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4 Aug 2012, 11.16PM

6 comments & replies |by Guest | Our Neighbourhood

Property agents are not allowed to represent both the buyers and sellers. However, many property agents get around this rule by insisting the buyer use a friend/family member of theirs as their agent. This practice is rampant and results in higher earnings for agents and more expensive property.

We have been looking to buy a property recently and many agents ask us if we have an agent representing us. Why do they want to know? Talking to some friends who bought properties recently revealed that agents always introduce another agent to help you with the legal work. 1 even told me that they were kept out of the negotiation process when told they do not need any agent.

When I rented my current private property, I paid the landlord's agent because she told me it was expected. She only told me after the contract was signed and was "surprise" I did not know about this practice.

More can be done to check and prevent this malpractice. For a start, CEA should come up with a easily readable shortened list of things property agents should do and should not do, and advertise it in Straits Times classified ads. Advertising in websites such as PropertyGuru will also prove useful. Pay money to educate the public. When the public is educated, agents will not cheat.

To make it more effective, CEA can rope in HDB. When buyers and sellers meet in HDB, the HDB officer can give both parties a questionnaire, to ensure agents did not violate any of the rules. Make it mandatory to fill up the questionnaire.

485 views | 6 comments & replies |

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Guest

5 Aug 2012, 2.52AM

More likely, you blur, whatever info on CEA website, why waste tax payers money on this education? Property buyers or owners can just go to CEA website and read. Don't blame others for not reading or doing homework. Typical Singaporeans, like to blame others but not yourself.

Guest

5 Aug 2012, 11.39AM

aiyah, seen this before, such people never do their homework and then go online to complain or suggest and guess what, online people shoot at them back, then they not happy and also the general public when can't get what they want, make ridiculous complaints to CEA, this is reported in Straits Times. CEA should punish general public for making frivolous complaints, wasting their time and tax payers money to handle such complaints, say $100 per invalid complaint, good idea to make money for government, ha ha.

Guest

5 Aug 2012, 3.19PM

Why should customers educate themselves? The agents are supposed to put the customers' interest first.
If every time we want to sell or buy a property does that mean we have enroll in a course and educate ourselves on sales of property? or enroll on an engineering course to buy a car to protect ourselves from the rogue salesmen and women? Isn't there a law to protect the customers?
The agents must act in the best interest of the customers, ie. ethically , honestly and best recommendation. Or is it buy at your own risk?

Guest

5 Aug 2012, 7.22PM

caveat emptor, basic principle of law, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caveat_emptor

By your writings, shows lack of knowledge, ha ha, so funny

Guest

5 Aug 2012, 9.02PM

wait they angry with you, people always find fault with others or blame others and never blame themselves, like to teach others or government what to do, without looking internally whether they are right or wrong, or how capable are they to teach government what do do, don't blame them, they first timer going online, didn't expect to get hammer back.

Guest

6 Aug 2012, 10.11AM

No need to talk so much, any unhappiness or anything that can improve, just feedback to CEA, it's their job to investigate.

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