Need HDB/Condo Rental Advice (Serangoon Nr Ave 4 or 5)

[Ronio.Ron]

Wow, this is getting really interesting out here.,...OK, so i will indeed follow ur steps, act a little paranoid and detail every document and every inch of our agreement with landlord.

The Cd idea was really neat - well done eagle...tht gives a nice touch to the words - "being thorough". i shall indeed do it - come what may, even if landlord is nice or not. not that i wud know in first few meetings.

again another question (thnks for the link)

there are bid real estate agencies and there are individuals
whom to trust and why?

I believe the standard now is I as a renter pay (1 mnth advance + 1 month deposit) before moving in and rest is dealt between landlord and agent?

And the agreement is to be made by the agent on behalf of me and landlord?

thanks in advance

[Saint]

I've been looking for a new place for the last 6 weeks and I came across virtually every scam/trick that agents can con the unexpected victim with. Unfortunately they picked on the wrong person with me!

Here are just a few of what they've tried

1) Signed LOI and handed over security deposit only for agent to come back and say LL had better offer of $500 above asking price, $1k more than I had agreed! Told him exactly what he can do with my offer! Strangely the apartment is still available for rent

2) I signed LOI and handed over security deposit cheque and insisted that the agent doesn't hand over to LL until he signs LOI. Agent just goes ahead and hands over deposit to LL which is duly banked and then LL wont sign LOI! Police and Legal action threats and I get the deposit back.

3) The LL and I sign the LOI and hand over security deposit. A week later we are just about to sign TA and agent tells us that the rent will be raised by $400! I told him where he can stick his TA!

4) Agent advertises an apartment as 3+1 bedder 1300sqft, go and view it and but only a 2 bedder and barely 900sqft. Trying to keep a straight face I told the agent that the previous tenants must have taken a whole bedroom and 400sqft with them when they vacated! Typical the agent didn't understand!

These are just some of the experiences we've had. Anyway we've just extended our current TA for 6 months with option to extend a further 6 months.

[ksl]

Nice one Saint!

[x9200]

I've been looking for a new place for the last 6 weeks and I came across virtually every scam/trick that agents can con the unexpected victim with. Unfortunately they picked on the wrong person with me!

Here are just a few of what they've tried

All these within 6 weeks? Yeah, a nice one.
IIRC you do not use any agent on your side what probably explain the frequency and shows how opportunistic the LL and agents are here.

[Saint]

I've been looking for a new place for the last 6 weeks and I came across virtually every scam/trick that agents can con the unexpected victim with. Unfortunately they picked on the wrong person with me!

Here are just a few of what they've tried

All these within 6 weeks? Yeah, a nice one.
IIRC you do not use any agent on your side what probably explain the frequency and shows how opportunistic the LL and agents are here.

We tried using one agent but as per usual we gave him specific requirements and after spending a weekend viewing about 10 apartments not a single one vaguely met our requirements so we gave up and just used the net and searched for suitable apartments.