Was this some form or scam, or just an 'awkward approach'.

[JR8]

Walking home today, mid-pm, I came out of the MRT and was ambling homewards. I was stopped half-way across a junction as the lights changed, and a late/middle aged couple stopped beside me.

Her: Do you live here? (pointing at condo in the distance)
Me: Yes, I do.
Her: Do you rent your unit?
Me: Yes.
Her: Do you want to rent another unit?
[Him: Taking out wallet to give me a business card.]
Me: [Warning lights flashing red in my head]. Er, no, we're happy with what we have thank you and we are leaving next year, why?
[Him: Putting wallet away again.]
Her: Oh, I am an agent, and this man [gesturing] owns a unit there he wants to let out.
Me: [Quite annoyed but curious what the score was] Do you usually approach strangers on the street and ask them things like this?
Her: Oh, we just thought that maybe you want to rent a place.
Me: No, we have an agent, we don't rent from strangers on the street [good day madam].

That was that. But maybe 30 minutes later I noticed them ambling around the swimming pool. Stopping observing, ambling on, and so on.

I appreciate that agents will show initiative in getting a sale, no problem with that, but I am very unused to being approached by locals with such a bold and forth-right manner.

How would others read the situation?

[PNGMK]

The market (rental) is desperate in some spots... and agents are being pushed to the wall or out of the business.

[ecureilx]

I appreciate that agents will show initiative in getting a sale, no problem with that, but I am very unused to being approached by locals with such a bold and forth-right manner.

How would others read the situation?

If you go to Raffles Place during lunch time, not just locals, even I have seen Caucasians, trying to sell stuff, from Herbalife to what not, striking up conversations with strangers ..

The best one I heard, a guy, asking people "do you want American Idol ?" .. when somebody responds, he goes "well, I don't watch it, but since you stopped .. let's talk how to make you healthy .."

Hard sell !!!!

Or times are pretty bad for property agents !!

[nakatago]

The market (rental) is desperate in some spots... and agents are being pushed to the wall or out of the business.

Schadenfreude

[the lynx]

A friend got approached at Raffles MRT station the same way (right before she walked into The Sail where she rented with her husband). A pair of smartly dressed man and woman (presumably both are agents) asked her if where she would like to consider moving to a larger unit for almost the same rental fee she has been paying. She was tempted but like you, she doesn't take proposition from random strangers too kindly (especially from property agents on top of that!).

When she said the usual no-sorry-not interested line, one of them whipped a *scroll* listing addresses in River Valley, Holland Village, Orchard etc available for rent.

[Wd40]

The market (rental) is desperate in some spots... and agents are being pushed to the wall or out of the business.

I wonder if they still drive cars. I always felt odd, with us, penny pinching and sweating it out using public transport to reach the location to view a HDB and then swarmed by dozens of other potential tenants waiting eagerly for the agent to arrive and then he would always arrive late in a spanky car and then after taking a round of the house, ask all of us what our best offer was giving us the looks "Only 2k aha, cannot lah, already have offer for 2.3k, do you want to increase your offer?"

[PNGMK]

The market (rental) is desperate in some spots... and agents are being pushed to the wall or out of the business.

I wonder if they still drive cars. I always felt odd, with us, penny pinching and sweating it out using public transport to reach the location to view a HDB and then swarmed by dozens of other potential tenants waiting eagerly for the agent to arrive and then he would always arrive late in a spanky car and then after taking a round of the house, ask all of us what our best offer was giving us the looks "Only 2k aha, cannot lah, already have offer for 2.3k, do you want to increase your offer?"

Good point.

[ecureilx]

..ask all of us what our best offer was giving us the looks "Only 2k aha, cannot lah, already have offer for 2.3k, do you want to increase your offer?"

That was because a few years ago, especially your brethren didn't know how to negotiate or were getting paid heavily, or budgeted too much and when they see a HDB house, they are like kids in a candy store !!

Too many times I heard Sub-Con friends and all saying loudly "damn, that is worth more than 2K you know .. " and it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out what runs through the agent's head

Happened atleast a few times when I was accompanying guys who were house hunting.. that was like 7 or 8 years ago ..

Ah well, when I looked for places, the agents always picked me and ferried me around, and did make sure I get dropped off where I was going, than trying to ditch me when they see a deal not moving ahead !!

Times have changed though ..

PS, I recently was with a guy, who went to view an apartment, and when he saw the apartment, the guy blurted out "wow, what a view, worth it.. "

And the agent dutifully updated that the landlord is still contemplating their last offer, and was thinking of asking 'a bit' more. ..

No - offense .. maybe now guys have changed their 'negotiating' skills ..

[movingtospore]

The market (rental) is desperate in some spots... and agents are being pushed to the wall or out of the business.

Good riddance.

[sundaymorningstaple]

The market (rental) is desperate in some spots... and agents are being pushed to the wall or out of the business.

Good riddance.

The industry could use a good shake-out.