Napier real estate agent under fire over advertising

A Napier real estate agent has been caught up in a complaint by the New Zealand Registered Architects Board (NZRAB) over claims of misleading advertising.
Beverley O'Keefe, of Tremains Real Estate, is one of 23 agents nationwide under fire from the NZRAB, which claims real estate agents have wrongly advertised houses as being designed by architects.
The board's chief executive, Paul Jackman, said the advertising added "lustre" to the market value of the properties and he welcomed the Real Estate Agents Authority (REAA) decision to look further into the complaints.
"Too many real estate agents seem to think if a house has a few dinky features or looks unusual it's okay to claim the drawings were done by an architect," Mr Jackman said.
REAA's independent complaints assessment committee had directed the authority to investigate.
The Napier complaint arose from a Tremains listing at Westshore, which advertised a property as having an "architectural designer".
Mrs O'Keefe, the property's listing agent, confirmed she had been contacted by the board but refused to comment.
Tremains general manager Fraser Holland said there was "some confusion in the marketplace" over the differences between an architect, a draughtsman and an architectural-designer. He declined to comment further pending the outcome of the investigation.
Hawke's Bay Today understands the architect Mrs O'Keefe believed was responsible for the property's design was not registered by the board.
Mr Jackman said an architect could only be a person who was registered as such by the NZRAB.
"Real estate agents have no excuse. Their professional association ... has repeatedly warned that their advertising must be truthful."
Hastings-based Real Estate Institute of New Zealand (Reinz) district spokeswoman Elanor MacDonald said she would like to see a change in legislation.
"A quick look in the Yellow Pages will show listings for architects and then architectural designers," Mrs MacDonald said. "The use of such similar titles is confusing."
"In my opinion, this is an issue for the NZRAB to take up. Real estate agents should not be expected to clarify and/or distinguish in an area which clearly causes considerable confusion."
REAA said the investigation into the 23 agents could take up to six weeks to complete.