Those greedy agents/LL! How to deal with them?

[Hithnar]

Ok, i am sincerely confused. For past month me and husband have been trying to find a new place for long term, and whenever we call an agent, the price of the place we enquirer about miraculously goes up by 50%.

When it happened for the first time, we though it was just a greedy agent. The apartment wasn't worth even half of the original price, so we just thanked the guy and went on. But it keeps on repeating, even to the point where the agent denies to show us a reasonably priced place, and keeps bombarding us with offers way way out of our budget.

Our Singaporean friends told us, it's because of the accent, that it shows that we are non-locals, and so the price "for us" will always be high. But then again, they also told us that the prices in adds are more "wishful" than real, and can be negotiated down.

Anyone can suggest a strategy on how to approach this? We have been considering asking our local friends to do the primary calling and negotiation with the agent, as well, as strongly sticking to the original price from the adds.

Because of all this pricing mess, we still have no idea how much should we pay for a studio or 2 bedroom apt in condo? Anyone can give a hint on that?

[alanwisley]

The price will depends on the area of condo you are looking for. Different area will have a different price range. The important thing is to look for a good agent to represent you as buyer so that they are negoiate the price on your behalf and also search the market for the budget of houses you are looking for. At the same time, they are also able to do financial planning for you.

If you are interested, i can check the price for you as i have the system via subscription of the search engine. Take that as an indication and decide after you have go for viewing of the unit.

[Saint]

If you are funding the move yourself I recommend you don't engage an agent exclusively, complete waste of time and will cost you in the end.

Just pick your area, your budget and shortlist a few complexes. Search the various websites and call the agents. If they say apartment has just been taken (probably never actually up for rent in first place, just a fake ad) just say thanks and bye. If the apartment is still available confirm ad price and whether neg. Also stress you are NOT exclusively engaging them as an agent.

When we were condo hunting a couple of months ago we use a pre paid sim card for all the calls.

[Hithnar]

Thank you guys for your responses!

alanwisley, if you could check the prices of studios or 2 bedroom apartments in condos, i would really appreciate. We don't have any specific location we are looking for, but obviously - closer to MRT/Business District, the better .

Saint, searching through web sites is what we do, but it looks like this:
1. We find a studio offer for 1600$
2. Call the agent
3. Agent recognizes that my husband has a non-local accent
4. Price goes up to 2500$

The thing is, we have recently visited a friend who lives in a nice studio in a really neat condo(with all amenities), in Dhbby Ghaut area, and pays... 850$ rent! But she is a local, maybe she has some good bargaining skills...

[Saint]

Saint, searching through web sites is what we do, but it looks like this:
1. We find a studio offer for 1600$
2. Call the agent
3. Agent recognizes that my husband has a non-local accent
4. Price goes up to 2500$

The thing is, we have recently visited a friend who lives in a nice studio in a really neat condo(with all amenities), in Dhbby Ghaut area, and pays... 850$ rent! But she is a local, maybe she has some good bargaining skills...

Just tell them where to shove the $2500

It actually works both way being a local. Mrs S called an agent to enquiry about an apartment that had just been posted on a website. Agent told her already been rented. Thought that's strange so I called the agent later, guess what, of course still for rent!

[Rithish]

Ok, i am sincerely confused. For past month me and husband have been trying to find a new place for long term, and whenever we call an agent, the price of the place we enquirer about miraculously goes up by 50%.

When it happened for the first time, we though it was just a greedy agent. The apartment wasn't worth even half of the original price, so we just thanked the guy and went on. But it keeps on repeating, even to the point where the agent denies to show us a reasonably priced place, and keeps bombarding us with offers way way out of our budget.

Our Singaporean friends told us, it's because of the accent, that it shows that we are non-locals, and so the price "for us" will always be high. But then again, they also told us that the prices in adds are more "wishful" than real, and can be negotiated down.

Anyone can suggest a strategy on how to approach this? We have been considering asking our local friends to do the primary calling and negotiation with the agent, as well, as strongly sticking to the original price from the adds.

Because of all this pricing mess, we still have no idea how much should we pay for a studio or 2 bedroom apt in condo? Anyone can give a hint on that?

Hey.. not all agents are like that. And i believe that those do this will not be in the business for long, but theres always a few there are very successful by being greedy.

I believe in karma. Its easy to get a studio or 2 bedroom apt. You dun have to get an exclusive agent, just a reliable one.

cheers

[Saint]

Hey.. not all agents are like that. And i believe that those do this will not be in the business for long, but theres always a few there are very successful by being greedy.

I believe in karma. Its easy to get a studio or 2 bedroom apt. You dun have to get an exclusive agent, just a reliable one.

cheers

People tend to look for an apartment which ends up with an agent which you then have to deal with. Of course every agent will say the are reliable.

If you are viewing 10 apartments you will most likely end up with 10 different agents!

[GarethC]

I personally found engaging an agent to arrange for viewings within my budget easier than making the calls myself.. after all you do end up paying them a commission regardless of who arranged for the viewing.

[Saint]

I personally found engaging an agent to arrange for viewings within my budget easier than making the calls myself.. after all you do end up paying them a commission regardless of who arranged for the viewing.

Not if rental is over $2.5k, no commission if you don't engage an agent exclusively!

[Ms.Sylvia]

The landlords pays for the comission.

[Ms.Sylvia]

The landlord can ask for ll they want but if there's no taker, it is as good as wasted...hmmmm

Anyway tenants do not pay commission. I never did for the places I rented. Don't be fooled.

[Rithish]

Hey.. not all agents are like that. And i believe that those do this will not be in the business for long, but theres always a few there are very successful by being greedy.

I believe in karma. Its easy to get a studio or 2 bedroom apt. You dun have to get an exclusive agent, just a reliable one.

cheers

People tend to look for an apartment which ends up with an agent which you then have to deal with. Of course every agent will say the are reliable.

If you are viewing 10 apartments you will most likely end up with 10 different agents!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Oh yes, i definately agree with you. Which agent will say im not reliable, im here only for your money.

10 units, 10 agents. But i believe if an agent is willing to co-broke with another agent, he is most likely to be reliable. Most rental agents do not share.

BTW hitnar, i cant reply to you. i never hit my quota of post to reply a PM.

Cheers

[Hithnar]

It's ok, we found our new apartment. Fortunately, our last agent behaved very professional and did not push the price up.

We gave up and took a normal apartment within our budget. Can't keep a pet cat, but at least it's just 10 minutes walk to work

[Ebony Chic]

Not if rental is over $2.5k, no commission if you don't engage an agent exclusively!

We have this situation where we just found a condo in Simei (Tropical Spring complex). The whole complex is rather clean (built in 2003), close to the MRT and the shops at the East Point Mall. The rent on the apartment is S$3000 per month (they originally asked for S$3500 but were willing to accept the S$3K).

We found the flat because my hubby placed an ad at the intranet at his job (the agent somehow got his details from that and SMS'd him). Anyway...we recently met with the agent to pay a deposit (to move-in at the end of this month) and to sign a letter of intent to rent the apartment. During this discussion the agent told us that the service fee (meaning the fee for his own "service") is half of first months rent. We went ahead with giving him the deposit and signing the letter of intent anyway, as we like the place. We are supposed to meet him in some days to sign the contract.

If anyone has any ideas on how to deal with the agents request for the service fee that would be appreciated...

[Saint]

Just tell the agent that at no point do you exclusively engage him/her as your agent so you aren't liable to pay any fees. He can claim his fees from the Landlord!