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I have engaged a housing agent 6 months ago, the house should be rented for 1 year. Recently, the tenant wants to move out, telling us that the agreement allows for termination after 6 months of living. When I checked the agreement, it says he can terminate provided that he is no longer working in Singapore. But the housing agent told us that this agent has personal problem, and request us to let him go instead. Ain't the housing agent suppose to side the owner? Today, this housing agent even taught the tenant that he can don't pay the last rent, just use the deposit as the payment. The tenant, who is a gentleman, told us about it and he says he will not do so. This housing agent is from Huttons Asia Pte Ltd. We do not want other owners to fall into this ugly agent's way of doing things (got 1 mth commission, yet only 6 mths rental). Can we lodge a complaint on this housing agent? If so, how?

Was introduced to this product called "Atom Power - World's Fuel Saving Enzymatic Agent" by Power-Z and its promise the following: a. Increase in engine power b. Increase Mileage c. Excellent Cold Engine Start-off d. Removes Carbon Deposits e. Fuel Injection Cleaning, and f. Reduces Smoke Emission This product is from Korea and its come in a box of 2 bottles. Paid $50/- per box and as claimed, special introduction prices. According to my friend, the first batches were sold out within a month and what I am getting is the second batches which I placed an order 2 weeks ago. Just received them today. Just wondering, any members here had tried this product and does it really give extra power, fuel saving and extra mileage...... Cheers ................

Hello all, Was hoping anyone can advice on the email address for Mazda corporate HQ or contact. My dad's Mazda 2 under went routine servicing with the agent 3 days ago. While on the road, the car suddenly stalled and water gushed out from under bonnet. After the car cooled, we have noticed that the cooler cap is missing. The car was unable to start thereafter, and had been towed back to the agent. We were quoted 5k for a complete engine overhaul. Obviously, we we highlighted that servicing had just been done hence how could the car gotten into such a state out of sudden. Unfortunately, the agent is unable to give a good explanation and shrug off as wear and tear :( Anyone has such experience and what actions been taken? It is really unfair that the responsibility is thrown back to us while we had diligently sent for servicing etc. If anyone has the email address for Madza public relation etc, do feel free to share too as I would like to write and share with them on my experience and the service (the lack of it actually) provided by it's agent. Thanks!

Since there's a topic what gp doctor drive, lets share what your family financial advisor/insurance agent drive? Mine: S class & prancing horse(ferrari). In the business for 20 yrs & stay around botanical gardens! Wah seh............ So profitable meh? Yours?

