“We screwed up,

Wednesday, 16 January 2013 3:02 PM

Better Homes CEO Ryan Mahoney.

Better Homes CEO Ryan Mahoney has admitted that the company ran false information in its online Dubai property advertisements, including descriptions of non-existent shopping malls and claims the Dubai Metro ran through the Palm Jumeirah.

But Mahoney - speaking this morning on Dubai Eye’s Business Breakfast show - blamed human error, and made no apologies for the fictional adverts.

“We screwed up, we should know better,” Mahoney told the programme, adding: “There wasn’t anything malicious, it was a human error and system error. There is a big difference between malicious intent and human error. It’s hard to get it right every single time.”

On Tuesday an Arabian Business investigation revealed how the company’s website had published false claims regarding properties on the Palm Jumeirah.

One advertisement, for the property on the Palm’s Oceana development, claims the property “is also within walking distance of the Village Centre shopping mall via a pleasant and safe underground walkway.” In fact, the Village Centre project was halted five years ago, and has remained a large hole in the ground. No underground walkway exists. Nakheel announced late last year that it is looking to restart the project in 2013.

Another advertisement, also for the Oceana development, claims “residents may also access the Palm Jumeirah’s 60,000 sqm luxury retail complexes via a bright pedestrian underpass.” Again, no such complex or underpass exists.

An advertisement for the Tiara development says the Palm Jumeirah contains “the exclusive Palm Anantara Hotel & Spa”. In fact, the only currently open Anantara Hotel & Spa in the region is located nearly 200km away in Abu Dhabi.

A fourth Better Homes advertisement, for a property on the Golden Mile, says “the metro now runs along the Palm making access to the facility easier.” In fact, the Dubai Metro has never been part of the Palm Jumeirah, the closest station being around 3km away. The existing Palm Monorail is not accessible from outside the development.

However, Mahoney appeared to lay the blame squarely on his agents, saying: “We have 50 different nationalities in our company, and listings are agent led.”

He added: “It’s more for the agent and manger to be sure a shopping mall is there.”

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Posted by: Skinky Monday, 21 January 2013 3:58 PM[UAE] - Dubai

its a She not a He ;-)

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Posted by: satish Monday, 21 January 2013 2:50 PM[UAE] - india

Its shows the Better Home poor standard, and charging 700 Dhs for renew the apartment, admin. Staff does not have manners,

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Posted by: CollinJ Monday, 21 January 2013 1:47 PM[UAE] - UAE

Fabrication doesn't fall under human error sir! Your arrogance is unbelievable!

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Posted by: nigel Monday, 21 January 2013 1:47 PM[UAE] - U.A.E Dubai

please understand that this is a simple copy and paste error, agents are rushed for time and want to list properties quickly. The software to list the properties contain a min requirement of words to discribe the property and sometimes the agents copy and paste a description without reading it fully..... big mistake i agree, but truly human error. and the error of the individual agent .

I also believe alot of the negative comments here might be from other real estate companies hoping for better homes to lose a bit of market share..

I am familiar with better homes and they have numerous checks in place before they can advertise a property including having a title deed copy passport copy of the owner and a document with terms and conditions signed by the owner enabling better homes to advertise and sell.

I know for a fact lots of its competion do not take these steps and simply copy and advertise other companies listed properties with being in contact with the owner directly.

Posted by: Geko Monday, 21 January 2013 3:57 PM[UAE] - Dubai

Pretending argument!!! As an agent, this ad is addressed to local audience. When someone travel from overseas trailing this bait, all I have to do is to change the present into future tense.

As a typical broker, ?metro will be connected to monorail in a month?. Possibly, ?those tunnels and parks can be built within 3 months?. Considering the travel, hotel stay, family dreams, their doubts will be neutralized by hopes. In other words, we call it trap.

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Posted by: Naveen Shetty Monday, 21 January 2013 12:14 PM[UAE] - UAE

How can CEO use these kind of words in his interview. As CEO he should select his words carefully as he is not talking to his 'buddies' in a pub. This shows the personality of a Individual who is heading the BH. I wonder what kind of standards he can instill in his workplace.

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