The Essential Guide To Finding And Working With Your Property Agent

Getting the correct advice when you are buying or selling real estate is absolutely essential. If you make a decision using incorrect information that is provided to you, the financial impact could be very high. You could stand to lose thousands of dollars or more due to no fault of yours.

But there is much more to a property transaction than just money. You need to adhere to a complex legal process when buying or selling real estate. In fact, even renting a flat can involve complying with various government regulations. Even a single misstep can lead to negative repercussions.

One useful solution for this would be to find a reliable and experienced property agent to guide you through the buying/selling/renting process.

Help wanted for your property transaction needs? Here’s a handy solution for you.

An experienced real estate agent can be a godsend. This person will help you to find answers to the following questions:

• Are you paying the correct price for the property that you have selected? If you are a seller, are you receiving a fair value for the flat that you own?
• Do you understand all the paperwork? A property transaction will require you to sign multiple documents, many of which will contain complicated legalese. Your agent should be able to explain these to you, to your satisfaction.
• Are there any hidden costs involved? If you are buying a property, it can be very unpleasant to learn that you have to pay much more than you were initially told. A competent property agent will ensure that you don’t receive any unpleasant surprises of this type.

But how can you find an agent who meets all these criteria?

Know the right fit

Identifying a real estate agent who is both capable and experienced can be difficult. The person that you select must have the necessary expertise to guide you in your property transaction. But that is not enough. The agent should be capable of meeting your specific needs.

For example, the agent that you select should be familiar with the area in which you intend to buy the property. Similarly, if you are selling a flat or planning to rent one, your agent should have the required local knowledge. A well-informed and skilled agent is essential for a successful property transaction.

Many people use a recommendation from their friends, relatives, or office colleagues to identify a property agent. While there is nothing wrong with this, it could restrict your choice.

Additionally, your requirements could be different from those of your colleagues. Perhaps, your colleague was transacting a HDB flat, while you might be interested in a private property or a landed home. A HDB property agent may not have the expertise to handle private property or landed property.

There is a simple solution to this issue. PropertyAgentsReview, developed by Orange Tee, allows you to choose from over 4,000 property agents listed on its site. You can select an agent based on location, your transaction needs, and even your language requirements.

The following image from the website of Property Agents Review shows that the agency can provide you with an agent who can speak any one of 17 languages.

Source: PropertyAgentsReview

You should verify if the agent is licensed

It pays to exercise a certain degree of caution when you engage a property agent. To buy or sell a property, or to rent one, you would appoint an “estate agent.” OrangeTee is one of the largest and most reputed estate agents in Singapore. If you use their services, you can be assured of dealing with someone who is both committed and knowledgeable.

What’s more, for every property agent you meet, you can check on their license details. Simply log on to the website of Council for Estate Agencies. This is a statutory board under the Singapore government’s ministry of national development. You can enter the name of the estate agent verify that they are from OrangeTee.

By entering “OrangeTee” in the space for the estate agent’s name, you will see the following page:

Source: Council for Estate Agencies

Subsequently, you can click on the salesperson’s name to verify that individual’s licence number and photograph.

Know how the agent performed in the past

Wouldn’t it make life much simpler if there was a way to verify how well a particular property agent/salesperson had performed in the past? When you first meet a property agent, it is natural to ask if this individual has successfully concluded any deals. More importantly, how extensive is the property agent’s market knowledge?

The website of Property Agents Review provides this facility. For each agent on the site, you can see uncensored reviews by customers. Additionally, all reviews have to authenticated by a corresponding transaction, so you can be sure they were written by genuine customers.

Here is a sample review:

Source: PropertyAgentsReview

The review rates each property agent on the basis of four different criteria – market knowledge, trustworthiness, responsiveness, and negotiation skills. You even get the opportunity to see the comments that the agent’s earlier clients have made. This facility can make the job of selecting an agent much easier.

Review your property agent before your next property transaction.

Importance of choosing your property agent carefully

A capable real estate agent can make all the difference to your property transaction. If you are a buyer, a good agent will research the available properties and advise you on which one would make the best choice. Remember that the agent has performed this function dozens of times. The inputs that you receive from an experienced agent can be invaluable.

If you are planning to rent a flat, your agent will help you to negotiate the best rental rates. You will also receive assistance with the paperwork involved in renting the property.

The PropertyAgentsReview website is an excellent place to start your search for top-rated agents. Its simple interface and intuitive search options will make the job of finding the best agent for your needs very easy. The uncensored customer reviews on the site ensure that you have the information to select an agent who has a good track record.

Buy, Sell and Rent with ease. Get the right property agent now.