Detail in agency’s ‘For sale’ sign that’s infuriating Aussie home-buyers across the country: ‘Tone deaf’
Dozens of irate Australians have expressed their anger after spotting a ‘tone deaf’ phrase on a Melbourne agency’s ‘For Sale’ sign.
Rose, a local resident, was stopped by the sign outside a house in Brunswick West, Victoria, which read: ‘Why pay rent when you can buy your new house, move in and make it your own?’.
The question left a sour taste in her mouth, considering the current housing crisis and rising cost of living sweeping the country.
“Hey everyone, have you thought about not being a renter??” Rose captioned the image on social media, before others joined her in taking the “ignorant” tone.
“Wait, it’s that simple??” wrote one. “Oh my god, I NEVER thought about this.”
Dozens of irate Australians have expressed their anger after spotting a ‘tone deaf’ phrase on a Melbourne agency’s ‘For Sale’ sign
“Why pay rent, just buy this and let others pay rent for it,” another added.
“Have you tried just not renting?” Stop being stupid and poor, buy a house!’
Another described the sign as ‘absolutely ridiculous’ and said they were surprised that the company ‘thinks’ [renting vs buying] is a choice’.
“No, I have not considered not paying rent because I need somewhere to live while trying to save for the purchase of a home, while at the same time mitigating the ever-increasing decline in rent,” they wrote.
“Unfortunately, investors only think that these are total business opportunities and a way to exploit the ‘have-nots’ as they try to bridge the gap to become a ‘have’ despite ever-increasing greed. But thanks for asking!’
Darren Barr, director of Grantham Real Estate, was surprised by the response and has never had a complaint before.
He told FEMAIL that such an ad encouraging Aussies to buy has been around for years – and that the company “never intended to offend anyone”.
“The majority of our customers are young first home buyers – there is a lot in the area,” he said.
‘I think people are realizing that at the moment it is better to buy and pay at the bank than to rent.
‘The ad on the board was just to get people to think differently and consider a purchase, but I would put a sticker over it if it bothers people.’
Mr Barr added that he has seen an influx of investment properties for sale over the past 12 to 18 months as owners and investors are ‘forced to sell’.
“The government is also making it harder for investors to keep their properties, but people are not focusing on that,” he said.