ST Forum : Real estate agents need protection too

20 JAN 2011,

Real estate agents need protection too

I APPLAUD the Government's efforts to clean up the real estate industry with the formation of the Council for Estate Agencies. At the same time, I also sympathise with the realtors.

We need to keep in mind that unethical dealings can come from both buyers and sellers. I have been in the real estate business since 1992 and have experienced all sorts of unethical clients.

Some move out of their property and disappear upon completion of the sale without paying commission to the agency. Others have made unreasonable deductions or even refuse to pay the commission.

Bringing unethical clients to court is a long, tedious and costly process. Realtors seem to be at the mercy of clients, especially when they refuse to pay or make unreasonable deductions after a transaction has been completed. Is there anybody we can lodge a complaint with without having to drag the clients to court?

Perhaps we should introduce the practice of having clients pay 50 per cent of the commission when the 'option to purchase' is signed, with the remainder to be paid upon completion of the sale.

Until there is a proper benchmark procedure to deal with such clients, we will not see less of them any time soon.

Alexs Chua