It has been an interesting last week in real estate with so much going on with the Federal election, interest rates and auction clearance rates to name just a few.
To add to the mix we received a complaint from the NSW Office of Fair Trading which had been lodged by a former landlord. Marquette Turner takes extreme care in everything we do and we accept the fact that we are always striving to improve and strengthen our systems and procedures to make our service the very best possible. We realize that we can sometimes be wrong however the NSW Office of Fair Trading seems intent on the concept of guilty until proven innocent.
The complaint was made after the former landlords (husband and wife) of our company completed a 2 day induction program at our Sydney Headquarters. The two clients desperately wanted to become part of Marquette Turner, working as Consultants leasing and selling property through our Melbourne Office. During the two days it became apparent that the two people would not be suited to our company and after discussing our feelings with them they decided to move the management of their property elsewhere and lodge a formal complaint regarding our mismanagement of their property (without making any complaint to us).
Their tenant was devastated when she was told that we would no longer be managing the home and she immediately wrote us a testimonial which was extremely touching (we are happy to share this testimonial with you which can be viewed by seeing the comment to this article or by selecting the attached link).
The disappointment of this is that the current system of lodging a complaint to the NSW Office of Fair Trading is resulting in people making unfounded, untruthful or vindictive claims (with no repercussions to them). It is resulting in bundles of bureaucratic red tape for agencies like Marquette Turner as we waste hours on explaining why we are not guilty of any wrongdoing.
What this also means is that time is being wasted on people who are really abusing the system at the expense of consumers who really need help. The current complaints system must be changed and those found to be fabricating stories must be held to account and prosecuted for doing so. That way the NSW Office of Fair Trading can focus on the issues that really count.
The directors of Marquette Turner have written to our local member The Honourable Clover Moore (Member for Sydney), and The Honourable Linda Burney (NSW Fair Trading Minister), requesting an audience and I will keep you posted with regards to our ongoing efforts to improve the system. Michael Marquette
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
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Gibbs Place, St Helen's Park
My husband and I had searched for a rental property to no avail. With too many renters and not enough rental properties we experienced knock back after knock back.
Then we were lucky enough to find Marquette Turner Estate Agents. Our first contact was with Michael Marquette, whom, upon sending him our rental application he promised us an answer THAT evening, not the days even week long wait we had endured at other real estate agencies but ONE afternoon!
He called us later that day and let us know we had the property!
When our tenancy began we found that dealing with both Michael Marquette and Mitchell Hartman was even easier than our simple application process. Both Michael and Mitchell were always friendly, helpful and an absolute pleasure to deal with. For the first time after being renters for over 10 years they made renting what it should be: easy!!
I have since referred all friends and family to Marquette Turner Estate Agents and know without a doubt they will give them the same fast and always friendly service they gave us.
We would like to list a few of the things Marquette Turner provided us, noting the comparison to other real estate agencies
• We were able to sign our lease at a time convenient to us AND they met us at the property as opposed to us having to travel to them!
• They assisted us with the connection of our utilities including phone/gas/electricty/Foxtel!
• Sadly we were broken into a few short weeks into our tenancy, but Michael Marquette made himself available to us in the early hours of the morning, had arranged our windows and fly screens to be replaced and all door locks replaced in just hours!
• Inspections are NOT performed in excess: many agencies take advantage of how many times they can enter your home, Marquette Turner respectfully visits for brief inspections that feel more like a friendly visit! They have realistic views on what a tenant is expected to do with the home they are tenanting, whilst clearly looking after the landlords’ interests at the same time.
• Our inspection was performed by Michael whom quoted to myself is "a time that we as tenants can point out any flaws or problems in the home that we may need/like rectified.
• Rent is payable easily with the option of just paying online through net banking - no more handling cash and travelling to an agency.
• Both Michael and Mitchell will actually contact you back when they say they are going to! Both have treated us as respected clients as opposed to other agencies that we have experienced. Marquette Turner don’t just think of you as the "people who pay the rent" but show the ability to respect and fulfill the needs of both the landlord AND the tenant!
The list could go on and on but all in all Marquette Turner Estate Agents and indeed Michael Marquette and Mitchell Hartman are two of the most genuine, the most caring people we have come across. We have felt honoured to know them and very honoured to write this testimony.
Sincerely Craig and Belinda Laws
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