There’s no need for this garbage… It just kills trust” — Aussie agent slams shady tactics flooding the market. Jordan Bulmer (pictured), works as a sales agent at McGrath in Terrigal
📌 Fast Facts:
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🚨 Real estate agent Jordan Bulmer calls out “fake offer” scams
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🏠 Claims some agents deliberately mislead buyers to boost price
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🎥 TikTok post sparks massive public reaction
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😤 Buyers share horror stories of being manipulated
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🧢 Other industry figures admit shady tactics are widespread
In a rare public takedown, 30-year-old real estate agent Jordan Bulmer has blown the lid off some of the “fake and frustrating” tactics used in the Aussie property game — tactics he says are destroying trust and ripping off buyers.
Bulmer, who works for McGrath in Terrigal on the NSW Central Coast, didn’t hold back.
In a now-viral TikTok, he called out agents for faking offers just to squeeze more money out of hopeful homebuyers.
“The minute a person makes an offer, suddenly there’s another one on the table?
I don’t know why agents do this. I’m not into it,” he said.Jordan Bulmer (pictured), who works as a sales agent at McGrath in Terrigal, on the NSW Central Coast, has hit out at his colleagues in the industry for using ‘fake offer’ tactics to drive up the price of a property
🕵️♂️ The “Fake Offer” Trap
Bulmer says agents often pretend there’s competing interest when no other offer exists, pressuring buyers to rush or overpay.
“There doesn’t have to be an offer on every property,” he said.
“If no one’s offered yet, I just say that. Simple.”
He insists the better outcome is when everyone walks away happy — and that means being honest.
@realestatejordanbulmer Replying to @CrazyLuckyDuck
😡 Flood of Buyer Rage
Bulmer’s honesty triggered a wave of responses from buyers who say they’ve been burned:
🗣 “We had a realtor try that scam. We told them, ‘Great — sell it to them then.’ They kept calling for days. We blocked them.”
🗣 “I was outbid, over and over. A week later, they called asking if I was still interested — at my last offer. I said nope.”
🗣 “They pushed and pushed with phantom buyers. Next day, those buyers ‘dropped out’. No thanks.”
🧠 “Why Do Agents Do This?”
Bulmer says he’s baffled by the tricks.
“Some agents do things that frustrate the living daylights out of people. I don’t get it,” he told news.com.au.
“There’s no need to fake it. It ruins trust. I just try to be straight up.”
https://www.propertynoise.co.nz/why-would-i-pay-30k-aussie-homeowners-are-dumping-real-estate-agents-and-selling-themselves-heres-how/
🎭 “Catfish Homes” and Fake Bidders
Industry auctioneer Tom Panos backed Bulmer, and revealed even more shady tactics at play:
📸 “Catfish homes” — listings use digitally altered photos to make homes appear better than they are.
🚪 Door-knocking the neighbourhood to inflate crowd size on auction day, making the property look more in demand.
🔢 Bidding number inflation — agents hand out higher bidder numbers than needed (e.g. 10, 11, 12 instead of 1, 2, 3) to create the illusion of a hot auction.
“Agents are paid to get the best price for the vendor, so it’s buyer beware,” Panos said.
“But the industry needs to do better.”https://www.propertynoise.co.nz/the-most-comprehensive-nz-real-estate-agent-database-ever-compiled-order-now-august-2025/
🛑 Buyers: Do Your Homework
Panos urged Australians to treat home buying like an investigation:
🔍 Compare similar properties on CoreLogic
🔧 Get a building inspector before signing
🚗 “People research holidays and cars more than homes. That’s crazy.”
👀 What’s Next?
As more agents speak out and buyers share their horror stories, pressure is growing for industry reform — or at least, greater transparency.
For Bulmer, it’s simple:
“You don’t need dirty tactics.
Just be honest, do the work, and people will trust you.”
SOURCE: THE DAILY MAIL