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”.
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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.
March 9, 2020 @ 7:46 am
I recently purchased a property at auction. Willing to pay $30K more than what I actually paid at the auction.
The sellers were not interested in a negotiation prior to auction. A good agent would have asked me my best price.
March 9, 2020 @ 8:36 am
Good on you, Neil. Keep at it!
March 9, 2020 @ 11:20 am
Mike Wallace,
You got me a bucket load of downsize $ ten years ago. Been travelling on the sale price achieved versus our original buy price ever since.
thanks Neil & Team
March 9, 2020 @ 1:02 pm
Good for you NJ call these people out, generally speaking I always find it odd that they can represent the buyer and the seller and on occasions pull the line the market says its worth less after they have you signed up. who do they represent first? they have 3 choices the Seller The Buyer and the Agent (not referring to anyone in particular as i do not know the guys you are talking about.
March 9, 2020 @ 5:44 pm
I have been brilliantly assisted and advised by Jenmans on four sales/ purchases over recent years.
I have also read Neil’s books which opened my eyes to the unethical tactics and incompetence of so many agents.
Not only were my stress levels low but I benefited greatly financially.
Keep up the great work Neil. Your 18 year old son can be more than proud of his Dad
March 9, 2020 @ 8:35 pm
Dear Neil
Honesty and high integrity was your message
I am now retired but I first started in Real Estate. 27 years ago.in S A I did Neil Jenman Training immediately, as I did not know where to start as I was a successful Interior Designer. You walked your talk..
I loved the way we had training in each state monthly and you were always available if we had any queries. Honesty , was instilled in us. Our company had work ethics and we guaranteed our clients and iwe also had a written promise to Vendors that they could cancelled our Agency Agreement within 24 hrs if they were not happy with our service. It never happened.
The company I worked for was of highly ethical and we were very successful
I have had my own personal assistances since and they also were trained In the Jenman way and all were successful .
Thank you for caring about Vendors and your complete honesty in Real Estate
Kind Regards Raelene
March 9, 2020 @ 10:06 pm
Your son will be able to see beyond the rubbish that these agents throw at you and he will know that the morals and values you abide by are far higher than those idiots.
Keep up the exceptional work!
March 10, 2020 @ 1:40 pm
Your posts are better than the therapy I need for the traumatic real estate encounters I’ve had (I’m one of the 91% of people who find real estate agents untrustworthy!). Moving overseas so will need to sell 3 properties soon and will be contacting you to help me with this. Interestingly both agents you mentioned are in my locality. (Brisbane Northside). Thanks for shining the light at the end of the tunnel. Regards, K
March 11, 2020 @ 9:59 am
Neil has pointed out a zillion times that an upwards auction results in a price that that is slightly above the price the second highest bidder would have been prepared to pay.
Apparently 1 zillion times isn’t enough, because agents still dispute what is self evident.
The only kind of auction which would result in the highest possible price is an auction where the auctioneer calls out prices GOING DOWNWARDS and the first person to bid wins. The person who would have paid the second highest price never gets to bid. This is guaranteed to get the maximum prices from the person who would have paid the most. But we don’t have that kind of auction in Australia, so a good agent needs to do some work and negotiate.
Nothing “thrivelous” about pointing that out, whatever “thrivelous” means.
I’ve used Jenman’s services in identifying a suitable agent twice, and was happy with the private treaty negotiated process and outcome on both occasions.
March 11, 2020 @ 10:20 am
Neil, many thanks for your written articles in Which I find most entertaining especially the experience of BR and 100K wager which seems to send them packing as to the great term “ put up or shut up!!”
By the way Neil, my first name is spelt with an “ i “ for truth! and not “ Y “ for the truth! Fortunately!
Keep up the good work Neil.
Kind regards
Brian