by Tim O’Dwyer M.A., LL.B Solicitor Consumer Advocate From time to time some consumer advocates suggest to successful auction bidders, who might have a sudden change of mind, that they should refuse to sign anything and walk away. This is dangerous advice because in most parts of Australia auctioneers may lawfully sign a sale contract on behalf of a reluctant buyer (and hesitant vendor). (See “Winning Auction Bidders Beware“). Even if no signed post-auction contract, a...
Continue Reading »
When Queensland lawyer Tim O’Dwyer read at home the first report below in The Courier Mail about neighbours annoyed by a Gold Coast property owner’s “solar farm”, he wondered how long it would take for there to be television interest in this novel neighbourhood dispute. Tim has participated over the years in more than a few TV current affairs stories about neighbours upset over fences, trees, rubbish piles, dogs, parked cars and even surveilance cameras....
Continue Reading »
OPINION by Tim O’Dwyer M.A., LL.B Solicitor Consumer Advocate watchdog@argonautlegal.com.au What do you do when a property you have contracted to sell is damaged (by flood, fire or whatever) before settlement? What do you do if you are the buyer of that property? These critical questions arose for more than a few sellers and buyers across Queensland during the State’s extensive flooding of December 2010 and January 2011. A year later, with Queenslanders currently remembering...
Continue Reading »
OPINION by Tim O’Dwyer M.A., LL.B Solicitor Consumer Advocate watchdog@argonautlegal.com.au Real estate agents are rarely prosecuted or sued. Sure, we regularly hear about misbehaviour in the real estate industry and occasionally a real estate agent appears in court, but this is a rarity compared to the level of misbehaviour and misconduct encountered by consumers on a day to day basis. The reason for the low rate of court actions against real estate agents is the...
Continue Reading »
OPINION by Peter Mericka B.A., LL.B Real Estate Lawyer Qualified Practising Conveyancer Victoria Director Lawyers Real Estate Pty Ltd Readers may or may not be aware that Google has announced a new social networking facility that will compete wit Facebook, but is entirely different. Google+ in a nutshell Google+ has similar functions to Facebook, such as sending messages to friends, sharing links, chatting, and sharing pictures, but the big difference is that with Google+, you...
Continue Reading »
OPINIONby Peter Mericka B.A., LL.BReal Estate Consumer AdvocateReal Estate LawyerQualified Practising Conveyancer VictoriaDirector Lawyers Real Estate Pty Ltd I would like to hear from lawyers who would be interested in selling real estate in competition with real estate agents. This is a service offered by lawyers in a number of other countries, and it is time to develop the concept here in Australia.
Continue Reading »
OPINIONby Peter Mericka B.A., LL.BReal Estate Consumer AdvocateReal Estate LawyerQualified Practising Conveyancer VictoriaDirector Lawyers Real Estate Pty Ltd Rabies is a terrible affliction. It can can quickly turn a friendly family pet into a belligerent biting beast. Commission rage can have a similar affect on real estate agents, changing them from ordinary salespeople into cruel and manipulative bullies. Like rabies, commission rage cannot be treated. However, early detection means that a consumer can take precautions...
Continue Reading »
by George Rousos Director Industry Training Consultants george@itc.nsw.edu.au Franois-Marie Arouet, better known by the pen name Voltaire, was a French writer and philosopher famous for his wit and for his advocacy of civil liberties, including freedom of religion and free trade. One of Voltaire’s famous sayings was, and I quote: “We must distinguish between speaking to deceive and being silent to be reserved.” “We must distinguish between speaking to deceive and being silent...
Continue Reading »
OPINIONby Tim O’Dwyer M.A., LL.BSolicitorConsumer Advocate watchdog@argonautlegal.com.au The saleslady told her first lie when Nurse Betty, as I’ll call her, noticed that the newly renovated highset house she liked adjoined a park and creek. “Any flooding here?” she asked. “Not a problem,” replied the saleslady. Most of us believe that nurses are very trustworthy – as surveys regularly show. I first really trusted and appreciated nurses during the big cleanup after Queensland’s 1974 Australia Day...
Continue Reading »
Lawyers Real Estate is a law firm that sells real estate for its clients without involving any real estate agents. To make the selling and buying of real estate quick, simple and transparent, the SLOD! real estate bidding facility has been established. In this series of postings we will be examining SLOD! in detail, explaining how it works why it is the best and fairest way to negotiate real estate transactions, and how to use...
Continue Reading »
