Beware Who Warns You Of DIY Dangers
by Tim O'Dwyer M.A., LL.BQueensland Solicitor & Consumer Advocate
watchdog@argonautlegal.com.au
My blood pressure went through the roof again a while back. Needless to say, I had spotted another disturbing article in The Courier Mail’s weekend real estate supplement, this time purportedly warning consumers about the “dangers of buying and selling real estate”. The title really summed it up: “DIY real estate can be risky business”. Oh boy!
Interestingly, there was a headshot and name of the author, Ross Thompson, but made no mention of who he was or of his qualifications.The Courier Mail’s website, by the way, seems to have no record of Mr Thompson among its editors and reporters. His article appeared on a page captioned “MarketMovements”, but with no hint that it was anything other than a genuine piece of serous reporting.
The truth came out when I accessed New Corporation’s Newstext website to download the article. It was tagged this way at the end:
“Column: Market MovementsYes, this report was actually a cunningly disguised (and paid?) advertisement. For whom it was run should become pretty clear as you read on.
Section: REAL ESTATE
Type: Advertisement”
Continue reading "Beware Who Warns You Of DIY Dangers"
Note: For further information about real estate or conveyancing issues visit Lawyers Conveyancing
3 Comments:
Yes, definitely no Christmas Cards this year for you blokes from the Real Estate Institutes.
Bonjour Mr. Dog,
Very sneaky advertising indeed as one can find thieves anywhere in the
world & beyond!!!!
Bonne journée Mr. Dog.
Saint Bernard
There are exceptions of course. I did an appraisal about 1 year ago on a development site owned by an elderly man. At the time I told him it was worth about $400000. A few months later I followed him up and learned he had sold to a developer who knocked on the door one afternoon. He volunteered the info that he signed a contract for $325,000 because the developer said he would not have to pay agent's commission. That figure was correct when I checked some time later on RP data. The old man has since moved on and the developer now has the same property on the market for $575,000. May he rot in hell.
Another little incident, my friend. I have a property settling in 10 days time and, while both parties had assured me that everything is okay, for a few reasons I became a little concerned. I rang the seller's solicitor who thanked me for calling her because she suddenly realised that she has not heard about the finance and the sellers could now terminate if they chose to. She was going to chase it up. I also rang the buyer's solicitor who indignantly told me he had told the other solcitor what was going on and that there could be a slight delay. He then realised to his horror that he had not advised the other solicitor in writing about the new situation. Since then I have had a flurry of phone calls and I think all might be well. Am I interfering in the legal process and just protecting my commission as Maddog Mericka would say? All I know is I have two grateful solicitors.
Post a Comment
Links to this post:
Create a Link
<< Home