Some advice please

[aussies3]

Hi All
We are coming over to Singapore on the 20th December. As we will be looking to rent could someone please tell me if Singapore closes down over Christmas like it does in Australia (lots of public holidays) eg will real estate agents be open?
We have been told that as well as paying rent there is an agent commission that is paid. We have heard that it is sometimes paid by the landlord, sometimes by the tenant or other times 50/50 and that we should bargain as much as possible. What is the average commission and what advice can you give as to bargaining?
We have been told to look for something on the East Coast area- what suburbs does that include?

[joop]

Hi All
We are coming over to Singapore on the 20th December. As we will be looking to rent could someone please tell me if Singapore closes down over Christmas like it does in Australia (lots of public holidays) eg will real estate agents be open?
We have been told that as well as paying rent there is an agent commission that is paid. We have heard that it is sometimes paid by the landlord, sometimes by the tenant or other times 50/50 and that we should bargain as much as possible. What is the average commission and what advice can you give as to bargaining?
We have been told to look for something on the East Coast area- what suburbs does that include?

Hi,

All your answers would be answered in theExpatriates FAQ here

Districts 15 and 16 would consist of the east coast.

We are available to assist you 365 days of the year, you can email us at [email protected] or contact: +65 61000 300.

[PhantomX]

Hi All
We are coming over to Singapore on the 20th December. As we will be looking to rent could someone please tell me if Singapore closes down over Christmas like it does in Australia (lots of public holidays) eg will real estate agents be open?
We have been told that as well as paying rent there is an agent commission that is paid. We have heard that it is sometimes paid by the landlord, sometimes by the tenant or other times 50/50 and that we should bargain as much as possible. What is the average commission and what advice can you give as to bargaining?
We have been told to look for something on the East Coast area- what suburbs does that include?

singapore does not close at all over any of the holidays, least of all Christmas. It's money making time

[public holiday]

Christmas Day is a public holiday, so on that day many businesses will be closed.

[PhantomX]

Sorry what i meant was the Christmas period as being one where businesses are open generally
And even with Christmas many shops are open though quite a few do shut. But it is busy town compared with the likes of desserted Australian city streets at that time

[aussies3]

[happygolucky]

Is there a reason why people recommend u east coast?
is yr family one that loves sunshine all year round and needs to head for the beach often? then east coast makes sense....

otherwise....there r many more happening places to check out....

[briceloh]

Is there a reason why people recommend u east coast?
is yr family one that loves sunshine all year round and needs to head for the beach often? then east coast makes sense....

otherwise....there r many more happening places to check out....

what do u mean? i dnt get u. singapore is so small, i can get to east coast when ever u want. anyway, i dnt understand the need to head for the beach just because some one loves sunshine?

[happygolucky]

don't we all know singapore is so small...but hv u been lived long term overseas before? when it is something u want to do frequently, then u will choose to stay near it, get it now? isn't the place at the beach having the most outdoor activities to enjoy the sunshine. Of course by yr standard, sitting in the balcony in one's home can get sunshine as sunshine is everywhere in SG, factually right too...if that is what u mean.
btw, do u follow this logic? when 1x3 = 3 it does not mean 1+1+1 <> 3, 'x' being a multiplier usually gets u the answer faster...got it?

happygolucky only happy to help clarify....if yr intent is to help aussies3, good and well....otherwise don't waste space as singapore is SO small..........

[aussies3]

Thanks again. The reasons why we want to know about the east coast is because a) this is where my wife will work and b) we haven't been to Singapore before, and well this is a big thing happening to us. so we want to be prepared (and of course there is nothing wrong with living close to the beach).