Another two real estate agencies have been stung by the state government’s under-quoting crackdown, forking out a combined $120,000 for misleading home buyers.

JRW Property International and Barry Plant Glenroy were found to have engaged in deceptive price advertising of 13 properties in the outer-east and north-west.

They included a Wheelers Hill property, where prospective buyers were told the home would likely sell for about $1.1 million, even though the vendor nominated a reserve of $1.5 million.

JRW Property International Pty Ltd agreed to contribute $75,000 to the Victorian Consumer Law Fund, as part of an enforceable undertaking by Consumer Affairs Victoria.

Superior Realty Pty Ltd, trading as Barry Plant Glenroy, will also contribute $45,000 to the fund for under-quoting eight properties in Melbourne’s north-west. A Broadmeadows property was advertised at “$300,000+” despite the vendor’s reserve of $340,000.

Both companies were required to implement a compliance program and display a public notice at their offices and on their websites.

Barry Plant Glenroy managing director Angelo Nestor said the agency had listed the properties — the majority private sales — but claimed none of them had actually sold through the company.

“There were some technical breaches, which were unbeknownst to us, and we’ve accepted it and moved on,” Mr Nestor said.

“We’ve put in place compliance training and a number of measures to make sure that we’re 100 per cent compliant in everything we do.”

A JRW Property International spokeswoman claimed the agency was found to be under-quoting in late 2015, and the two responsible agents had since resigned.

“It was unfortunate that management had overlooked and didn’t keep a close eye on the practices and the processes that they were implementing,” she said.

“We have been implementing stronger management enforcements to ensure that all our agents are working in line with CAV’s rules and restrictions.”

She said, at the time, there was a “grey area” in the rules and regulations of price search parameters.

On May 1, the state government brought in stronger laws aimed at stamping out under-quoting, including banning words such as “plus” and “offers above”.

The two admissions followed a state government clampdown on under-quoting by Taskforce Vesta, established in 2015. It inspected the offices of more than 30 selling agents, examined 1400 sales files and launched 14 major investigations.

It resulted in six court cases and more than $285,000 in enforceable undertakings from agents caught breaking the law.

Consumer affairs minister Marlene Kairouz said the tough stance on under-quoting was protecting Victorian homebuyers, and ensured the price advertised for a house was a true reflection of its value.

“Under-quoting is dishonest, misleading and against the law – and we’re cracking down on it,” she said. “We’ll continue to investigate, expose and punish agents who break the law and underquote the value of the properties they are selling.”

Figures from price predictor tool realAs showed high-profile prosecutions of real estate agents and new under-quoting laws appeared to be working.

Taskforce Vesta will ramp up again in the coming months, in time for the busy spring period. Consumer Affairs Victoria will also launch a campaign to educate consumers about their rights under new under-quoting laws.