Moving to Singapore in 45-60 days!

[JR8]

Why is the LL using a lawyer? If it’s minor changes it’s completely unnecessary, if it’s say an absentee family/estate with affairs handled locally by their lawyer then I can see how that might lead to delays.
But, ‘2 weeks later’ is not acceptable, neither can it be considered in any way serious from their side.

‘Will update you’, is bull$hit and means the agent doesn’t know nor care much either. You should hammer them on this every day re: what is happening (apart from nothing). If *your* agent is this unresponsive now, what might they be like when not being directly paid to help you (future repairs etc).

What’s the hold up? They’re probably taking your offer as a holding position, whilst trying to wring another $50pcm out of it from someone else.

I suspect the reality is that your agent is just incompetent rather than playing games.

The LL is not being that reasonable, as their agent should have Power of Attorney over minor changes to the TA. The LL should already know the wording of the TA. The agent should know what are reasonable tweaks. The only terms in play really are Duration of TA/rent/extras, and that is a 2 minute decision.

If I were you I’d certainly go and view this other place ASAP, and be prepared to get an offer in. Be prepared to see the TA of such a place and sign it within 24hrs (show decisive action). Do not show any ‘loyalty’ to your agent who is messing you about.

AC maintenance and the laundry units are small-fry versus the gross rent you are paying. Not at all significant enough to sway whether this deal is done or not.

At least as a contingency I’d be out there viewing/sizing up alternatives. IME it’s at times like these, ironically, when you find yourself landing a better deal than the original.

[Yes, it’s not fun here. Some owners are very remote/distant and that takes time to communicate with. They have agents, but don’t rely on their agents, they have to see/sign everything themselves. Plus huge pride, and greed down to the last cent can come into it too....]

p.s. this is the agent your employer retains to help you?

[Usmom]

yes this is the agent assigned by the company. we looked up the landlords and they are executives of Chinese companies, so I understand them having lawyers, but it is not them that I feel are delaying, it is our agent, who like you say is just not use to working anything outside the norm. something you mentioned about them helping with furniture repair? so if there is an issue after the 30 days, our agent is supposed to help us or do they just disappear?

[Usmom]

The agents and landlords in sg are driving me nuts! Why is everyone so darn secretive? Just found out that the new listing, the agent says she made a mistake in describing the listing. Really? How do you type in balcony as a description when there is none! And the listing isn't even available yet. Tenets are uncertain if they will stay or not but have not given notice. and then you have all these agents that list the same darn unit at varying prices or not deleting units that are already sold/leased. Then some of them won't even tell you the correct unit number until you officially meet them in the car park cause they are paranoid of competing agents. It's like this crazy game where you never know who is lying or not and all these darn secrets. Landlords who won't even disclose the price they want until you see the unit and show that you want it because they might be able to squeeze another 3 pennies from someone else. Too many games. There should be public records that show what the rental prices are once leased. but then again need to remind myself that this is another country. Dorothy, you are not in Kansas anymore. LOL

[PNGMK]

How long is the TA supposed to take? The landlords had their attorney make changes to the draft and have returned it to our agent. Now nearly 2 weeks later, still not sure what is going on. We have to ask our agent what is going on and only get responses like, will update you. Well the draft the Landlord sent through their attorney looked ok to us. They agreed to pay all ac quarterly maintenance and reworded that items like curtains and floors be returned to them they way the hand it over to us, expect for normal wear and tear. They also agreed to purchase and install the exact type of washer and dryer we requested. So what is the hold up? I'm getting a bad feeling that our agent is still upset that we asked for out of the norm stuff and they are playing games delaying to prove that it just can't be that simple. The landlord seems reasonable while our agent is being annoying. Also, a new listing has just posted that is bigger and for the same price. Maybe agents games/delays will lead us to an even better choice, not sure we should take the risk though since we are getting most of what was requested. Not sure what to do. Finding housing in sg is becoming dreadful.

You're kidding? I would have HR all over that agent. That's just BS. I'ver rented places here in four hours much less two weeks!

Where I work now we have HR running people around - even with our complicated contracts people usually sign up in a week.

