Adelaide agents say poaching clients damages the reputation of the entire real estate industry.
Real estate agents who annoy homeowners with their approaches to try and poach business are bringing the entire profession into disrepute, and should be named and shamed, say two of Adelaide's most respected agents. "[This] activity is being promoted and encouraged to agents by data suppliers, public portals and trainers. It's endemic, and the top operators are the biggest offenders," says Anthony Toop, Chairman of Toop&Toop and a veteran of the Adelaide real estate industry. "All sorts of ridiculous scripts and dialogues are being taught to allow agents to kid themselves that they are not doing what they are doing… stealing business from competitors."
The Real Estate Institute of South Australia has warned its members against the practice. Toop says that those who have been in the business for more than 20 years have a different set of standards. "Activities from poaching staff to poaching listings/landlords unfortunately has simply become the norm," he says. "As an industry we seem to have lost our way as to what the rules of engagement are. Real estate is in transition—we probably need a national forum of current industry leaders to set new rules, new norms and create a national code based on this new generation where information and new consumer demands are embraced."
"Headhunting staff, behind the sign practices and a complete lack of respect for traditional values is where the industry has reached, and it's bigger than simply threats of compliance to old outdated rules and protocols," he added. "This needs a bold approach to resolve or redefine."
Cynthia Sajkunovic from Ouwens Casserly Real Estate in Adelaide said agents who approach another agent's client to solicit business are doing a disservice to the reputation of the entire industry. "Where it happens the most is that some agents who are not institute members then treat it like an open slather, ethics are out the door and within some real estate groups in the industry, it's just a bit of a dog eat dog mentality," said Sajkunovic. "If they want to keep the professionalism of the industry to a standard that they would expect others to adhere to, well then they need to conduct themselves in a professional manner and that is the same way they treat other agents in the industry."
Sajkunovic said that if letters do go out, "there should always be a disclaimer saying that if this property is already listed with another agent, please disregard this notice, which is just a little bit of a courtesy. Going Behind the Sign is atrocious behavior, and there should be a bit of naming and shaming going on in the industry."