A war of words has erupted in Pueblo. It all started with a Facebook page called Pueblo Houseofshame. This page reports and posts pictures of neighborhood eyesores. Buildings and houses that have been left vacant, have been burned, vandalized and / or abandoned. These are not the kind of places area residence brag about.
I contacted the administrator of the page and asked her what motivated her to establish such a webpage. She works for/ with /or around local government. While doing her job she couldn't help but notice these buildings and wonder why local government was not following up on warning notices. For instance a house that had been destroyed but not leveled has stood for 3 years without being boarded up let alone raised. Local code says the house should have been demolished wiithin 30 days.
The war of words kicked up when a picture was put up of a well known local commercial building. The building is an unusual geodesic type dome that serves as a storage facility. The current owners have requested permits to demo the building and acknowledge that the failing dome needs to be dealt with. The inherited the problem when they recently purchased the property.
The Pueblo Houseofshame on Facebook posted it's pictures of the dome and received over 40 comments about the picture and the problem, including 2 comments from me. A representative from the company involved left several comments as well. The biggest complaint seems to be that the administrator appears to be targeting both residential and commercial buildings without contacting owners first. The administrator of the HOS page claims to be following up on written warnings from the city.
One of the most interesting things the administrator of HOS told me was REALTOR's were contacting her and the HOS Facebook page. They are ‘reporting' properties close to their listings in hopes that the problem properties would be dealt with in order to get their listings sold.
My question is how ethical is it to ‘report' a problem property to Facebook?
What would you do to help sell a property and potentially raise property values?
Please leave your comments on this, I'd really like to hear your thoughts on this subject.
Berkshire Hathaway Home Services California Properties - San Diego, CA
I don't think I'd go this far. There could be some legal repercussions to doing something like this especially if you claim to be following up on warnings. Does the admin work for the city or county?
Jan 10, 2011 08:51 AM
Anonymous
Just because local code requires something be done, what real tools does the city have at it's disposal to accomplish their goal? If they condemn a property do they then own it and do they have the resources to deal with it? Does she offer solutions to these concerns or just post pictures? I understand the frustrations of the public, but I believe posting pictures of someone's property especially portraying it in a bad light, without their permission is not ethical and might even be against some laws. To do so with commercial properties certainly might get her into a legal battle. She seems to be walking a fine line for troule
Jan 10, 2011 09:04 AM
#3
Bay Vista Realty - Land O Lakes, FL
Ethics are something that ARE defined in our industry, and I cannot find any reason in the code of ETHICS that says this is unethical. However if there is a tool that could have been used, but wasn't, that seems to be where the client could complain.
Be wary of using that term because to use it without merit could be the actual violation.
As for the site, I will take a look, it might actually be a service. If the City or County has a code enforcement department, and they take photos and submit for fines, a private citizen can do the exact same thing.
Gary De Pury, SFR
Jan 10, 2011 09:38 AM
Novella Real Estate - Denver, CO
Selling Metro Denver Real Estate - 303-589-2022
Interesting how social media can be used to raise awareness both good and bad. My gut feeling would be the best course of action is to follow the rules. First work with the city to get the problem solved. That might entail calling and following up over a period of time. We all know most Cities don't have the funds available to enforce all the laws. Sometimes they need a little burr in the saddle like a phone call each week to get some action.
Posting photos of offending properties is probably not the nicest thing to do, but I don't know of any "ethical restriction" against it.
We as REALTORS do have a mission to protect private property rights, values. I would assume that following the law would be the best course of action.
I would love to hear other's take on this.
kk
Jan 10, 2011 04:32 PM
Rocky Mountain Realty - Canon City, CO
Putting The Real Into Realtor Since 2004
Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage~ Ginger Harper Real Estate Team - Southport, NC
Your Southport~Oak Island Agent~Brunswick County!
We have eyesores on our beaches..and hope that a hurricane will take them down. That has happened in the past.
Jan 11, 2011 02:09 PM
President-Tutas Towne Realty, Inc. - Kissimmee, FL
Well Dena...
To answer the question you posed via message, yeah this is part of the problem. It's starts on the web. One deed begets another deed, good or bad, and so on and so forth. I see no end in sight. And I do believe ethics have become something that is now in the eye of the beholder. Wrong? Yes. Reality? Yes.
As far as stigmitizing a house, not illegal unless you sell real estate :)
TLW...ROAR!
Jan 11, 2011 11:15 PM
Rocky Mountain Realty - Canon City, CO
Putting The Real Into Realtor Since 2004
TLW: exactly my point! This is just a conversation and not a recommendation to view the site. However, AGENTS reporting problems to this FB site seems very inappropriate to me.
Jan 12, 2011 01:22 AM
United Country Ponderosa Realty, Red Feather Lakes, Colorado - Red Feather Lakes, CO
REALTOR, Red Feather Lakes, Colorado
This seems crazy Dena. But, I agree with you, I wouldn't be sticking my neck out as a Realtor and jump into the fray. What would I do to raise property values and help sell a property, you asked? Get involved in a different way, maybe create a volunteer task force, work with a "Neighbor to Neighbor" program or Habitat for Humanity --something!
On the Denver News, people were whining about weeds in the yard of a rental home owned by Mayor Hickenlooper - for Pete's sake, it would have taken a few people, a lawn mower and a weed whacker to remove the eyesore ..BUT NO..they'd all rather whine instead.
Jan 13, 2011 02:24 AM
RE/MAX Advantage South - Hoover, AL
CDPE SRES ASP e-PRO Realtor - Homes for Sale - AL
I think Mary's idea is a good one! As for those agents.....not cool at all.
Jan 13, 2011 04:13 AM
ReThink Real Estate Group - Golden, CO
Realtor - Denver, CO ReThink real estate group
Interesting conversation, thanks Dena. Apparently this FB page works if people are paying attention and we are discussing it. Good for the public to voice their opinion, yes. This is innappropriate and NOT an avenue for realtors. I agree with Mary, there are many other positive ways to address this "problem".
Jan 13, 2011 05:24 AM
Anonymous
It seems that this conversation is much more positive and constructive than what I have seen on the FB site. It seems to me they are just trying to stir up anger and trouble without giving any real solutions or fixing the problems. I think Mary has some great positive answers and think how much good press a realtor would get for rolling up their sleeves and helping out.
Jan 14, 2011 09:13 AM
#14
Rainmaker
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