Don't you think singapore is getting more and more expensive

[louy]

I guess I should have said for virgin expats to Singapore. Most of them fall into 2 categories,

A) Their comapny is paying the rent or getting an allowance, most likely being put up in a hotel/service apartment for a month while they look for somewhere to rent. As long as the place is within budget, no need for them to haggle over a couple of hundred dollars.

B) Expats arriving on a local package who will most probably have to fund a couple of weeks in a hotel themselves while they frantically look for somewhere to rent quickly. No time to play the haggling game with LLs.

I am the second category
Unless I start doing some kick asss negotiating

[EADG]

I was in a variation of the 2nd - I had corporate housing for a set time before I had to move into my own apartment.

One thing I did find that is worth noting - most LLs and agents assume if you're Western that you have loads of money to extort and that you work for a MNC who will pay so $ is not a problem.

Wrong, and for most.

I had to make it very clear to each that I was paying out of pocket for mine, and I recommend you do too.

Plus I had simply awful RE agents on both moves, and a couple who resorted to subtle deception; now thankfully I have two really good ones.

I guess I should have said for virgin expats to Singapore. Most of them fall into 2 categories,

A) Their comapny is paying the rent or getting an allowance, most likely being put up in a hotel/service apartment for a month while they look for somewhere to rent. As long as the place is within budget, no need for them to haggle over a couple of hundred dollars.

B) Expats arriving on a local package who will most probably have to fund a couple of weeks in a hotel themselves while they frantically look for somewhere to rent quickly. No time to play the haggling game with LLs.

I am the second category
Unless I start doing some kick asss negotiating

[Saint]

I'm probably going to be in an even worse situation than either A or B I mentioned as I'll be staying with the MIL until we find a place

[micknlea]

But I thought you had a really good agent to help you Saint!?

[Saint]

But I thought you had a really good agent to help you Saint!?

Yes I have but I think even she will struggle to find a place for us to move into the day we arrive

[micknlea]

She might just have a few lined up for you to look at pretty quickly though eh? Come one, you are looking forward to staying with the MiL!

[Saint]

That's what I'm hoping thatmy "very good agent" will have a few lined up for the first weekend. Unfortunately I think Mrs S might be a bit picky!