TREB says murderers and thieves are itching to see Toronto’s real estate listings
TREB says murderers and thieves are itching to see Toronto’s real estate listings
Having apparently never heard of a telephone book, the Toronto Real Estate Board is claiming that making homeowners’ names and numbers accessible could put them in serious peril. Currently, clients cannot gain access to detailed online listings without receiving a password from a real estate agent, a middleman role that the federal Competition Bureau believes is irrelevant and should be phased out. But give unfettered access to information, the TREB warns, and break-ins and assaults are sure to follow. Don’t believe it? Maybe a scary picture will change your mind. If you ask us, the whole debate is moot, since anyone familiar with the interwebs can easily find all the relevant information. Read the entire story [Globe and Mail] »
![](http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=https://torontolife.com/real-estate/treb-says-online-listings-dangerous/&title=TREB says murderers and thieves are itching to see Toronto’s real estate listings&picture=https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/intruder.jpg&description=[caption id="attachment_124410" align="alignright" width="320"] TREB’s vision of life with open listings (Image: TREBChannel)[/caption]
Having apparently never heard of a telephone book, the Toronto Real Estate Board is claiming that making homeowners’ names and numbers accessible could put them in serious peril. Currently, clients cannot gain access to detailed online listings without receiving a password from a real estate agent, a middleman role that the federal Competition Bureau believes is irrelevant and should be phased out. But give unfettered access to information, the TREB warns, and break-ins and assaults are sure to follow. Don’t believe it? Maybe a scary picture will change your mind. If you ask us, the whole debate is moot, since anyone familiar with the interwebs can easily find all the relevant information. Read the entire story [Globe and Mail] »){kind=link}
Plus, you know, nobody leaves 3 windows, a garage, and a front door open in the middle of the night.
I think this move by the competition bureau will really only help consumers list on the MLS and realtor.ca under a commission free flat fee “mere posting” option (majority of Toronto residents don’t even know this option exists, just google “flat fee mls”) where currently only the mere posting agent’s contact info. is published on realtor.ca and not the private sellers. This makes it difficult for direct contact with the owner… even though a private sale “mere posting” is available now after the competition bureau forced that access and CREA membership voted in favour months ago. TREB launching a whole website/campaign to keep their control under the guise of privacy… wow amazing what can money buy protectyourprivacy.ca… we have a long way to go!
rob, if you call police, or ask around, you will learn that many do leave windows or garage doors open during the night (or day), but that robberies rarely happen just because of that. Most robberies or break ins actually happen because criminals tend to target homes and owners where they know, or believe, there is something of value to be stolen.