Real Estate Bait and Switch? What's that?

I remember back in 1996 my first job in Real Estate. I had just gotten my license and I didn't know what the do next. It was a late Friday afternoon and I was so excited that I wanted to go get my first client. Yup...you got it right...that day 20 minutes after receiving my results...I was hunting down my first lead and I didn't even have a place to hang my license. Well...nothing happened that day. The following Monday I started to scour the newspaper want ads. I figured something out at that time. I wanted to be like Donald Trump. No....not the Trump we now see on TV firing everyone. The one before...when he was actually considered the king of the Real Estate developers in Manhattan. So I figured if I wanted to start out on the right foot then I needed to get a job in the city. I wanted to sell the Empire State building. What hight hopes I had. I found a company that was willing to call me back for an interview and I joined them that day.

So now I had a job and I wanted to conquer the world!The first thing they wanted me to do was meet with this agent who would be my trainer and of course he would get a percentage of the first ten deals I would make. I went around with him for a few days and spent countless amounts of money on cabs and the subway. During that time all we did was look at property. That was getting boring to me and I wanted to go hang back at the old office of 4 days. They then put me to work on the phones. They handed me this advertisement that they place on the paper and when a call would come in I would get the lead go with it. The only problem was that I had to wait my turn and when my number comes up they would give me the signal to take the call.

In the mean time I was watching.....learning and listening.

reel in the fish

I kept hearing people calling for this rental apartment I think it was a 3BR 2BTH apartment with about 2000 SQFT and they were advertising it at $1500 a month. WOW!...that sounded like a great deal that I was even interested in. The only problem was that everyone was calling for that apartment and every agent was telling the person on the other end of the phone that it was still available. I was wondering how many of these they had and thought that there would be some money to be made. I questioned my concern to one of the seasoned agents and said "what a deal how can I get in on this?" The agent said "you can't..."there is no such apartment available." I said..."what do you mean?" He said it was called bait and switch. I didn't know what he meant by that. He said that's just a way of getting people to call and then we take them out and show them something else for more money. "Oh... so we are just lying right?" He said "not really." He said they did have that apartment available at one time but that was just the way it was done there. A few days went by and I wasn't very comfortable with the situation so I picked up my coat and left.

This was a quote from part of the definition of bait and switch from Wikipidea..."Unscrupulous estate agents commonly engage in bait and switch by continuing to advertise attractive properties in their windows that they have already sold".

I understand that when we place advertisements in places that there could be a chance that someone will buy the home by the time the ad hits the newsstand but this particular situation was something that I thought was so illegal and I didn't want to be part of it.

So if you are a new agent you should really make sure you don't have that happen to you. And if you are a consumer you should ask more questions when you inquire about an ad.

Just to let you know...I ended up finding a much better place on Long Island and was very happy there until I moved to Florida.

It's a great time to buy the home that you've been looking for. Come visit the area so you can see all of the South FL Real Estate for sale. You will be glad you looked at all the opportunities available.                           

If you are interested in moving to our area ......then we strongly urge you to visit  South FL- you can view Real Estate for sale here.

If you like reading different stories about our area then please visit my blog The Real Deal tells it like it is in Real Estate

For more information please contact  Neal The Real Deal Bloom(954)608-5556 or Steven Kohn(954)605-5877  /Remax Hometown

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24 Comments on Real Estate Bait and Switch? What's that?

Nice to hear about someone with morals and ethics.  We have an obligation to the consumer; this is a service industry. 

11/08/2007 06:54 PM by Gail Gladstone (Coldwell Banker)


Good for you Neal. Some newbies will do anything for a little business....You made a great choice and I hope it paid off!

11/08/2007 07:00 PM by Casie Eaddy (RE/MAX Coastal Redwoods)


Neal-To me it's best to warn buyers about this during conversations...It's very common in your area.  Even back in my day this was happening.  Great post...

11/08/2007 07:08 PM by Midori Miller-Daytona Beach Florida Real Estate Training (CENTURY 21 Sundance Realty)


I have heard the term and definitely knew that it was being used in some markets. I don't like it and wouldn't tolerate it either. Good for you to walk away and show integrity! Integrity will definitely win you over in the client pool any day!! Impressive. Great story.

11/08/2007 07:12 PM by Gilbert Arizona Real Estate - Candace Robinson (HomeSmart )


Bait and Switch is never an option as far as I'm concerned.  Some agents even use the technique that they have an "interested" buyer for a neighborhood so they can cold call and get around the Do Not Call list.  Still to fishy for me... never gonna be part of the slime...

11/08/2007 07:13 PM by Dan Cummings - Connecticut's Running Realtor (Raveis Real Estate)


Neal,

This is Great!! I remember first hearing of Bait and Switch with Car Sales.. Of course it has moved itself into many industries.

Tom Weiss

11/08/2007 07:16 PM by Thomas Weiss (Thomas R. Weiss)


Dan I've heard "I have an interested buyer" scenario here as well.  If I cold call a FSBO I am direct with asking them the price of their home and ask them IF I find a buyer would they be willing to pay agent commission to the buyer's side.  I never tell them I have a buyer.  If I get the opportunity to speak with them in person after that then of course I would attempt to get the listing or I would be foolish but not on the phone.  And I will keep their house in mind whether I get the listing or not if I have a buyer that meets the criteria and they are willing to pay buyer's agent commission.  In fact I have one next week thats flying from MD to look at a FSBO.  Funny thing is the FSBO is now my client not for the listing but for her new home search.  She wants to list with me but her house is deeded in her name and her ex-husbands name who refuses to hop on board to list.

