Deceptive advertising in the Seattle and Puget Sound Real Estate Market.
So I did a Google search and used the Keywords “Sell My Home” and the
following adwords ads came up. The first one says “$2500 Sells Your House”
So, when the homeowner calls and says, “OK, I will pay $2500 to sell
my $395,000 house and I want you to pay the Buyers Agent 3% for doing
her or his job! How does that sound?”
Response. “Uh. Oh we can’t do that. We would loose money sir”
Homeowner, “The ad says $2500 sells my house. Are you telling me that
is not true?”
And once again another consumer believes, for good reason, and then
tells everyone that he knows that all realtors are liars that eat from
the same trough of sloppy greed and deception!
This form of DECEPTIVE ADVERTISING MUST STOP!
On another note. I was under the impression that it is not OK for
Realtors to use Realtor or Realtors in their web addresses. A team in
Pierce county has billboards everywhere that say
www.PuyallupRealtors..com and www.TacomaRealtors..com
So. If this type of advertising is acceptable and the use of realtor
in a domain name is OK then can I run this ad?
“$1 Sells Your Home! Just log on to www.StinkyRealtors.com We may not
shower but we are cheap”
What about MLS enforcement of rules???
Kirk
2 Responses to “Real Estate Agents Deceptive Advertising, the following and enforcement of MLS Rules”
Leave a Reply
Deceptive advertising in the Seattle and Puget Sound Real Estate Market.
So I did a Google search and used the Keywords “Sell My Home” and the
following adwords ads came up. The first one says “$2500 Sells Your House”
So, when the homeowner calls and says, “OK, I will pay $2500 to sell
my $395,000 house and I want you to pay the Buyers Agent 3% for doing
her or his job! How does that sound?”
Response. “Uh. Oh we can’t do that. We would loose money sir”
Homeowner, “The ad says $2500 sells my house. Are you telling me that
is not true?”
And once again another consumer believes, for good reason, and then
tells everyone that he knows that all realtors are liars that eat from
the same trough of sloppy greed and deception!
This form of DECEPTIVE ADVERTISING MUST STOP!
On another note. I was under the impression that it is not OK for
Realtors to use Realtor or Realtors in their web addresses. A team in
Pierce county has billboards everywhere that say
www.PuyallupRealtors..com and www.TacomaRealtors..com
So. If this type of advertising is acceptable and the use of realtor
in a domain name is OK then can I run this ad?
“$1 Sells Your Home! Just log on to www.StinkyRealtors.com We may not
shower but we are cheap”
What about MLS enforcement of rules???
Kirk
2 Responses to “Real Estate Agents Deceptive Advertising, the following and enforcement of MLS Rules”
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Sal Mercurio Says:
May 23rd, 2006 at 12:05 amAs you probably already know, Realtor is a trademark exclusive to only those Licensed Real Estate Agents who are members of the National Association of Realtors. No - a non member may not use this name. Yes a member can.
False advertising is illegal at the federal level punishable by Anti-Trust legislation. Your state can and will prosecute. You can contact the Real Estate Commissioner of your state who is appointed by the Governor. If you are right, they will take immediate action.
The internet will never eliminate the need for Realtors. On the contrary. The internet will provide proof of their service. The U.S. Realtor is the most regulated independent contractor on the planet, beginning with the State licensing requirements. FSBO’s are neither regulated, nor trained, nor care about consumer protection regulations, and could care less about anti-trust regulations or standards. That’s scary. Eliminating Realtors would bring anarchy to selling real-estate. “Buyer be ware” would be exactly what your asking for.
Commissions are not the problem. Most for sale by owners discount their homes below the cost of commissions after months of struggling to sell. Realtors are the primary buying source in the US. Eliminating the realtor takes you in the discount world. By hiring a realtor, you are creating more competition and thereby getting more value from your sale.
If you don’t believe it. Check the stats yourself from the National Association of Realtors. They are audited so they can’t lie. Are FSBO’s regulated and audited for the consumers sake?Because realtors are independent contractors, they work for their clients. The client is the boss. No other sales industry falls under this kind of regulation, licensing or requirements. Eliminate the Realtor? - Go for it.
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Chris Says:
August 24th, 2006 at 12:39 pmHi Sal,
I am sorry that no one contacted on your post. I was checking through on our blogs, and we like your comment. I think that real estate agents across the country are good people. There are always a few bad apples, and there of course the mighty powers of Associations. Sometimes these powers don’t care about their own members such as real estate agents, and only the powers that control those large associations, such as big companies. The Department of Justice is sueing the National Associations of Realtors for Anti-trust issues. I think there are issues with real estate companies, MLS systems, and NAR members not always looking out of the consumers. Any way, we love real estate agents and always more loyal to consumers. Don’t hesitate to check out our Seattle Real Estate website http://www.UrbanTango.com for the latest on our other blogs. Best wishes!
May 23rd, 2006 at 12:05 am
As you probably already know, Realtor is a trademark exclusive to only those Licensed Real Estate Agents who are members of the National Association of Realtors. No - a non member may not use this name. Yes a member can.
False advertising is illegal at the federal level punishable by Anti-Trust legislation. Your state can and will prosecute. You can contact the Real Estate Commissioner of your state who is appointed by the Governor. If you are right, they will take immediate action.
The internet will never eliminate the need for Realtors. On the contrary. The internet will provide proof of their service. The U.S. Realtor is the most regulated independent contractor on the planet, beginning with the State licensing requirements. FSBO’s are neither regulated, nor trained, nor care about consumer protection regulations, and could care less about anti-trust regulations or standards. That’s scary. Eliminating Realtors would bring anarchy to selling real-estate. “Buyer be ware” would be exactly what your asking for.
Commissions are not the problem. Most for sale by owners discount their homes below the cost of commissions after months of struggling to sell. Realtors are the primary buying source in the US. Eliminating the realtor takes you in the discount world. By hiring a realtor, you are creating more competition and thereby getting more value from your sale.
If you don’t believe it. Check the stats yourself from the National Association of Realtors. They are audited so they can’t lie. Are FSBO’s regulated and audited for the consumers sake?
Because realtors are independent contractors, they work for their clients. The client is the boss. No other sales industry falls under this kind of regulation, licensing or requirements. Eliminate the Realtor? - Go for it.
August 24th, 2006 at 12:39 pm
Hi Sal,
I am sorry that no one contacted on your post. I was checking through on our blogs, and we like your comment. I think that real estate agents across the country are good people. There are always a few bad apples, and there of course the mighty powers of Associations. Sometimes these powers don’t care about their own members such as real estate agents, and only the powers that control those large associations, such as big companies. The Department of Justice is sueing the National Associations of Realtors for Anti-trust issues. I think there are issues with real estate companies, MLS systems, and NAR members not always looking out of the consumers. Any way, we love real estate agents and always more loyal to consumers. Don’t hesitate to check out our Seattle Real Estate website http://www.UrbanTango.com for the latest on our other blogs. Best wishes!