Real Estate Ethics

[doublejay]

This title might be a bit of an oxymoron, but I'd be interested in the views of other forumites.

I subscribe to a local real estate agent's weekly newsletter. Recently, they stuffed up and sent me an email with ALL of the addresses on their list. I assume the receptionist decided to get a new job and her replacement has put the addresses in the wrong field (I'm guessing she doesn't know about bcc)

Anyway, to cut a long story short, SWMBO and I have been getting the house ready to sell and I have this strong temptation to put together a website advertising our house and send the link to the list of 'pre-qualified' leads (about 550 addresses). Something tells me this is a bit unethical, but we are talking real estate.

Any thoughts?

[bitingmidge]

Technically, I reckon they could have an action against you for the commission if you sold it to one of their leads, even without an authority signed by yourself.

Besides, I am a firm believer that what goes round comes round....

Cheers,

P

[Wood Butcher]

Morally I think that it would not be a good idea.
The Real Estate collect those name under the Privacy Act and if by you contacting those people it is discovered that the Real Estate even accidently sent you that list, they will get into a lot of trouble.
Delete the list and have a clear conscience.

[doug the slug]

having dabbled in the industry quite a few years ago, i think you will find that if the agent can prove that the buyer was introduced to you and your property through something he did, even if it was as a result of an accident by one of his staff members that he could still hunt you down through the legal system for his commission. the onus would be on him to prove it though and would they be prepared to admit to such a breech of customer confidentiality to claim commission on one sale?

your callhttp://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com.au/images/icons/icon10.gifhttp://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com.au/images/icons/icon10.gifhttp://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com.au/images/icons/icon10.gif

[Bodgy]

The title of your thread is indeed oxymoronic.

Go for it, an axiom in business is that he who has the dosh occupies the high ground. Let the RE slimes prove their case.

Generally I'd be a bit more ethical, but when dealing with these people morality goes out the window.

Sorry, I've had a succession of bad experiences with RE agents. I would sooner have a dozen used car dealers, politicians, Indian tele-marketers or Oz public servants to dinner anytime.

[doug the slug]

......and send the link to the list of 'pre-qualified' leads (about 550 addresses)......

The other thing is, what makes you think its 550 'pre-qualified' leads???

this is an email-out that costs them nothing. once you get on that list try getting off it. it will have every tyre-kicker that has walked in the office and given them their email address over the last 10 year on it. they wont be qualified leads. most of them will be time-wasters anyway. and if all they have on their list is 550 idiots, i would be taking my business elsewhere anyway

[Brick Breaker]

Think about the person who my lose their form of income, ie the one who made the mistake.


Brick breaker Bad karma

[Shedhand]

I supported my better half for 12 months when she got her real estate agents licence. She worked her butt off, went anywhere at short notice worked laong, late hours and weekends. I reckon it cost me the best part of 10 grand for the year. She got out of it the end (not because I wanted her too) because she discovered she lacked one necessary attribute for that business...total lack of conscience. What she had in abundance, patience, ability to listen, and honesty was her downfall. She earned less than 4,000 for the year but she never even got that because the Agency owner did a bunk. :mad::(

If you aren't on the market yet I'd contact the idiot agent who owns the list (don't tell 'em you have it) and ask if they were will to enter into a multiple listing arrangement. You list as a private seller and with the agency. That way it doesn't matter if the buyer is on the list or not. you'll save half the bloodsucker's commision.
My two bobs worth.:mad:
Cheers
PS: I was a Member of Parliament once and I even loathed Real Eastate snakeoil salesmen.:rolleyes:

[I_wanna_Shed]

When buying our first house, we quickly came to the conclusion that one agent had no morals. He was taking us around a few houses saying "yes, this one would be handy for you cause you commute to the city, its near the railway station".

It wasn't until we got home that night that I realised "Hang on, that railway station is used ONCE A YEAR, for the steam festival!!!". Never went back to him......

[Brick Breaker]

So you lost 30k and she lost only 4k, that real estate dude sounds suss 4 sure.



Brick Breaker Get out that horse whip lol

[Iain]

How many people view houses with the view of a later after hours visit to acquire some new property????
550 suspects, police will love you for that.
RE agents do at least have some particulars on who has been in and had a look around.

[Wood Borer]

Your thinking is along the lines of an eye for eye, tooth for a tooth.

Is the person getting even any different to the person who upset them by performing the identical objectionable actions?

Would you murder a murderer, rape a rapist?

Real Estate agents do have a well earned low profile when it comes to morals however I have met one or two, maybe three who are OK.

Are you trying to punish the agent for the mistake of the secretary or are you trying to gain an unfair financial advantage for yourself?

I understand where you are coming from and why you would be upset.

Perhaps tell the Agent about it, if the response was spalmy smart *&se then give the story to the local paper and ruin his rotten business once and for all, if the response to reporting it is reasonable and apologetic, let it go - we all make mistakes.

[Wongo]

Just because they are all bastard doesn’t mean that you can take advantage of them. Do it and you will become one of them.

Wongo (who sold his own house and got a better price:cool: )

[Wood Borer]

Just because they are all bastard doesn’t mean that you can take advantage of them. Do it and you will become one of them.

Wongo (who sold his own house and got a better price:cool: )

I disagree Scott, I think approximately as high as 1% of them are OK.:p

[Groggy]

Your personal standards are not calculated against those of other people, their value is relative to you and the worth you associate with them. Drop your standards and you are probably the only one who will notice, but notice you will.

Next time will be easier, and therein lies the problem.

[rrich]

This title might be a bit of an oxymoron

My thought EXACTLY. :rolleyes:

The world around but the reputation is the same.

[AlexS]

PS: I was a Member of Parliament once and I even loathed Real Eastate snakeoil salesmen.:rolleyes:

You mean that there's something even a politician won't do?:D

[doublejay]

Thanks to one and all for your thoughts.

I don't know whether it's common sense or whether it's just the 'right' thing to do, but I'm going with my initial idea and won't be using the list. I think I might delete it to eliminate the temptation.

[Auld Bassoon]

Sorry, I've had a succession of bad experiences with RE agents. I would sooner have a dozen used car dealers, politicians, Indian tele-marketers or Oz public servants to dinner anytime.

That's going just a bit too far mate! used car dealers - maybe - especially if they specialised in nice exotica ( :D ), Pubic servants, maybe: I've known a few, and they aren't all total wastes of space. Pollies or Indian tele-marketers? The only dinner that they'd get at my place was by being it (dinner) for the local vermin....

[Auld Bassoon]

Your personal standards are not calculated against those of other people, their value is relative to you and the worth you associate with them. Drop your standards and you are probably the only one who will notice, but notice you will.

Next time will be easier, and therein lies the problem.

Quite so!

I tried to apply a greenie, but the usual prevailing winds denied it ;)

[Shedhand]

You mean that there's something even a politician won't do?:DOnly the shifty ones.:rolleyes:

[javali]

Anyway, to cut a long story short, SWMBO and I have been getting the house ready to sell and I have this strong temptation to put together a website advertising our house and send the link to the list of 'pre-qualified' leads (about 550 addresses). Something tells me this is a bit unethical, but we are talking real estate.

Any thoughts?

Ignoring the ethical issues, my understanding is that this might be considered an unsolicited commercial electronic message with an Australian link. Penalties for breaches of the spam act can be as high as $1.1million per day. I suggest speaking to a lawyer before using that list.

[doug the slug]

good point javalihttp://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com.au/images/icons/icon14.gif