[JR8]

https://www.ura.gov.sg/realEstateIIWeb/ ... rch.action

> Statutory records of property sale/rental prices. The granularity varies, but can be useful.

[Usmom]

thanks for link about prices, very interesting

[Usmom]

Finally just received keys!! Was able to negotiate for landlord to do all ac maintenance and we are not required to paint walls, polish floors, dry clean curtains, or any other crazy stuff at move out unless we do major damage beyond wear and tear. Now my next question as we move in, there are items like tvs and other furniture that we would like to purchase from expats who are leaving. We have no car, so are there services where they will pick up the item and deliver to us? What are the costs for say delivering a 50in. tv? Can a 50in. tv fit in a cab? Costs of other delivery of other items like beds? tia

[rajagainstthemachine]

We have no car, so are there services where they will pick up the item and deliver to us?
What are the costs for say delivering a 50in. tv?
Can a 50in. tv fit in a cab? Costs of other delivery of other items like beds? tia

have a look at craigslist for moving/delivery/second hand goods etc.
The prices for moving can typically range from starting from 50$ upwards i would think.I just recently moved homes, payed 130$ for the move

[the lynx]

Finally just received keys!! Was able to negotiate for landlord to do all ac maintenance and we are not required to paint walls, polish floors, dry clean curtains, or any other crazy stuff at move out unless we do major damage beyond wear and tear. Now my next question as we move in, there are items like tvs and other furniture that we would like to purchase from expats who are leaving. We have no car, so are there services where they will pick up the item and deliver to us? What are the costs for say delivering a 50in. tv? Can a 50in. tv fit in a cab? Costs of other delivery of other items like beds? tia

Congratulations. Now before you get too excited, take photos of every angle and every part of the house to record the condition before you move in. Take note of every pre-existing condition (a nick on the floor, a chip off the wall, etc). Make two copies, one for yourself, and one for your landlord, so that both of you are in the picture to know the original condition of the house before the 'wear and tear' sets in.

If you are ordering the furniture from a middle person or expat auction, they have delivery option for a fee. Otherwise you need to hire a small Mover for many bulky items. But if it is just that one 50-inch TV, just wrap and box it up carefully and you can fit it into cab (either passenger seat or the trunk).

[Usmom]

Our company had a rep and photographer meet us to collect keys and all of us, including ll's rep and 2 agents went through every room and noted and photoed stuff. All parties are receiving the notes and conditions and then signed. So there were 8 of us to witness and sign off. I still insisted on writing our own notes and getting them to sign it. I was extra vigilant because of your warnings.

Super about the tv fitting in a taxi, think that's what we will do!

[zzm9980]

Funny, I have a 50" TV sitting in a box in my living room waiting to go to Singapore. It was one of the few models I could find that did 110-240v 50/60hz. Some LG 1080p LED model. Cost at CostCo was ~$550 USD. Let me know what you find in Singapore, as from my recollections it would be at least double there.

As for size, it will fit easily across the backseat of the average Hyundai taxi. I doubt it will fit in the front passenger or trunk. Keep that in mind if you go TV shopping with the whole family.

[CaptainBullus]

we've used gogovan to bring stuff home from Ikea twice now. There's an app for iOS, unsure about android. cost about S$60 for a van and driver.

[Usmom]

thanks for the tips. downloading the app now in cause we need delivery in the future. we were able to find an expat selling a 47 in. for under $200 and husband buying new 50 in. for about 830 including delivery.
movers got all of our stuff here in just 2 days, now time to unpack and put stuff away. how is the process for making claims on damaged items? are the insurance companies hard to work with?

[Primrose Hill]

Insurance companies via the Movers are a pain in the butt. When we moved from rented to where we are now, there were furniture that was damaged, chipped etc. And we had insurance. And we had the unpacking/conceirge service. It was the pits.
In the end the removers gave us an ex gratia payment. It was so protracted it was unbelievable.
The problem for us was that- the UK removers blamed the SG removers. vice versa.

[Usmom]

thanks for your feedback, gonna set my expectations low
at least nothing sentimental was damaged
we'll see how it goes