AGENT SAYS JENMAN IS “LYING”

Accused of being “thrivelous”

by Neil Jenman

Bryan Reinhardt from Northside Realty in the Brisbane suburb of Albany Creek has accused me of lying. He disputes my research that “most sellers under-sell their homes”.

He began with an innocuous question on Facebook. “Just wondering how you can say most homes undersell?”

I replied: “Extensive research. In excess of 80% of sellers undersell – most never realise it. Undersold by an average amount of 8% – that’s $40,000 on a half-million-dollar home. Often much more.”

Instead of accepting my reply, Reinhardt chose to display his ignorance regarding research. He claimed I would have to analyse every sale in Australia to arrive at my figure of 80% of homes under-sold.

I told Bryan Reinhardt: “I’ve explained it many times. In my books, my articles, my talks and in detailed explanation to government authorities (following complaints from other agents).”

More nonsensical replies followed, including this statement: “Let’s face it, how many agents follow you?”

Er, Bryan, let me speak slowly for you: “I – am – not – asking – agents – to – follow me”. I am writing for consumers.

According to Roy Morgan, the highly respected research organisation, estate agents rank 28 out of 30 professions when it comes to public trust. Ninety-one per cent of consumers consider agents untrustworthy.  But, according to the logic of Bryan Reinhardt, Roy Morgan must be “lying” too because they would need to survey every person who has dealt with an agent – a near-impossibility, of course, but a point missed by Bryan Reinhardt.

Ironically, I am currently assisting a property owner in Bryan Reinhardt’s area of Albany Creek to find a good agent and get a good price for his property. Our researcher found an agent at the local LJ Hooker in Albany Creek, Wayne Cornell, who, apparently, is “a very good agent”. So no, Bryan, I do not condemn all agents.

Social media attracts “trolls” as fleas are attracted to dogs.

Soon, Reinhardt was joined by other agents, some using foul language. One potty-mouthed agent, Trent Ryan from Calio & Scott in Brighton, joined the fray. Trent Ryan wrote, “Biggest exaggeration of all time with that statistic, what a load of garbage.”

I replied: “How about a little wager? A hundred thousand dollars from me to a charity of your choice if I’m lying and a hundred thousand dollars from you if I am not lying.” Trent Ryan ignored my offer and swore in reply. Charming.

Normally I ignore these agents. But, at the time Bryan Reinhardt launched his attack on me, my 18-year-old son, Alec, was with me. I do not want my son to think of his father as a liar.

And so, I decided to confront Bryan Reinhardt. I looked at his website and saw that he repeatedly refers to himself as honest. He says he has been in real estate for 25 years and, also, for 30 years.

I sent him an email telling him I intended to write an article about his attack on me. I assured him, again, that my research was impeccable, and I did not like being called a liar in a public forum. I hinted that he may like to apologise. I also sent him a list of questions (available on request if anyone’s interested).

He replied (in full): “Neil With out (sic) prejudice. I have been doing this for going on 30yrs (sic) now Neil. I don’t need to answer you (sic) childish questions. Most certainly don’t need to justify anything (sic) you. You are more of a fool than I thought. I am not intimidated by you what so ever (sic) Neil. And your threats are thrivelous (sic) to say the least.”  

Threats? What threats, Bryan?

And, “Thrivelous”?

I couldn’t resist, so I replied as follows (in part):

“What does ‘thrivelous’ mean? As I fit your definition of ‘fool’, clearly, I am not intelligent enough to understand even the language you are using.”

For a man who infers that I don’t have much influence, I was pleased when I saw, on Facebook, he had tried to raise money for the RSPCA (a charity I admire).

For his birthday last year, Bryan Reinhardt asked his followers to donate to the RSPCA.

His aim was to raise the massive sum of $300.

Unfortunately, things didn’t work out too well.

Bryan Reinhardt only got one donation – $20.

Never mind. Maybe he can contact those 1,500 people who’ve bought a home from him over the last 25 years. Or is it 2,000 people over the last 30 years. I am confused.

Anyway, to anyone considering selling with Bryan Reinhardt at Northside Realty, I have an offer for you: Contact me first and I will send you a free copy of one of my books. I will give you information that Bryan – and some agents describe as “lies”. You can judge for yourself who is telling the truth.

Oh, and Bryan, maybe if you and your fellow agents focus on improving your service, the sellers in your area would come to you instead of me.

You mock me for being “stuck in the 90s” but a salesperson in the 90s who sold the number of homes you claim to be selling would have got one outcome – dismissed for low performance.

How times have changed.

Bryan Reinhardt – and you other agents: If you seriously think I’d be stupid enough to lie to the Australian public by making up false figures, remember this: My wager of one hundred thousand dollars donation to charity remains open.

I am sure the RSPCA would appreciate a hundred thousand dollars.

How about it, Bryan Reinhardt?

Bryan, are you there?

Bryan, where are you?

Oh dear, clearly, I am being “thrivelous”.

**********************

To comment on this article, please click here.

To contact us, please click here.

To follow Neil on Twitter, please click here.

To visit our Facebook page, please click here.

To read more Articles, please click here.

**********************

PLEASE NOTE: Our focus is upon helping consumers. Abuse from agents on our web site or Facebook page will be deleted, ignored or well publicised – it depends on our mood.

But one thing will never vary: We will never stop doing what we love most – helping polite and honest consumers get the best deal possible in real estate. And, of course, if any agents are serious about taking care of consumers, we’ll help you too. Thank you.