Thread by @areacode416

Thread with frustration I'm encountering with RECO (#realestate regulating body in Ontario) being weak on enforcement, with a side of lack of effort. #lame Thread will show how actual situation has played out, but first, a bit about RECO. /1

Here's the complaint I wanted to make (funny enough, with my pet peeve of bad signs). This "COMING SOON" sign has been up in my neighbourhood since April. Below is a picture I took May 22, when it had already been up 4-6 weeks. Don't think meets anyone's def'n of "soon." /2

Here's what RECO themselves have to say about the matter. (Full link: reco.on.ca/professionals-…) /3

This property has never hit the MLS this year, so agent/owner obviously just fishing for curious potential buyers. Pick anyone of false, misleading, or deceptive and it applies to pretending you're going to hit the MLS imminently. /4

So I'm tired of looking at this guy's sign and I submit something via City of Toronto's 311 (how you report). Enforcement officer calls me back a couple of days later and said she's well familiar with the sign because it's in her territory and she often goes by. /5

But says she can't do anything because coming soon not specifically mentioned in Toronto's bylaws. That's too bad. Respect out to Mississauga who put it in its sign bylaw amendments passed this July. (Toronto does have same 30 day rule for sold sign.) /6

So I submit a complaint to RECO, who are supposed to be enforcing stuff provincially. I go through the pain in the butt of finding how to submit something, give them all the info they request, and even send in a picture. /7

I receive a reply back that "The process requires that such complaints be submitted by the Broker of Record, on an Advertising Complaint Summary Form after an attempt to resolve the matter with the other brokerage." /8

Even though this is no-brainer wrong, I've got to now drag in another person, who has to fill out some other form, and encourages you not to bother them. And you have to identify yourself. Somebody is doing something wrong but you have to out yourself to get them to stop. /9

Oh, and to add to the bureaucratic uselessness, you have to take a bunch of notes and compile correspondence to prove your broker tried with the other broker. 🙄 /10

SUMMARY: open-and-shut case of real estate agent with false advertising, but RECO puts in so many layers that nobody is going to bother reporting and NOTHING WILL BE DONE.
If RECO actually cared about bad behaviour it'd:
i) make it easy to report
ii) hand out stiff penalties
/11