I HAVE been looking for an HDB flat in the resale market with my husband for the past four months. We have met agents from various companies who are unprofessional and unhelpful when they find out we want to represent ourselves, effectively depriving them of commission.
We are both first-time home buyers and state at the outset that we will do any paperwork on the purchase ourselves. We also do the legwork ourselves by looking up advertisements for specific apartments.
These agents, who are appointed by the seller, turn hostile and refuse to take us to see properties when they learn we are independent buyers who don't want to incur commission for their services.
By not taking us to see the flats, these agents fail in their professional capacity and do not represent their clients' interests either. They hinder potential deals from closing. It's a lose-lose situation for everyone.
Agents benefit from a 2 per cent commission based on the HDB flat sale price, paid by the seller who appoints the agent. Assuming a four-room flat costs $300,000, the commission is $6,000, hardly a meagre sum.
Rosalyn Lim Ching Mun (Ms)
