It seems as though each year the number of unsolicited phone calls to our cell phones is on the rise. Unfortunately, the extremely low inventory of homes for sales is contributing to the volume of these calls being made to homeowners by real estate agents and investors. Although U.S. and state do-not-call lists exists, they are often ignored. According to The Florida Department of Agriculture, complaints for these types of calls are up 41% this year alone. In the first half of this year, 365 complaints related to unsolicited real estate communications have been received. In addition to this resulting in a 41% increase over the same time last year, this figure is also up 46% from 2019.
Beware of scams
As with any unsolicited phone calls, you should always be cautious particularly with any private or personal information being requested. Although real estate scams via phone calls are rare, it is important to remember that you do not always know the intentions of the caller. For example, if a prospective buyer truly is inquiring to purchase your home, they should not need to know your age or how long you have lived in the house. It is important to remember that the caller may simply be attempting to gain additional information about you and your house in order determine the best time to break-into the home, rob, or even harm you. As with any unsolicited communications, it is always best to be extremely cautious.
Summary
The Florida Department of Agriculture handles the state’s Do Not Call list and is urging all Floridians to report all violations. Consumers who wish to report unsolicited communications or sign up for the Do Not Call registry can visit FloridaConsumerHelp.com or call 1-800-435-7352 for English or 1-800-352-9832 for Spanish. It is important that these calls are reported since some may certainly have malicious intent.
Are you looking to buy or sell a property in South Florida? Now more than ever, it is critical to have a qualified real estate team and the proper search tools behind you. At Live South Florida Realty, Inc., we have been a leader in the South Florida market for many years. Let our team of professionals assist you with buying or selling your piece of paradise today! In addition, our recently launched “Florida Home Search” app is now available on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. With real-time MLS feeds, this app lets you set your own alerts to notify you as soon as a property meeting your needs hits the market. Furthermore, it will also let you know of recent closed sales in your area so that you may be even more educated on the market. Be sure to download this app for your smartphone or tablet today!