Dont Get S c r e w e d A good housing agent should have all the relevant information you need at their fingertips - but are they telling all? Wed, Sep 21, 2011 Home & Decor By Stella Thng Buying or selling a home is one of the most expensive, complicated events in your life, no thanks to the ever-changing government regulations. Whether it's your eligibility for a loan or the bewildering range of seller's stamp duties depending on your occupation period, it can all snowball into one huge headache. So, most of us shell out good (commission) money for a property agent hoping to tap into their expertise to buy that dream ?home at a bargain or sell your property at a premium. Housing agents might have the industry knowledge to help you make a good deal, but be aware of what they're not telling you, too. 1. The HDB does not require you to engage a property agent Many first-time home-buyers do not know this. When adjunct lecturer Tang Xueling bought her first HDB flat a decade ago with her husband, they didn't have an agent and the seller's became theirs by default, picking up an easy commission. They had no idea then that if they were willing to handle the paperwork themselves, they wouldn't even need to pay for an agent. "Since Jan 1, 2011, agents may only collect a commissionfrom one party even if he represents both. This prevents any conflict of interest," says Kelvin Fong, a top-ranking group district director at PropNex, who leads over 1,200 real estate agents. Generally, it is not difficult for buyers to represent themselves as long as they work closely with the seller's agent to prepare all the necessary documents. But sellers who want to cut out the middleman may find it more daunting. They have to market the property, screen enquiries and organise viewings. Even if you make a successful sale, there's the complicated paperwork and various deadlines to deal with. Marcia Lai, director of Faith Property Network, an associate company of international real estate company Re/max, explains: "Many sellers may lack the technical know-how, especially about the new HDB regulations introduced recently." This may delay the completion of the transaction and affect the hand-over date. For some sellers, saving that few thousand dollars in commission is not worth the hassle. What about buying a resale private property? Since buyers do not have to pay commission, your agent will collect a co-broking commission from the seller's agent. You get someone looking out for your interest, so why not? 2. It's better to sign with an exclusive agent (but only if he's the real deal) Exclusive contracts last three months and the commission for selling a HDB or private property is usually one to two per cent of the selling price. Marcia says that sellers usually fare better when they work with a trusted exclusive agent. As he will handle all enquiries, he is in a better position to secure the highest possible price. "When too many agents are marketing the same unit, some may try to close the deal quickly by persuading you to grab the first offer instead of waiting for a better price," she says. According to Kelvin, an exclusive agent should provide all forms of media exposure such as classified newspaper ads, online or by printing brochures. He should also be part of a network of agents who help each other by finding the right buyers for their clients' property, and be open to co-broke with other agents who can fetch a good price. If you suspect that your agent is not performing, ask to see proof of his marketing efforts. You can break the contract if he can't back up his promises. To weed out rogue agents and protect buyers and sellers, the Council for Estate Agencies (CEA) implemented new guidelines which came into effect from August 1, 2011, with eight templates for contracts that agents must use for the sale, purchase or lease of properties. CEA also spelled out the proper use of these forms as well as commission clauses, disclosure requirements and co-broking clauses. 3. Your property may be used as a 'showflat' Should sellers go with an agent who claims to specialise in your area? His experience may come in handy, but he is probably also marketing several units in the neighbourhood - and they're all your competitors. In the worst-case scenario, your home may be used as a "showflat" as homeowner YS Liang discovered. "Weekend after weekend, our agent would bring a stream of people to speed-visit our apartment, leaving within minutes. She didn't even try to promote our apartment. It felt like we were just one of the many tour stops for her clients," he complains. According to Kelvin, other agents could also make use of your agent's listings. "If your pricing is on the high side, these agents may use your home to convince their buyers why they should buy another apartment." To counter this, Kelvin says it is crucial for your agent to offer a current market analysis before putting up your home for sale. "This helps you price your property correctly and realistically." 4. An experienced agent can help with your financial planning Your property has appreciated but until you sell it, you're just sitting on paper gain. "Property is the biggest asset for most Singaporeans, so you should leverage on it to create more wealth. The problem is that many agents keep asking the seller to sell, but do not help to plan what you can do with the profits," laments Kelvin. His suggestion? Cash out and use part of the profits as downpayment for a new home. Invest the rest in another property to collect rent. Buyers can borrow up to 80 per cent of the price of their first private residential property, and 60 per cent for the second. Kelvin points out that there is no such cap for commercial properties as long as you meet the bank's loan criteria. 5. There's little your agent can do once the deal is done You've excitedly moved into your new crib, only to realise that the air-con isn't working and the plumbing is choked. Can your agent negotiate with the seller to pay for the repairs? Sorry, his hands are tied. Once you put down the one per cent option fee to hold down a private property, you have to accept its condition as it is when you move in - faulty air-con, choked toilet and all. Get around this by asking your agent to include a final inspection clause in the option-to-buy letter. HDB flat buyers automatically enjoy this safety net. "There is a final inspection of the property two days before the completion of all HDB transactions. If the air-con is faulty, you can request the seller to repair it," says Kelvin. What happens if your seller backs out of the sale and refuses to return your deposit? Marcia shares an example that happened to her friend. During the second appointment at HDB, he learned that the seller had not paid his monthly instalments and Town Council fees for over a year, and the transaction could not be completed. "Although my friend offered to clear the Town Council arrears, the seller changed his mind and said he'd rather let the HDB repossess his home. He had also spent the $5,000 deposit and blatantly said he was too broke to ?pay back the money," recalls Marcia. Unfortunately, agents do not have the authority to check on a seller's records with the HDB or the Town Council, which might help to flag such potential high-risk cases. Often, they are as much a victim of the unscrupulous seller as the buyer is. In this case, both the seller's and buyer's agents could not collect any commission as the sale did not go through. Your agent's role is purely as a middleman to facilitate the transaction. Once all the paperwork is processed, his job is done. Having said that, "A responsible property agent must help his buyer look out for all potential risks and not just think of making a quick commission. If your buyer is unhappy, the problem will come back to you," advocates Kelvin. Whether you hire an agent or not, property investment is an expensive business, so always do your own research. Buyers can check out recently transacted prices of HDB and private properties at www.hdb.gov.sg or ura.gov.sg before setting their budget or selling price. Visit the unit at different times of the day and observe the neighbourhood. If possible, speak with the neighbours to get a better feel of whether you and your family will fit in. It is also a good chance to find out if your seller has a dubious past. Be Informed Still game to go agent-less? Pick up tips at the "Resale Seminar for Buyers and Sellers" organised by the HDB. It costs $25 per person and sessions are conducted in English, Chinese and Malay. The next English session is on September 3 at HDB Hub. Register online at the HDB website, at HDB Hub or any HDB branch office

Hi all, I am looking for a full-time agent from Chartis to sign up biz insurance, quite urgent and if possible can meetup by Thursday. PM me your contacts, Thanks. Cheers, Melissa.

