Change Your Social Media Settings Now to Protect Yourself

One of the most important steps we ask our prospective clients to take is to review and adjust their social media privacy settings, especially on platforms like Facebook, to ensure that only friends can view their posts. It's crucial to be mindful of what you share online about yourself or your property, as it can have implications during real estate negotiations.

For example, when representing a buyer and negotiating an offer, we often conduct online research about the seller. Details such as a recent purchase of a high-value property, a job promotion, or a relocation announcement shared on social media can impact our negotiation strategy. Similarly, when representing a seller, we also research the buyer's online presence. Publicly shared updates expressing strong emotional attachment to a property being considered for purchase can influence our negotiation approach.

Revealing too much personal information or property-related details online can potentially provide ammunition to various individuals, including friends, acquaintances, thieves, or even stalkers. Therefore, when buying or selling a home, it's essential to set the highest possible privacy settings on social media while still allowing people to connect with you. Avoid posting specific information about your home or home search, as it can be used against you during negotiations. While it's okay to inform friends about your real estate activities, refrain from sharing specific reasons, and consider postponing posts about your new property until after the closing.

Here's a useful tip: preview your social media page as an anonymous user to assess the information that is publicly accessible and what is kept private.

Remember, online privacy is not absolute, so it's important to avoid sharing any information online that you wouldn't want the world to see.

If you need assistance with adjusting your social media privacy settings, please don't hesitate to reach out to us for support!