Beware Who Warns You Of DIY Dangers
by Tim O’Dwyer M.A., LL.B Queensland Solicitor & Consumer Advocate watchdog@argonautlegal.com.au
My blood pressure went through the roof again a while back. Needless to say, I had spotted another disturbing article in The Courier Mail’s weekend real estate supplement, this time purportedly warning consumers about the “dangers of buying and selling real estate”. The title really summed it up: “DIY real estate can be risky business”. Oh boy! 
Interestingly, there was a headshot and name of the author, Ross Thompson, but made no mention of who he was or of his qualifications.
The Courier Mail’s website, by the way, seems to have no record of Mr Thompson among its editors and reporters. His article appeared on a page captioned “MarketMovements”, but with no hint that it was anything other than a genuine piece of serous reporting.
The truth came out when I accessed New Corporation’s Newstext website to download the article. It was tagged this way at the end:
“Column: Market Movements Section: REAL ESTATE Type: Advertisement”
Yes, this report was actually a cunningly disguised (and paid?) advertisement. For whom it was run should become pretty clear as you read on.
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