When a real estate company breaks the law in its help-wanted advertising, there’s likely to be nothing but trouble and sorrow ahead for anyone who responds to the ad.
The Craigslist ad pictured above purports to be placed on behalf of a “Top residential brokerage & leasing group — both locally & nationally with Top National Residential Brokerage & Household Name …”
The company’s name is not included in the ad. If the company is a licensed real estate firm, its failure to identify itself in the ad is a clear violation of the Illinois Real Estate License Act. If it’s unlicensed, that’s also a violation of the Act.
The ad holds out the promise of “Six Figure Earning Potential Within The First 12 Months.” The potential is always there, the actuality almost never.
Only naïve suckers and the chronically unemployable are likely to respond to this and similar ads. Most will quickly learn that they would have achieved higher earnings and greater job satisfaction by stocking shelves in a supermarket or working as a bicycle messenger.
Tell me if this sounds about right:
1) Post 1,000 ads on Craig’s List
2) Bring tenants to big managed properties where the on-site leasing agents do all the selling.
3) Play the odds because you have no idea what you are doing nor could you afford to live there. Nor did you bother to preview of learn any of the inventory prior to the tour.
4) Repeat.
That’s the job. Do you want in? Great, pay your own expenses and we’ll take none of the risk. And when you do get a lease and they building pays, it takes 4 weeks to get a check and we’ll keep 65%. OK? Sign here.