fine city < > fine people
Over the past few weeks I've learned: a fine city is not equal to fine people.
Early last month when we were searching for a new flat to rent, we found on the internet an ad for a 3 bedroom flat whose price is lower than the ones in our list. So we decided to contact the agent and after work on that day we went to the condo to see the place. We liked the place and we placed a deposit so that the owner can reserve the place for us until the time our contract form the old flat expires.
But to cut the long story short, I'm not satistified with the service that our real estate agent has given us! She does not deserve the commission we gave her.. and she even charged GST!
Below are the reason why:
1. On our supposedly 3rd meeting, she wants to get our deposit and sign the intent to lease. We told her we can meet her and the owner at the condo but we can only be there for like 30 minutes because we still need to go back to the office to wor. When we went to the condo she was late and then requested us to wait and then SMS us that the owner will be late also. If you are a professional agent, if you know that the owner will be late, isn't it just right for you to call and inform the other party?
2. She's supposed to terminate our electricity, water, and gas bill from our old flat and apply a new one for the new flat. Out of the blue I decided to call the company and then I learned that a third party is not allowed to terminate the services! I was surprised to know that because if you are not a new agent, you WOULD know that! So my boyfriend just called the company to terminate it.
3. But I still did not get the lesson.. We still hired her and then she did not convey correct terms and condition of the contract to me. During the signing night we were all surprised that our lease end date changed. Well actually it did not change, she just told me the wrong end date!
4. She can't "fight" for us. She gets overpowered easily by the owner's agent. And she even had the guts to ask for her commission on that day!
5. We informed them that we will be bringing in the new flat a sofa, a few side tables and the rest of our personal stuff. Since it's condo, you would need a permit from the management. We told her over and over again to get a permit for us because if we don't get in, we will waste our money paying for the lorry. Come move in day, when we got to the condo we found from the guards that we don't have a permit!! It's a good thing the guards let us in by just filling out the form. Also, special thanks to the driver of our lorry for speaking with the guards to let us in.
6. A week after moving, the electriciy service company sent us a mail stating that if we did not give them the complete documents that they need, they will be forced to stop their services! That is the same document that our agent said that she has already sent the company. That's the one thing that she did on her own but still she managed to mess it up! Again, we end up doing it ourselves.
I swear, if ever we renew this contract next year, I will not hire her anymore. I will ask my previous real estate agent. And I would NOT even recommend her to her friends.
To all, beware of ONH or CBRES. I would just recommend my previous agent - Doris.
Then from one real estate to another. This time it's my previous landlord's agent.
We were asked if we could move out of the flat earlier and the owner would just compensate us for the remaining days. We happily agreed because we already have a new flat to move into. We just emailed him a disclaimer that we might not be able to thoroughly clean the flat because there's not much time. But actually, we were able to clean the whole flat even the appliances. We even bought an expensive steam cleaner and even took leave just to clean so that the owner will be pleased and give us our deposit back. And true enough, when we handed them the key, the owner was satisfied with the cleanliness of the place except for some cupboards that are dusty because we do not use it. Overall, the flat is even cleaner than when it was handed to us a year ago.
The next day when we ask the owner's agent if the TV is working (because we were not able to test it) he replied that the new tenant is very angry - screaming and shouting - because the flat is not clean. Then the owner told us that he need to hire help and pay $80 to have the flat cleaned.
Then the agent requested for the copy of our last aircon service receipt. We faxed him the receipt dated July 31 and then he complained again saying that we need to have it cleaned every 3 months. he is asking if they can charge us $100 to have it cleaned. But technically, the next cleaning service should be Oct 31 and we moved out Oct 2. But just to shut them up, we had the aircon cleaned with our own contractor. When we went to the place to pay the aircon guys, the flat does not seem clean at all!
And then, when we want to collect our deposit, the owner requested if he can charge us at least half of the cleaning fee he paid. I said no. We have agreed with all their request, it's now time he pay us our deposit. And the flat does not even look clean! It;s a good thing he agreed easily. I'm thinking this is just his agent's way of getting money or to save face because the new tenant gave them a hard time. But, whew, I'm so relieved this is over and I don't have to deal with them anymore!
Now real estate agents have a bad image for me.. all of them are just after the $$$$$.
And don't even get me started about those selling electronics in Sim Lim and China Town!!!
