As expected, we received calls from people who are intending to sell their homes in the not-too-distant future, but what was surprising was the number of callers from outside of Victoria who called about franchise opportunities.
Non-lawyers, particularly conveyancers and real estate agents, have realised that it is possible to own a Lawyers Real Estate franchise without having to be a qualified lawyer, provided that a "legal practitioner director" is appointed as required by the Legal Profession Act.
The Lawyers Real Estate franchise model has been developed to ensure that compliance with the Legal Profession Act is an essential part of the system. The system itself ensures compliance. By combining of the requirements of LAW 9000, the Ten Objectives of Affective Management Systems (TOAMS) established by the Legal Services Commissioner and the Lawyers Real Estate Franchise Operations Manual, we have created a tight and virtually fail-proof real estate law firm model.
While our target franchisees are existing law firms, we are maintaining contact with interested non-lawyers as well.
The response to our TV exposure has confirmed a strong consumer mood for change. Suffice it to say that consumers generally are resentful of the ever-increasing cost of commission-based real estate services, the refusal of the real estate industry to share the costs saved by advances in technology, and the misconduct that has become commonplace, and almost expected of real estate agents.
Here are some of the email messages we received after one night's exposure on just one TV channel. We have not included the text messages received, as they were too numerous to retain. If your email is not among those reproduced below we apologise, but as you will appreciate, there is simply not enough space to include them all. We will, however, reply individually to each email received.
"My husband and I saw your interview on television this evening and were impressed by your innovative idea. I realise that it is early days for you, but we would be interested in obtaining more information on purchasing a franchise as and when they become available. I have listed our contact details below..."
"Hi Peter, I just watched Today Tonight and I was really impressed with your vision. I worked in Real Estate in the UK for ten years, and I never accompanied clients to view homes, they went alone and were shown around, by appointment, with the owners ...When I came to Australia I worked for Ray White in Cleveland QLD, and lasted 6 months before I was so disenchanted, I decided to quit. My argument is this.. who is the best person to sell my home.. who knows all the best features about my home... the answer is obvious.. myself. Another important difference, is that when my husband and I were house hunting in Brisbane, we would visit the Real Estate offices, and asked if we could have the address of a property, and they always refused... We would tell them that we didn't want to view a property before we saw it from the outside.. Sometimes with persistance we were given the address, and when we were told no, we just walked away...It was their loss...I live in Raby Bay Cleveland, and my home is on a canal development... and I have always said to my husband that if we ever sell this home, then I will certainly not allow the Real Estate Agents, to Auction it off, or to ask me to leave my home, while they show people around..never never never... You have the right idea, and I wish you every success, because I think you are on the right track...My husband and I are now both retired, and hope to stay in our beautiful home forever, but if we do have to sell we would certainly hope that there is someone like you that we could turn to for assistance..."
"I would like details on opening lawyers real estate in Queensland...my back ground is property..."
"Great interview there for you tonight - got home just in time to watch. Well done. Got to say that Enzo looked very poorly for want of a better word."
"Saw the show on TV and looked online for you. I see that you are only situated in Victoria but was wandering if anyone in Sydney is doing the same thing. If so can you please tell me where. I live on the Northern Beaches, Sydney"
"I very much like your concept.
Only problem is, I am not a lawyer. I do, however, hold a full Qld Real Estate Agent's licence...I look forward to your response with anticipation."
"What a concept!!!! When are you opening in Brisbane??? Saw you on the TV Friday night. Excellent. Please let me know when you come to Brisbane... "
"Congratualtions on a wonderful service. I am living proof that you do not need a real estate agent to negotiate a sale. Having sold my own home by myself, just by advertising and using the internet, and my solicitor who did the conveyancing I have always wondered why so much emphasis was put on using an agent. Since working in the industry (which I wasn't at the time of selling my own home) I have seen it all and heard it all, and wouldn't use an agent again. Love your concept and would take up a franchise if I was a lawyer unfortunately I am not, but am wondering if you have any interest from anyone in Ballarat, as I would definitely be interested in selling using your service. I intend to put the house up for sale around September, so I still have some time up my sleeve. There in lies the question would you be interested if no franchise becomes available in Ballarat.? You may ask why wouldn't I sell by myself again? I now lead a very busy lifestyle and for the money that you are charging "why would I?", when it could quite easily cost me the same to do it myself, and your sevice still enables me to be involved. Once again congratualtions on your sevice to the Australian public."
"I saw you on tv the other day & very much liked what you had to say. I will be selling the above property soon (approx $900k ) & wondered if you had a Sydney agent or an affiliation with a Sydney agent that might sell the above property with your fixed cost or even up to say double the fixed cost."
"Please Don’t give in to Real Estate Agents. These guys have played a heavy hand for far too long.
The 1992 Prices surveillance authority report No.43 is a great insight into how The Real Esatate Institute TTried every dirty trick in the pack to Eliminate all Competition.
They are just immoral."
