Let's say you have $300,000 to spend on a condo and you don't own a car. You go to your favorite real estate website, plug in your criteria and you find this listing.
"Great!" you think to yourself, "it's just what I am looking for and since I don't need the $25k parking space I can afford it."
Problem is, this listing agent (like many other Chicago real estate agents) knows that the seller will not sell the unit unless the parking space is sold with the unit. "Bull Shit!" you say and I agree with you.
If the seller won't or can't sell a condo without the parking space then it is deceitful to list the unit without the cost of the space in the list price. Listing a condo for $299,000 with a $25k parking spot that has to be purchased is no different than listing a condo for $299,000 but demanding and extra $25k for the kitchen.
Besides, any marketing novice can tell you that "included free" sells. So is this bait and switch practice deceitful AND stupid?
I vote "deceitfully stupid."
Posted by: bcj. | June 30, 2009 at 05:33 PM
Any questions why so many people hold real estate in such low regard?
I vote deliberately duplicitous and hope agents everywhere understand that one example like this hurts the reputations of hundreds of honest, forthright and professional agents.
I'll bet that SOB listing agent is quick to condemn lenders for their digressions.
Howard Blum, Owner
The Financial News & Information Service
Novato, CA 94948
http://econonews.net
Posted by: Howard Blum | July 01, 2009 at 08:35 PM