My experience of 11 moves in Singapore. Do not use an agent. Go on the websites, find the
property you are interested in. Ring the agent tell them you are interested.
They will try to say, what other properties are u interested in - this is so they become your agent and you have to pay them. Do not be fooled.
Find a property or two you are interested in - tell the owners agents that you would like to see the property and negotiate for yourself. An agent has no interest in negotiating for you as any lower rent means that they get lower fee.
Offer 30% less than asking ( i know i will get shot down for saying this) but it is normal and usual. You will get a couple of hundred a month off your rental when all is said and done.
Do not allow anyone to be your agent - deal only with landlords agents and you will not need to pay a fee.
If they say the property is no longer available, it is often because they have put up a false ad just to get punters.
They will arrange viewings for you - usually viewing can be within 24 hours and most will be empty apartments/houses. Usually tenants leave before the property is put up for rental.
Negotiate on things to be done. Ask for curtains and painting etc, but then ... say.. hey, how about we do not bother and I will pay less rent.
Sorry for all you landlords out there, but expat landlords are different to the rest. Usually landlords DO negotiate significantly on rental and ARE prepared to do work , or reduce rental for forgoing the work.
What ever, in todays internet world of rentals, you should not need to pay an agent to find a property. Go for a drive around, look at the
condos and the area. Search on . and call owners agents directly.
There is simply no point ( in light of the change to the regulations) in paying an agent to do it for you.