11/08/2007 07:28 PM by David Adams (RE/MAX One Source Realty)


Ugggh, what an example to start out with. I feel that way when agents advertise they will buy your house. Too many loop holes. and small print.

11/08/2007 07:42 PM by Missy Caulk Ann Arbor Real Estate (Keller Williams Ann Arbor, Michigan)


Gail,

Thanks for stopping by!

Cassie,

I hope so...it was over 12 yrs ago.

Midori,

I hope the listen.

Candice,

It made no sense to start my career that way. Now get back to work!:)

Dan,

Its more about the actual ad in the paper...but I know what you mean.

Tom,

Thanks Bud!...

 

 

11/08/2007 07:45 PM by Neal Bloom-Realtor ® Assoc.-CRS-Weston FL (RE/MAX Premier Associates)


Great post Neal - think of all the newbies that don't have the guts to leave and find a better place to learn! 

11/08/2007 08:06 PM by Barbara Mulcahy, ABR - Your Berkeley Heights Real Estate Source (Re/Max Classic Group)


This brings to mind that we need to REMOVE/DELETE OUR LISTINGS from Active Rain when they sell or go off the market! I know that there are some out there that have either sold or cancelled that are still on AR...

11/08/2007 09:17 PM by Kelly Sibilsky - Lake Zurich, IL RE/MAX Real Estate Agent (RE/MAX Unlimited Northwest)


One company over here continuously runs their homes already sold...they're a big company too. They are known for that and it's pretty unsavory practices....then again they're the same company that has an escrow company in the same offices and "affiliated" with X mortgage co.

11/08/2007 11:52 PM by Celeste "SALLY" Cheeseman (RA), Hawaii Real Estate & Hawaii Relocation (Century 21 Liberty Homes -Mililani, Hawaii)


I have been fortunate to not deal with companies like this in my career.  Thanks for sharing

11/09/2007 12:56 AM by Gary Miljour - Mortgage Lending for Tempe Arizona (Cherry Creek Mortgage Company)


I guess I never realized you had started out in another market, interesting story.  I am sure it goes on in many markets. 

Question, the definition: "Unscrupulous estate agents commonly engage in bait and switch by continuing to advertise attractive properties in their windows that they have already sold". 

is from who?  "estate agent"  sounds like England.  Or is the word real missing? 

 

11/09/2007 07:00 AM by Maureen McCabe - Central Ohio real estate (Real Living HER)


Kelly,

I had a few that I changed to sol or off the market..you don't want to delete them totally..or you lose the posting.

Sally,

:)

Gary,

You guys probably have a higher risk of trouble by using that type of advertising I imagine?

Scott,

this was 12 yrs ago...I think that company was sold or went under.

11/09/2007 07:01 AM by Neal Bloom-Realtor ® Assoc.-CRS-Weston FL (RE/MAX Premier Associates)


Maureen,

It was quoted from Wikipidea..the link above has the whole thing...I didn't want to copy and paste the whole thing so I just disclosed the quote. Maybe the missing word was not there by mistake when it was entered.

As far as my career in RE...I'm from NY and at the end of 1995 I started with that company..but it was short lived...I moved to another and stayed until 1999 then we moved here and I had to get relicensed and start over. All in all ...I have only worked for 4 different companies and the first one was for a few weeks so I don't really count them. Ive seen 3 different markets.

11/09/2007 07:05 AM by Neal Bloom-Realtor ® Assoc.-CRS-Weston FL (RE/MAX Premier Associates)


Good Morning Neal,
Bait and switch is deceitful and dishonest.........knowing you (I feel like I do, ok?) I am not surprised that situation did not sit well with you.  But, we learn from all experiences good and bad, right?

 

11/09/2007 08:14 AM by Cynthia Tilghman, Realtor® Onslow County NC Home Specialist (Kingsbridge Realty, Inc)


Hi Cynthia,

It was an old story that I thought was good to talk about. It happened to me when I didn't know better and consumers also should be aware of it. But they should not mistake the fact that many listings that are advertised could show up as sold when the call comes in...it is a totally different scenario...when you advertise something that really never excited more than anything...even my listings have been gone by the time the ad has come out but those were real not a fake..this was an ad that had no photo or any data other than the price size and beds and baths.

11/09/2007 09:00 AM by Neal Bloom-Realtor ® Assoc.-CRS-Weston FL (RE/MAX Premier Associates)


Thanks for the story, Neal. It still goes on, unfortunately, and there are agents that pretend they have clients to try and secure listings from FSBOs. Pretty shady stuff. Bet you're glad you took a walk out the door back then.

Jeff

11/09/2007 06:40 PM by Jeff Dowler ~ Carlsbad Real Estate (RE/MAX Associates)


Neal, these types of games are played in a lot of business, but no matter how many participate in this type of activity, it still does not make it right no matter how someone spins it.  I don't know how people can live with themselves doing this type of thing.  Greed is an ugly beast. 

11/09/2007 09:15 PM by George Souto (McCue Mortgage Co.)


George,

We have to be very careful with advertising...some might take it the wrong way...but that situation was not ethical in my mind even through I was brand new at that time.

11/10/2007 09:56 AM by Neal Bloom-Realtor ® Assoc.-CRS-Weston FL (RE/MAX Premier Associates)


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Real Estate Agent: Neal Bloom-Realtor ® Assoc.-CRS-Weston FL  (RE/MAX Premier Associates)
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