Letter showing my house for sale when it is most definately not. Scroller

[matega3]

Personalised letter from a Real Estate agent introducing himself. On the bottom of page is picture of a recently sold house and then my house with a price and saying " listed" across it. I thought at first all the people in the street would have got one with their houses on it as a marketing ploy, but no they all got our house and now neighbours are asking why we are selling. Nothing about, this is what we would sell your house for, or this is how we would advertise it. It makes out that our house is for sale. Checked with friends who live in the area as well and yep they all got my house as well. I have checked on the net and its not actually listed but I am still really quite peeved about it. On Monday will talk to Real Estate Institute .

[kopenhagen5]

Usually that type of marketing ploy will list your house, only for the one you receive using changeable pics for all so that everyone can see what it would look and feel like to consider selling your own house. Similar to changing the name a bulk letter is addressed to.

It could be that the young office trainee at the RE agent made an error.

[matega3]

That is what I had initially thought, but they were all personally addressed (not just a leaflet drop) and all show only our house. No where on the leaflet does it mention anything about what they could do for us its all just introducing the agent, his qualifications and how honest he is.

[j*oono]

They took a photo of your house because it has street appeal and they're using it for advertising.  

Ring them up and ask for a percentage of new listings/sales or you'll take them to court ;\

Seriously, I wouldn't want to deal with that REA.

[matega3]

I wouldnt deal with him for anything, but its false advertising to say it is listed. What would they do if someone expressed interest in it?

[2chappies]

Matega, make a complaint to the real estate institute in your state.  I'd be peeved too. X-(

[grandmoon]

Have you checked to see if your house is listed on any of the real estate websites??

[matega3]

Grandmoon Yes I have and I cant find it  (thank goodness). According to the Real Estate Institute website, the code of conduct for Agents and Representatives 6.3

"An agent must not advertise that any real estate or business is for sale or lease or erect or display a notice of sale or leasing without written responsibility"

[cueperkins]

OP, don't mean to butt in, but the RE Institute has nothing to do with complaints about RE agents.  They don't administer the code of conduct or regulations, Fair Trading in your state does.  (Or consumer affairs depending on where you live) 

In NSW it's here:  http://www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au/Property_agents_and_managers/Rules_of_conduct/Real_estate_agents.html

You can lodge a complaint online  & They'll get the situation looked into because it's actually verging on Fraud....

'Wanna buy a block of flats in Tasmania"...kinda thing.

[jean2579]

matega. I was an agent for a long time before retirement, and I can confirm what cueperkins said. In NSW what the agent has done is completely illegal. Before a property can be advertised in ANY form at all the agent must hold a signed Authority to Sell from the Vendor and a copy of the contract prepared by either a Solicitor or Conveyancer. There are huge fines for what has been done. The only body that can fix this is the state Fair Trading definitely not the Real Estate Institute who is really only like a union organisation.