ST Forum : The other story - rogue clients

Sep 28, 2010

The other story - rogue clients

I REFER to the article ("Do your checks before signing the cheques"; Aug 22) and Miss Koh Wee Leng's letter on Sunday ("It can be tough for property agents").

The reality of the business is that it is far from easy to be a successful property agent. Besides needing the skills and tenacity to edge out competition in this highly competitive industry, there are also rogue clients to deal with.

We often hear complaints about rogue agents, yet the total number of complaints is only about 1 to 2 per cent, based on the Consumers Association of Singapore's complaints against the number of HDB transactions.

What people do not often hear about are the clients who make life even more difficult for agents. Those who refuse to pay commission after the deal, not just those who delay payment.

Those who try to renegotiate the commission after the transaction is complete.

Those who engage multiple agents to begin multiple deals, none of which can, therefore, be completed.

Those who take advantage of agents by asking for personal loans to settle their outstanding service and conservancy charges so their flat can be sold, and so on.

The Ministry of National Development is regulating the real estate industry, and rightly so. If only there was a way to regulate those rogue consumers as well.

Adam Tan

Corporate Communications Manager

PropNex Realty