"You may recall the days when lawyers fees were on an ad valorem scale again as a percentage of the selling price, the law societies fought long and hard to justify legal costs as a percentage of sale price until the credibility of the argument just fizzled out and the State governments stopped the practice.
Not so for real estate agents though, they seems to have managed to maintain their percentage commission hold on properties. Looks like you may be on the road to changing all of that, and certainly I would be interested in looking at you franchise proposal..."
"Any branches in Queensland / Brisbane?"
"Just saw you on today tonight. Just a note of support to say good on you. many licenced estate agents are the shonkiest people ive met. Best wishes with the business and hope you franchise it successfully across the land!!"
"I saw a segment about you on 'Today Tonight' last night. What you're doing is great! Congratulations!
I would like to know if you have any representative or offices in Sydney as I am intending to sell my unit in the near future.
I've looked up your website and you only have offices in Victoria at the moment. It was mentioned in 'Today Tonight' that you have plans of expanding nationally. Please do!"
"I saw the Today Tonight intereview the other night and was very impressed as your service is exactly what i am looking for, but then became distraught after hearing that you are only operational in Vic. Will you be entering the market place in different states and if so do you have a time frame as to when this might happen. We are curently looking to sell our home here in Bonogin Gold Coast but we are absolutely mortified at the prospect of having to pay upwards of $20000 in commissions to agents. Could you offer any suggestions or information as to what our best way of geting around this could be."
"I have just viewed the Today Tonight program on Channel 7 on which you discussed your real estate business and I was most impressed with what you are doing to revolutionise the real estate industry. I firmly believe that the real estate industry needs a huge overhaul, and you appear to be addressing this need."
"I saw your story on "Today Tonight". Congratulations on your attack on the stranglehold that unscrupulous real estate agents have had on people. I live in Sydney and we are thinking of selling our house and buying in another suburb. Is there any prospect of your firm operating up here? Thank you for going into bat for fairness."
"I watched your show segment on today tonight and wish to congratulate you for starting a new 'trend' perhaps in the industry.
I am in Geelong and sold a property about 2 years ago and it nearly made me sick paying the fees to 3 lots of estate agents to sell my place including adverts that were not even asked for.
We will probably sell our own place that we have now to downsize shortly and will need to offload some other investments. I hope for the sake of the public in general that new trends such as this will take off as it horrifies me watching estate agents driving around make huge bucks for doing next to nothing.
Please advise as to when you may be setting up this way, or someone I could possibly contact when the time arises."
"What a great idea. When are you coming to Queensland?"
"I was very excited to hear about the service you offer
I have a property in Byron that I want to sell in approx 2 years time
Is there any possibility you would be able to provide the service in that geographic location by then
The real estate agents in Byron charge nearly double the rate that sydney agents charge for the same service."
"COME TO SYDNEY, can I please deal with you they (real estate agents) are all thieves where I live, do you have someone that you can recommend in Sydney? inner west and south western suburbs."
"Just watched your story (from TodayTonight site). Brilliant. Congratulations."
"I just watched your story on Today Tonight and it is fantastic, I always thought what the difference of selling a $2 million house or $500,000 is, I don't see any difference at all, but real estate agents charge base on percentage, nonsense. Please keep going and grow, people will follow you."
"Saw you on the television tonight and want to say congratulations and thank you. I have waited for a service like yours for many years and to get away from the current REIV setup and exorbitant charges. If I had my chance to redo my career I would have chosen Real Estate Agent as it offers an easy career from what I have seen."
"I hope to be able to use your service or a franchisee soon as I have properties to sell but before then- congratulations on a great idea. I will bookmark your website for future reference."
"I just wanted to say it is great news that there are "estate agents" such as yourself. I think that the real estate companies here have taken advantage for far too long with their extortionate rates and fees."
"I saw your story on channel 7 in Brisbane and thought it was a great concept, I have an acreage property on the south side of Brisbane..."
"Just saw the Today Tonight segment – FANBLOODYTASTIC! The only thing I am not happy about is that I just sold my house and paid $20,000 for the privilege. You are welcome in Melbourne, Victoria - anytime."
"I just saw you on Today Tonight, I do feel for you as I ran exactly the same business in the UK my company was really unpopular with local agents but it worked and saved home owners a fortune."
"Im selling a property in Townsville's West End, can you help me out with this? Real-estate agents marketing+commission on my required sale price is $9,200, for this price I could fly to Townsville each weekend and conduct the open houses myself!"
"Good on you Peter for taking the stand to uncover the real estate industry and thank you for standing up for all of us we as the consumer and giving us a fair deal. Will be telling my friends about your company."
"I saw your segment on the 'Today tonight show' and am in the process of selling my home,
I am located in Surfers Paradise on the Gold Coast, Is it possible to deal through you? or do
you have someone who works in this area with the same concept you have."
"I saw your interview with Today Tonight through the week which has interested me. I have been considering studying to become a ‘Full Real Estate Agent’and agree the industry needs a make over. Can you give me some more information regarding qualifications and related costs to become an independent stand alone Lawyers Real Estate Office..."
