Sylvian Fleuriau. Former salesman who searched the sellers' home.

by Neil Jenman.

December 15th 2008

Back in October this year, Dave and Tanya decided to sell their home in the Queensland town of Gympie. They chose a real estate agency called Go Gecko. The sales representative was a bloke called Sylvian Fleuriau.

The Go Gecko company has about twenty offices in Queensland, all of which are franchised (which means that what happens at one office does not necessarily happen at another office).

The Go Gecko catch-cry is a maximum commission of \$5,950. "Go Gecko is one of the fastest growing real estate businesses in Australia," says the Go Gecko pitch which also promises clients "world class systems and training."

But Dave and Tanya are now wondering if Go Gecko gave its world class system to Sylvian Fleuriau.

From the very beginning there was something about this salesman that, well, just didn't feel right. "My instincts told me to be careful," said Dave.

Shortly after they signed the paperwork to sell their home, Dave and Tanya got a letter from the local Go Gecko boss, John Westerlo, assuring them that they had made the right decision by choosing his agency.

"All our staff are chosen for their outstanding personal skills, dedication and ethics," wrote Westerlo. "You can be assured you are in good hands."

So, there you go. An ethical agency with a world class system; and, plus, the agency is a member of the Real Estate Institute of Queensland. More assurances of ethical conduct.

Dave put aside his instincts about Sylvian Fleuriau. The selling process began. The home was scheduled to be 'open for inspection' on Saturday October 25.

Now, as all agents know (but few admit it, especially in public), one of the major concerns with having properties 'open for inspection' is security.

The last thing any home-owners want is undesirable types coming into their home. A couple of days before the 'open for inspection', Dave and Tanya received another letter from Go Gecko saying the 'open for inspection' was expected to attract "strong interest". That's right, crowds of people were coming to see their home.

But, don't worry. "Our office will go to extra lengths to safeguard your security on the day," said the Go Gecko letter. "We will take contact names and numbers of everyone attending and watch over the property as if it were my own."

Well, that's pretty impressive safety assurances.

Still, just to be extra safe, Dave and Tanya were advised to "put away any valuables". Not that there were any concerns, but, well, just in case. "I haven't had any problems in the past but better safe than sorry," said the letter.

Saturday came. Sylvian Fleuriau turned up for the 'open for inspection'.

Dave and Tanya were getting ready to leave. But Dave still felt uneasy about this agent. And so, just as they were walking out the door, Dave (who works in the security industry) activated hidden security cameras.

Sylvian Fleuriau, left all alone in Dave and Tanya's home, was unaware that he was being video recorded.

Guess who's watching, Sylvian?

When Dave came home, he checked the video footage. And there, on tape, was Sylvian Fleuriau with his so-called "outstanding personal skills, dedication and ethics" doing an outstandingly dedicated job of rummaging through Dave and Tanya's house. Cupboards, drawers, shelves, boxes. All being opened and searched, one by one. Fleuriau went from room-to-room like a cop executing a search warrant. When he finished in the house, he started in the garage. All caught on video.

Understandably, Dave and Tanya were horrified. They called the boss, John Westerlo, who subsequently sacked his supposedly highly trained salesperson.

Last week, this writer called Sylvian Fleuriau to ask what no one had asked so far. "What were you looking for?"

"Why do you ask?" said Fleuriau. "Well, I watched the DVD of you going through the home and each time you opened and closed a drawer you seemed to be talking to yourself. As if you were swearing because you couldn't find something. So, what were you looking for?"

"Stick magazines."

"What?"

"Stick magazines, you know, porno magazines," said Fleuriau.

No, I don't know.

He then went on to explain that the 'open for inspection' was very quiet (those big crowds obviously didn't show up) and he was just doing what lots of men do when they are on their own, namely, read porno magazines. Fleuriau seemed to think his behaviour was perfectly normal. Indeed, he suggested it was dishonest of Dave to film him without his knowledge.

"He set me up," said Fleuriau. "And now he's been telling everyone about me. It'll be hard for me to work in real estate now. I love working in real estate." Dave has indeed been telling people about Fleuriau. He has told the police but they say they can't do anything. After all, Fleuriau was an invited guest.

He has told the Office of Fair Trading; but, according to Dave "they don't appear very interested". Now, as Christmas approaches Dave and Tanya's home remains unsold. The market's quiet and there's not much interest.

Except from the agent. Even though Fleuriau doesn't work there anymore it doesn't mean Dave and Tanya mustn't cough up for the advertising money.

A few days ago, Dave was threatened with legal action unless he paid up. In exasperation he rang the Go Gecko head office. And now, the agency is going to waive its advertising costs.

So, after two months, Dave and Tanya have had a real estate salesman search their home, they have received a bill for $1,416 for advertising, had no buyers interested; but, the boss agent has agreed to charge them nothing. They won't have to suffer what lots of sellers suffer these days - paying lots of money for advertising and getting no result.

Now, that's what you'd have to call a world class real estate system.

Go Gecko.