A real estate agent thought she was being funny when she made this Facebook post – but nobody is laughing
An estate agent has come under fire after she asked people in a Facebook post how they would market a tent in a park with smiling emojis.
Tanya Ruggeri, from Mackay in north Queensland, posted a series of photos of the tent set up in a local park to her account on June 1.
‘Tell me how you would market this!! Caption this below,” she wrote, adding three laughing emojis that were later deleted after backlash.
While a handful of people weighed in on the comments, others were less than impressed with one man saying the photo was ‘not funny at all’.
“If you’re in the real estate industry, you should know how hard it is for families,” he wrote.
Tanya Ruggeri (pictured) has been a real estate agent in Mackay, Queensland for 23 years
Ms Ruggeri posted a series of photos of a tent on her Facebook page asking people how they would market it, adding several laughing emojis (the since-deleted post is pictured)
Tents have become a common sight in parks across Australia as the housing crisis and rising rents force families out of their homes and onto the streets.
Mrs. Ruggeri insisted Cairns Post that no one had lived in the tent.
The agent also hit back at the criticism on Facebook: “You abusive bully. FU’
Ms Ruggeri ‘liked’ a comment accusing the person living in the tent of not trying hard enough to find a home.
‘Sorry, but there is plenty of work and different types of accommodation. Eventually get a haircut and a real job,” the comment read.
Responding to a series of concerned comments, Ms Ruggeri said everyone has 24 hours in a day.
‘I work hard for my money. And I have never fought the government or lived for free on any government or municipal land,” she wrote.
“I choose to pay an incredible amount of taxes to help these people.”
The officer said she was drawing attention to the homelessness crisis.
‘This homeless person needs shelter, food and care! The community is aware, the more others will notice and help me help the homeless too,” she wrote.
Ms Ruggeri (pictured) said she had drawn attention to the homelessness crisis when she posted a photo of a tent and asked people how they would market it
Ms Ruggeri urged people to ‘read between the lines’ before ‘bullying’ her and said there is ‘more to this photo than meets the eye’.
She added that she builds homes for the homeless every year and pays “unbelievable” amounts of money in rates and insurance.
The original tent post has been removed, but there are still screenshots on the Mackay Noticeboard Facebook page.
Ms. Ruggeri has been a real estate agent for 23 years, according to her website.
“Tanya Ruggeri is an expert in selling residential and commercial properties at the best prices and with a quick turnaround time,” the website says.
‘Tanya’s unparalleled knowledge of the Mackay property market will make selling your home a faster and more efficient process.’
According to realestate.com.au, the agent has sold 10 properties in the last 12 months with an average house price of $510,000.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted Ms Ruggeri for comment.