Stories

During my family’s recent year-end trip to Kyushu, we encountered two unexpected situations on the same day.

These moments reminded me of important life lessons — ones that feel relevant for all of us.

Selling a property can be a challenging and emotional process, especially when the clients are going through a divorce.

As a property agent, I’ve had the privilege of assisting divorced couples in selling their homes, and each experience has imparted valuable lessons.

Take Paolo and Min (not their real names) for example.

They first came to me as fresh graduates from NUS, young and eager to start their lives together.

They needed a place to rent with Paulo’s sister, who had just begun her studies at SMU.

As I approached the house at 6 p.m. that evening, there was a light drizzle.

The Singaporean was loading the last of his belongings into a minivan that was parked outside the house.

We exchanged greetings, and I spent a few minutes chatting with him.

As I stepped into the sprawling 2,500sqft condominium, my heart raced with a mix of excitement and nervousness.

The year was 2010, and I was a rookie property agent struggling to find my footing in the industry.

This day turned out to be historical and memorable.

It was no shabby offer. It was higher than the last price recorded in March 2020 before Covid-19 Circuit Breaker and 14.8% higher than the last offer brought in by the seller’s previous sole agent in December 2019.

A disturbing pattern emerged as I delved deeper into the scammer’s tactics.

They would seek out unsuspecting tenants who had posted “rental property wanted” ads, luring them in with beautiful pictures and attractive prices.

As a property agent in Singapore, I’ve seen my fair share of negotiation tactics. Buyers want to buy low, while sellers want to sell high.

Today, I want to share a story that highlights the potential pitfalls of using low-ball offers when trying to secure your dream home.