i am tired of property agents !!! :mad:

[Carpgem]

I am really tired of property agents....

When we moved to Singapore 3 yrs back we got a nice place near river valley road - rent of $1.8k (2bdrm)...the landlord asked for $2.8k on renewal....we moved to the east...a much bigger apartment for $1.6k (3+1 bdrm)

The property agents gave us a really rough time while renting both these apartments....well, we finally bought our apartment, nice 3+1 bdrm next to the mrt....and thought that we dont have to deal with them anymore....fate...fate...i have to relocate to london for 2 yrs....and hence need to rent out my apartment...and we end up meeting these guys again.

All of you have read the tenant's perspective here...we faced the same issues as tenants....now read the story from a expat landlord's perspective..

The agent tells me that he can rent my place for $4.5k .... the going rent in the area is $3.8k....keeps asking all tenants for $4.5k even though we made it clear that we were ok with $3.8k. Well he could not get anyone...so he started quoting $3.8k. We got an expat couple who signed the LOI and gave our agent the holding deposit. We counter signed the LOI and sent back to our agent....and after 6 days were told that the tenant backed out. Reason - the tenant's agent did not want to co-broke the commission (which i am paying fully) with my agent. I have no clue what the tenant was told.....probably that the landlord (i.e. we) backed out !!!

This morning my agent comes to me with two more prospects...at a rent of $3.5k....1K less than what he started off with, $300 less that what we wanted.....just to show that he is trying hard, so that i don't fire him !!!

I am sick and tired of him...have not been able to rent out my place for the last two months. I am sure that i could speak to a tenant and come to acceptable terms for both the tenant and myself.

The big problem i feel is that tenants generally do not meet the landlord at the viewing...we never met our landlords when we were tenants....

So, i feel that if tenants were to meet / discuss directly with landlords...a lot of the mess created by agents can be avoided..

What do you guys feel ?

[ksl]

Personally I wouldn't use un professional agents, and i'm afraid, there are no professional ones either, so I would say no thank you!, and get a legal Landlords rental package from UK, tennant agreements inside, which i believe any legal advisor here could endorse for you, or adapt it to your legal requirement needs!

Rent out yourself, and have a 3rd party manage it while your away, OK you haven't a great deal of time left, however there are people on this forum, that would probably jump at a fair deal, even if it means a couple of females sharing.

We also purchased here although HDB Paya L ebar area, far much cheaper and 150sq meter too! Good agent, and fair, although my wife being Chinese may have had something to do with it.

These agents here are really very bad indeed, not worth bothering with I'm afraid! Are you a Brit?

Mmm this topic gives me a little brainwave, I may look into myself, property management! I could probably start a riot!

[Carpgem]

Laura - I'll send you an email with the details.

Ksl - Gr8 idea...i've been thinking of a swap forum, for people to swap apartments...i am looking for one in london and someone from london might be looking for an apartment here......at fair terms ofcourse (currency conversion...normal rent etc etc)...and keep out the agents.
I am an Indian, not a Brit and i work with one of the big4 accounting / consulting firms ...not an IT guy

cheers guys

[sillingw]

when i rent out a property, I make sure that I am at all the viewings so I get to meet the prospective tenant myself (I want to know who is going to be renting) This way, I can also do the negotiation - even though i use an agent, i like to do this part myself, it prevents the problem that happened to you, I always give serious prospects my business card so they can call me directly.

[JAWS]

Hi

This year my fiance and I have moved twice already and are now happy
in our place. There are only two types of property agents in Singapore -
the type that want to squeeze every cent out of you and don't care and the type that genuinely want to help you settle here.

Sadly, we have dealt with quite a few and have only met one of the
genuine type. I can definitely recommend her to you if you need a new agent, she helped us out big-time and has a legal background.

By the way I think your idea sounds great to form a forum for property
swaps.

PS - Know anyone that want to rent my flat out back home in Glasgow?!
I am currently without a tenant!

[Rich D]

I have a similar story - bought my place expecting to enjoy it for keeps but got posted. We rented it out instead of selling as we want to come back to it - just hope it doesn't go en bloc. With the weather here turning decidedly bloody miserable, the thought of some other sod sitting on my terrace watching football with a cold one doesn't exactly warm the cockles of my heart.

I describe myself as a reluctant landlord and although our agent is a good and long standing friend the initial rent estimate was never achieved. Yes we get more in rent than pay in mortgage but by the time we painted it for the tenant and then refurbish when we move back in its about break-even.

To modify a saying about lawyers - its the 99% of letting agents that give the rest a bad name.

[Ahdave]

ya they all a are a scamming lot

[ritz79]

Dear all

not sure where to start. But here goes, im an property agent too. Been in the scene for abt more than 6mths, guess im still a noob. But trust me when i say, even i encounter these 'type' of agents.

They put $$$ as their priority instead of their client needs. I have lost a deal to due to these agents. BTW im not trying to advertise myself. But i really believe if you put yr clients needs as yr priority , and do a good job. The client will definately refer their friends to the agent.

Not all agents are a**H****. But i guess you only need a few to spoil the market.

Have a great weekend my friends..