Yesterday the Parliament passed the Estate Agents Bill. It requires all property agents to be registered from next year.
From looking for rental apartments, searching for investment properties, to renting out my own flats, I have my fair share of encounters with property agents.
First encounter
My experience of dealing with property agents began when I was still new to Singapore. I called up an agent advertised in the paper. He specialized in the area that I targeted to rent an apartment.
It was a co-broke case. We waited and waited for the other agent to appear. According to my agent, we were meeting ‘one of the top agents in the industry’. Finally, we saw the top agent getting out of a BMW. Namecards were exchanged between the two agents. But he didn’t even take a glance at me.
The top agent was obviously in a hurry. The next three minutes he was busy opening and closing doors of every room in the apartment. Suddenly, he said that he had to leave for a handover appointment. He left so fast that we didn’t have time to ask a single question.
So, this is what a top agent like. Wow!
Recent encounter
A young girl came to apply for a contract position. She started out as a property agent after college. She found that it was not that easy to make money in real estate.
I couldn’t take her in. I didn’t want to see her sneaking out of the office to show houses during the one-year contract.
The headhunter who helped me in my last position told me that he used to be the VP in many big IT MNCs. I didn’t hear from him after I signed the employment contract. A year later, he sent me an SMS,
“I am now a property agent with xxx. Please call me if I can be of service to you.”
Unpleasant encounter
During one flat viewing, an agent kept boasting how he managed to buy a similar unit with a few friends at a rock bottom price. I couldn’t help thinking that he would never show me the ‘good deals’.
I am not against agents who are property investors themselves. But there is clearly conflict of interests in situations like this.
These are some special cases. I would like to believe that most agents are professional and service-oriented. Do share with me your own experiences with property agents.
Quite interesting read..some are quite funny too..haha.. nice article!
Quite interesting read..some are quite funny too..haha.. nice article!
Thanks. Writing another one on experiences with good and bad agents.
Thanks. Writing another one on experiences with good and bad agents.
“Top Agents” are ranked according to their sales numbers, the higher their sales the more likely they have more customers, more customers equal more work, more work equal less time for each customer….sad but true.
“Top Agents” are ranked according to their sales numbers, the higher their sales the more likely they have more customers, more customers equal more work, more work equal less time for each customer….sad but true.
Agree. This is not different from serving customers in any industry.
I see why some agents are more targeted in their clientele. Others delegate some work to their “partners” or team members when they can’t make it. Afterall,
Good Customer Service = Returned Business/More Referrals = Higher Sales Numbers = More Passion to Provide Good Service
Agree. This is not different from serving customers in any industry.
I see why some agents are more targeted in their clientele. Others delegate some work to their “partners” or team members when they can’t make it. Afterall,
Good Customer Service = Returned Business/More Referrals = Higher Sales Numbers = More Passion to Provide Good Service