Many people are troubled by unsolicited phone calls about apartment investment. This article explains why personal information gets shared, how to respond, and how to judge whether the sales pitch is genuinely worth considering.
Why do apartment investment solicitation calls happen?
The reason real estate companies use phone sales is that they can approach a larger number of prospective customers more efficiently than through in-person visits. Because real estate is a high-value transaction, increasing the size of the sales pool directly improves the chances of closing deals.
Where is personal information leaking from?
There are personal information lists of working adults known as businessperson data. These are compiled from information such as mail-order purchase histories, alumni directories, and document requests, and may also include profile details such as annual income.
Under Japan's Act on the Protection of Personal Information, providing data to third parties without the individual's consent is allowed when certain conditions are met, so the transaction itself is not necessarily illegal. As a preventive step, it is effective to avoid casually requesting materials or signing up for memberships.
How can you stop persistent sales calls?
Use the Real Estate Brokerage Act as protection
The Real Estate Brokerage Act prohibits persistent solicitation and solicitation during nuisance hours. Confirm the other party's license number, company name, contact details, and salesperson's name. If a company cannot clearly identify itself, there is a high possibility that the solicitation is unlawful.
Use consultation services
There are multiple places you can turn to for help, including the police, the National Consumer Affairs Center, lawyers, and the national real estate transaction guarantee association.
How should you evaluate an investment decision?
- Build basic investment knowledge, including vacancy risk and price decline risk
- Choose properties in areas with strong rental demand, and consider existing apartments as well
- Work with a reliable property management company as your partner
- Avoid salespeople who talk only about the upside
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q. What should I do if calls continue even after I refuse them?
There may be a violation of the Real Estate Brokerage Act. Record the license number and report the matter to your prefecture's real estate licensing authority.
Q. Is the apartment investment I was pitched actually profitable?
It depends on the property. It is important not to take a salesperson's claims at face value and to verify the location, yield, and risks for yourself.
Q. Can I request deletion of my personal information?
Yes. Under the Act on the Protection of Personal Information, you can request deletion of your data. However, if multiple companies hold the same list, complete prevention is difficult.
