We Asked 9 Real Estate Agents What They Think of Doorbell Cameras — Here’s What They Said

Doorbell cameras may be everywhere, but what do real estate agents really think about the high-tech gadgets? I reached out to a mix of pros to find out if they love them or hate them when they see them at listings — apparently, some agents have very strong feelings about the security devices. 

Some people may see your camera and immediately wonder why you feel like you need one. “Is it a deterrent for crime or a neighbor taking your morning newspaper?” asks broker Steven Hoffman of Coldwell Banker Warburg, adding that this could cause buyers to start the home tour with unpleasant questions running through their minds.

Broker Mihal Gartenberg of Coldwell Banker Warburg says your camera might make your space feel more like a reality television show than a home, explaining that buyers may feel like they need to “be cautious about how they behave and, even more importantly, the things they say to each other about the home.” That may make it harder for them to picture themselves living there, too.

Nobody wants to start off on the wrong foot, and broker Suzanne Weinstein thinks that some homeowners run the risk of coming into an arrangement where the neighbors are already a bit put off by your presence. “Keeping in mind that doorbell cameras like Amazon Ring record private conversations, video-audio recording devices violate most proprietary leases which prohibit causing a nuisance or interfering with the quiet enjoyment (and right to privacy) of neighbors,” she says. 

Real estate agents like to ask their clients about their first impressions, something they can’t exactly do when the homeowner has eyes and ears everywhere, according to Jennifer Baptista, a Massachusetts real estate agent. “It makes it difficult because I like to get my client’s perspective while in the exact moment,” she says, adding she often likes to ask about their “first impressions” as they’re walking up to the front door. 

The main reason Heather Malone, who works with Coach Realtors on Long Island, doesn’t mind seeing them at listings is because they can make people feel a bit more comfortable about opening their homes up to strangers. “At times, a home may be showing when it is vacant, and it is always good to keep an eye on your asset when you’re not there,” she says.

“There are also times when an agent and seller agree to keep a lockbox on the property. When this happens, and the listing agent or the seller is not home to show the house, it is good to see if there were any issues when the seller arrives back home, and what agents were in and out of the property during that time.” 

While some real estate agents may have negative feelings about certain aspects of doorbell cameras, Mike Robinson with Century 21 AllPoints Realty in Connecticut says they make a good parting present. “I give them as closing gifts since I deal with a lot of out of state buyers,” he says. “I am big on personal safety and security and figure if someone is new to a neighborhood, the best way to give them some peace of mind is the ability to watch their front door 24/7, no matter where they might be.”

We can all admit that these days we spend a whole lot more time clicking “add to cart” than we do cruising the aisles at the store, which is why evading porch pirates is top of mind for many people. “In addition to safety concerns inside the home, doorbell cameras also help cut down on package theft not only at your house, but across the neighborhood,” says Jaime Jones and Julie Mariani Cassel of J+J Team Homes. “Porch pirates stole from 49 million Americans over the past year. It’s estimated $2.4 billion worth of goods were taken from porches across the United States last year.”

The popularity and availability of doorbell cameras have made them pretty ubiquitous, according to Broker Kimberly Jay of Compass. “It’s common practice for single-family homes, townhouses, or non-doorman buildings to have doorbell cameras. Anyone can purchase one from a big box retailer for under $100,” she says adding that they can make buyers think the sellers are smart or tech-savvy.