

 
On the other hand, you wouldn’t go into a car dealership and get
all excited about the car you want to buy, right? Being too excited
would impact the price you pay for the car. The same holds true for
a house. If you walk through the house talking about how awesome it
is and how it’s a great fit for your family, those comments will
probably impact your agent’s ability to negotiate on your
behalf.

Keep in mind that the seller is not doing anything illegal by
capturing your feedback on tape, so be careful what you say when
you’re out touring houses. If you have any other questions
about home showings or the home buying process, give me a call or
send me an email. I would be happy to help you!