‘How low can you go?’: Saskatoon real estate agent fined for Facebook outburst

(Source: Facebook.com/darrel.stretch)

A Saskatoon real estate agent has received a $3,000 fine, a reprimand and a three-month suspension after blowing up at a seller on social media over the condition of their property.

Darrel Stretch admitted to the charge of professional misconduct in a hearing with the Saskatchewan Real Estate Commission last month.

According to a report from the regulator, Stretch had acted for the purchasers in a transaction and was disappointed with how the seller left the property.

Instead of taking it up directly with the seller or their agent, Stretch found an unusual forum to air his grievance.

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“Following the transaction, Mr. Stretch posted pictures from the property and made a number of comments on a Facebook baby announcement post made by a member of the public who was unrelated to the property transaction,” the report said.

“This is how you left your house after we paid you maximum dollar for it. You should be embarrassed!” Stretch wrote, addressing the seller in someone else’s baby announcement.

Among the posts, a photo of a concrete floor with chalk writing that said “this Place is HAUNTD — by Roseabella the goste HOO,” alongside an angry comment from Stretch.

“To put this on the floor for the new owners to see is just how incredibly inconsiderate you are! I hope your new home is haunted and the devil follows you,” he said.

He included another photo of a scratch on the flooring.

“Really nice that [seller] damaged a house that people paid maximum value for !!! And now she hides . But I’m sure her new property has been cleaned very well. She even left food in the fridge… how low can you go?”

Unsurprisingly, real estate commissioner Jeffrey Reimer writes the outburst was upsetting to the person who posted the baby announcement.

Reimer says Stretch also sent an apology to the seller, who was “further upset by Mr. Stretch’s apology letter,” and Stretch was sanctioned by the Saskatchewan Realtors Association with a $2,500 fine.

Stretch told the commission he was “struggling with a number of medical issues related to his health for which he is currently undergoing treatment,” and that he believes the treatment contributed to his conduct.

This is the second time Stretch has been reprimanded by the commission.

In 2019 he faced a $1,000 fine for making “extremely inappropriate” comments to a fellow realtor after he brought a client to view a property and discovered the gas had been left on.

He sent a text to the seller’s realtor accusing them of almost killing him and his clients by leaving the gas stove on. Reimer says that after that realtor was unable to get in touch with stretch, she sent him a text saying “he should have the balls to answer his phone.”

“Mr. Stretch called Registrant A and, after some comments from her, Mr. Stretch responded by saying, “Go f*** yourself, you f***ing c***. I have the f***ing balls to answer my phone.”

Because the more recent incident happened in a public forum, on a post from a person not involved with the sale, Reimer says it’s a more serious breach of conduct.

Stretch received an order of reprimand from the commission and was ordered to pay a $3,000 fine. He has also had his real estate registration terminated for a period of three months.