"I watched Today Tonight last night I was very impressed with you by the way you are handling the real estate agencies.
Got to admit I take my hat off to you and wish you all the support in handling them so if I need to sell my place I will keep you in mind
sir."
"Is this service available in Qld?"
"Hi can you sell property in bathurst? If so please ring me...as I am looking to sell my property . thankyou."
"I saw you on TV tonight. I have got a couple of properties in SA that I want to sell. Do you deal all over Australia and can you help me to sell my properties. You can contact me on my mobile anytime including weekends."
"Thank you for our discussions.
I express interest in relation to further discussions relating to Franchising.
My contact details are below..."
"Peter, saw your segment on current affairs last night and was very impressed with your concept and determination. I have four properties in Sydney...that i am looking to sell all or some (just to reduce my debt load). Are you able to help or at least refer me to someone here."
"I love your concept - will you be launching in Sydney any time soon?"
"We saw your ad on Today Tonight of Friday and we are interested in selling our property through your organization. How do we go about? Our property is situation in Elanora, Qld. Do you have an office in Qld? or how can you help us to sell our property if you do not have any office in Qld."
"I saw your advert on ACA, do you sell properties in Sydney or are you just based in Victoria? Could you also please send me more information on becoming a franchise, what skills do I need for this and what is the franchise fee, etc"
"Well done on your efforts.I am so pleased
someone challenges the status quo. After all
who gives folks the authority to do things when
really their control is prohibitive and bad for
the economy and can be done another way.Good on ya!"
"We recently saw your organisation on a segment on channel 7. I’m just wondering if you can provide the same service to sell our property in WA? ... or recommend anyone in particular... it sounds fantastic..)
"
"When will you be opening an office in Sydney? We hope soon."
"I saw you on Today Tonight last night and was so delighted to see the good work you are doing for the community. Very impressive...as soon as I saw you on TV I thought this the kind of thing I want to do i.e. not to rip off people and have a good name in community. I am pretty sure after that TV interview you would have been bombarded with emails. Well I come to the conclusion that I am very much interested to be part of your team. i am residing in Sydney and should this interest you to have an agency in Sydney, please reply outlining requirements."
"It sounds like a good time to launch your plans. How exciting (and busy!). Please let me know if I can help in some way."
"We have our home for sale in Tasmania
and would like to ask if you are able to assist us with the sale of this property online?"
"I was just wondering, do you do Perth property as well? I have a 2 bedroom unit that I was considering putting on the market..."
"Dear Mr. Mericka, would you be willing to handle a property in Queensland, we feet if it was widely advertised it would be more likely to sell..."
"I was wondering if you sell properties in Mudgee NSW 2850"
"I saw advert on today tonight, I have a block of land over here in QLD on Russell Island and wanting to to put it on the market, and thought you maybe able to help me, do you have anyone over her?Or can you put me in touch with some one that has the same selling practice as you, as there is a lot of sharks out there. I am a Pensioner not a wealthy one at that.So if you could get back to me as I am egerly waiting for your reply."
"Hi, Saw you guys on TV last week and was wondering if you sell properties in NSW or is it just in VIC. We have a property located in Forster NSW and are looking at selling."
"Can some one contact me ASAP.
Do you have any offices at Sydney?"
"Hello, I found out about your company from one of the TV current affairs shows and wonder if you only work in Victoria (I am in NSW).
It sounds like a good idea and I wish you well."
"I watched the Today Tonight interview with you and I believe you are on a winning idea there. Well done. The industry needs more people like you who are prepared to challenge the norm. It is healthy. In the long run, it is the consumer who will benefit."
"I like this 'service' you are offering...very much.
I live 40 mins.South of Hobart, in an area known as Nicholls Rivulet. Is it possible for me to use your service, here in Tasmania....?? I realise that you probably have every question answered on your website,
so, I apologise if what I am asking you, is already answered there. I did look through, but, there is a LOT of info. there to absorb. I own my property outright."
"Do you have any selling agents in NSW, as I find our Real estate agents are only interested in puting the buyer first and the seller at a disadvantage in all regards, they tend to think that dropping the house sale price by say $10.000, they only lose a couple of hundred bucks in commission, you the seller loses out on the $10.000, that you then have to negotate on the purchase of your next property, in other words chasing your tail so that the agents get thier commission and dont give a stuff about the seller or buyer, greedy and un professional, I find car sales have more integeraty.
Thank you for my opportunity to vent my frustation at the NSW real estate industry."
"I am interested to learn more about the franchise opportunities for Queensland (if any). I practiced law for approximately 10 years and have had quite a diverse career since leaving law. I am currently a management consultant/corporate advisor.
Could you please let me know if there are franchises available in Brisbane."
"Hey Peter. Didn't understand the concept of your business before Channel 7 did this. Seems like you have a bunch of very happy vendors. Good on you."
by Peter Mericka B.A., LL.B
