Author Archives for Peter Mericka

REIV Cops A Lashing From APM

September 8, 2006 5:59 am Published by Comments Off on REIV Cops A Lashing From APM APM has hit out at the REIV, the peak body for real estate agents in Victoria, over what APM describes as "unethical and misleading" behaviour on the part of the REIV.

Contamination – A Trap For The Unwary

September 5, 2006 6:07 am Published by Comments Off on Contamination – A Trap For The Unwary Contamination is a problem for vendors and purchasers alike. For vendors it may worry potential purchasers resulting in a lower sale price.

Holding Deposits – There’s No Such Thing!

September 4, 2006 6:11 am Published by Comments Off on Holding Deposits – There’s No Such Thing! If any estate agent ever tells you that you must pay some form of holding deposit in order to have your offer submitted to the vendor, ask that the demand be put in writing.

Cover Up Smells

August 31, 2006 6:16 am Published by Comments Off on Cover Up Smells What if a potential purchaser smells fresh paint during an inspection? And what if this leads a purchaser to suspect that something dodgy is going on?

Estate Agent’s Enormous Claim

August 28, 2006 6:21 am Published by Comments Off on Estate Agent’s Enormous Claim In recent times we have had cause to complain about estate agents who claim to offer services they either can't deliver, or they are not qualified to deliver.

Tame Lawyers Help Real Estate Fraudsters

August 22, 2006 6:25 am Published by Comments Off on Tame Lawyers Help Real Estate Fraudsters et me now reveal how the criminal justice laws did in a comparatively rare instance catch, convict, and stop a whole rat-pack of real estate crooks.

Sequel To “Gazumping” Posting

August 18, 2006 6:54 am Published by Comments Off on Sequel To “Gazumping” Posting Since our posting about the “Ian Reid” strategy (see our posting of 14 July, 2006), some interesting questions have emerged. In a letter to us dated 3 August, 2006, an obviously annoyed Ian Reid stated, “…The vendor’s solicitor (who has been practicing law for 50 years) is aware you misrepresent on your website that the vendor in this matter was represented by a non-lawyer conveyancer and cannot provide his client with legal advice.” Now who...


“We’ll All Be Rooned”, said Hanrahan

August 16, 2006 6:30 am Published by Comments Off on “We’ll All Be Rooned”, said Hanrahan Echos of the well-known poem about Irish-Catholic-bush-pessimist Hanrahan came out of the Australian Capital Territory 18 months ago when The Canberra Times reported eleventh-hour alarm over the likely ruinous effects of anti-gazumping real estate and conveyancing reforms.

Finders Keepers?

August 15, 2006 6:58 am Published by Comments Off on Finders Keepers? In the real world people sometimes do discover long-forgotten money or valuable objects. Often lawyers then become involved to help determine who gets to keep this 'buried treasure' because, unfortunately, the legal position is rarely so simple as 'finders keepers'

Free Valuation? Just A Foot In The Door!

August 8, 2006 7:08 am Published by Comments Off on Free Valuation? Just A Foot In The Door! Estate agents are always offering free valuations, even though they are not qualified to do so. Why are estate agents so keen to offer this free "service"?