Written by Brett Lackey, Daily Mail Australia
Updated December 27, 2023 05:37, December 27, 2023 08:31
An advertisement for a Sydney real estate agency’s ‘team’ has raised eyebrows after female staff were not mentioned in the ad copy.
A photo shared on social media on Tuesday shows McGrath Double Bay agent James Ledgerwood and his sales representative Ben Fraser, both of whom have their names and contact details listed.
The photo, titled “James Ledgerwood Team,” also includes executive assistant Alina Setter, who is not named.
More than 114,000 people viewed the post, with many commenting in disapproval of Setter being left out while Ledgerwood was mentioned three times.
“Everyone’s name is revealed except for the woman. That’s not cool,” said one person.
“It’s great PR to show a woman without giving her name,” said another.
“Seventy per cent of real estate purchasing decisions are made by women. Promoting yourself in a way that is likely to embarrass women is not a very wise move in my opinion,” said a third. Agreed.
“There is no recognition of executive assistants…” Who will actually do the work? ” Added the fourth.
Others labeled the ad “sexist” and questioned whether Ms Setter was a “decorative” woman, used as a “decoration” to balance out the photo. .
However, as one commenter pointed out, there may be another explanation as to why contact details are not listed.
“Is the woman a licensed agent?” Otherwise, she can’t talk to buyers or sellers about real estate. Although she can perform administrative duties such as setting appointments, she is not even allowed to say how many bedrooms are on the property. ”
According to NSW Fair Trading, “anyone who wishes to work as a real estate agent in New South Wales requires a license”.
An agent license allows owners to sell, rent, and manage real estate on behalf of their customers.
An unlicensed person may not act as an agent for a prospective buyer, seller, landlord, or tenant, and may not negotiate transactions such as the sale, exchange, or lease of real estate.
It is unclear whether Setter has a real estate license.
Mr Ledgerwood, who was Real Estate Industry Queensland (REIQ) Agent of the Year in 2014, welcomed Mr Setter to the firm earlier this year.
He specializes in real estate in the Bellevue Hill, Bondi, North Bondi, Bondi Beach and Vaucluse areas and holds the record for the most expensive apartment sale in Bondi when he sold Kew Penthouse for $8.4 million in November 2022 doing.
Mr Ledgerwood and Mr Setter have been contacted for comment.