Early last month when we were searching for a new flat to rent, we found on the internet an ad for a 3 bedroom flat whose price is lower than the ones in our list. So we decided to contact the agent and after work on that day we went to the condo to see the place. We liked the place and we placed a deposit so that the owner can reserve the place for us until the time our contract form the old flat expires.
But to cut the long story short, I'm not satistified with the service that our real estate agent has given us! She does not deserve the commission we gave her.. and she even charged GST!
Below are the reason why:
1. On our supposedly 3rd meeting, she wants to get our deposit and sign the intent to lease. We told her we can meet her and the owner at the condo but we can only be there for like 30 minutes because we still need to go back to the office to wor. When we went to the condo she was late and then requested us to wait and then SMS us that the owner will be late also. If you are a professional agent, if you know that the owner will be late, isn't it just right for you to call and inform the other party?
2. She's supposed to terminate our electricity, water, and gas bill from our old flat and apply a new one for the new flat. Out of the blue I decided to call the company and then I learned that a third party is not allowed to terminate the services! I was surprised to know that because if you are not a new agent, you WOULD know that! So my boyfriend just called the company to terminate it.
3. But I still did not get the lesson.. We still hired her and then she did not convey correct terms and condition of the contract to me. During the signing night we were all surprised that our lease end date changed. Well actually it did not change, she just told me the wrong end date!
4. She can't "fight" for us. She gets overpowered easily by the owner's agent. And she even had the guts to ask for her commission on that day!
5. We informed them that we will be bringing in the new flat a sofa, a few side tables and the rest of our personal stuff. Since it's condo, you would need a permit from the management. We told her over and over again to get a permit for us because if we don't get in, we will waste our money paying for the lorry. Come move in day, when we got to the condo we found from the guards that we don't have a permit!! It's a good thing the guards let us in by just filling out the form. Also, special thanks to the driver of our lorry for speaking with the guards to let us in.
6. A week after moving, the electriciy service company sent us a mail stating that if we did not give them the complete documents that they need, they will be forced to stop their services! That is the same document that our agent said that she has already sent the company. That's the one thing that she did on her own but still she managed to mess it up! Again, we end up doing it ourselves.
I swear, if ever we renew this contract next year, I will not hire her anymore. I will ask my previous real estate agent. And I would NOT even recommend her to her friends.
To all, beware of ONH or CBRES. I would just recommend my previous agent - Doris.
Then from one real estate to another. This time it's my previous landlord's agent.
We were asked if we could move out of the flat earlier and the owner would just compensate us for the remaining days. We happily agreed because we already have a new flat to move into. We just emailed him a disclaimer that we might not be able to thoroughly clean the flat because there's not much time. But actually, we were able to clean the whole flat even the appliances. We even bought an expensive steam cleaner and even took leave just to clean so that the owner will be pleased and give us our deposit back. And true enough, when we handed them the key, the owner was satisfied with the cleanliness of the place except for some cupboards that are dusty because we do not use it. Overall, the flat is even cleaner than when it was handed to us a year ago.
The next day when we ask the owner's agent if the TV is working (because we were not able to test it) he replied that the new tenant is very angry - screaming and shouting - because the flat is not clean. Then the owner told us that he need to hire help and pay $80 to have the flat cleaned.
Then the agent requested for the copy of our last aircon service receipt. We faxed him the receipt dated July 31 and then he complained again saying that we need to have it cleaned every 3 months. he is asking if they can charge us $100 to have it cleaned. But technically, the next cleaning service should be Oct 31 and we moved out Oct 2. But just to shut them up, we had the aircon cleaned with our own contractor. When we went to the place to pay the aircon guys, the flat does not seem clean at all!
And then, when we want to collect our deposit, the owner requested if he can charge us at least half of the cleaning fee he paid. I said no. We have agreed with all their request, it's now time he pay us our deposit. And the flat does not even look clean! It;s a good thing he agreed easily. I'm thinking this is just his agent's way of getting money or to save face because the new tenant gave them a hard time. But, whew, I'm so relieved this is over and I don't have to deal with them anymore!
Now real estate agents have a bad image for me.. all of them are just after the $$$$$.
And don't even get me started about those selling electronics in Sim Lim and China Town!!!
posted by dannie at
3:06 PM
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