SPC got new formula to enjoy cleaner engine. Esso, this morning also heard from radio can clean carbon Cowtex long time has been promoting their little ppl cleaning the engine. Only shell don have. so does all the cleaning agents really works or just gimmicks?

I am seriously comtemplating such a move. But it has to be part time. So i am thinking will doing it part time reap any substantial gains (if any at all)? My day job is not too busy at the moment Any thoughts?

I am looking to buy a private property. In the past, i would just call the agent to make an appointment to view the property. This time i have an agent who is going to help me make appointments and accompany me down. He is a relative of mine so we thought of using him. I know that buyers do not normally require agents. Now my question is...will the seller's agent raise the price of the property as he knows he may now have to co-broke with my agent? Will it be cheaper if i go alone instead?

Just wondering, what's the role of the car insurance agent, other showing their face every year when the premium due. I got my car insurance (China Taiping) from an agent and not happy with his service. license going to due in 2nd March but did not receive a renewal letter. I called the insurance company and found out that they have already sent out to the agent but I guess it's the agent who is still holding on the the letter. I know last week is CNY so no letter delivery but today is already wednesday, still not heard anything from the agent. Called him also, didn't pick up.... Later he SMSed me said busy will call me later but still no news.... KNN. Not happy with his service, I called the insurance company to check if I can buy directly from them, they said can but must come down personally and no discount if get directly. KNN, agent so good aa... can earn commission just by popping by once a year to collect premium????

hi all. Was wondering on what circumstances can I stop the service of a house agent. My MIL has last time signed an agreement letter to allow certain agent to sell her house but after sending few times the documents needed he still keeps asking for it. N the best part is he will not contact us. Whenever we ask him any buyers or viewers he will re ask the same document.

hi, would like to know what are the fees to pay agent if i want to rent out my whole hdb house? do i like pay a 1-time commission fee or monthy? thanks.

Need house agent to sell my MIL house in woodland n then buy another. PM me

Guys, I have agreed verbally to sell my car to a used car agent. He did not agree to place a deposit and ask me to sign on his company form saying "I will sell at xxx price and if I not, I have to pay 20% of price as penalty". And there was no clause about any obligation on the buyers part. Naturally I refused to sign. So the plan is to go down to his company office on Monday and sign that form so that they can prepare the cashiers order. The company is a big company so "looks" reputable. Question is izzit allright that I sign on the company form? I afraid once they lock you into the form, they chu pattern and give you problem because the form is really an "unfair" contract. But I guess it is normal for a big company to require you to sign on some form before they can ask the finance dept to prepare the cashiers order right? Selling to agent, I guess payment should be in cashier's order and not cash right? Maybe I should just sell direct to buyers and follow the procedure in sgcarmart. Collect deposit, give invoice. Meet at LTA, give cash, transfer car. Newbie is selling car...

hi, Helping to look for recommended housing agent for Yew Tee / Choa Chu Kang area. Better still if you are letting go of a 4 rm HDB flat in above area. Pls leave PM. thanks keith

I have sent my car to repair and though the warranty agent has provided me a car to use, but they take too long to repair it. They are not professional at all though they claim they are. They take their own sweet time and down my car there for so long, so consider my COE of 14k, insurance of 4k a year and road tax of 1.2k a year, they hold my car for 2 months already, I should be able to claim a $1100 from them... Anyone has such bad experience from WARRANTY AGENT? PLS Share with me what I can do.....

Ooopsss. Think i posted this is the wrong category earlier. Hi, anyone know of any establishment that retails NITTO brand of tyres in SG? Been googling the internet without success. All the sites i came across reside in US. Many thanks in advance.

Hi, anyone know of any establishment that retails NITTO brand of tyres in SG? Been googling the internet without success. All the sites i came across reside in US. Many thanks in advance.

I have sent my car to repair and though the warranty agent has provided me a car to use, but they take too long to repair it. They are not professional at all though they claim they are. They take their own sweet time and down my car there for so long, so consider my COE of 14k, insurance of 4k a year and road tax of 1.2k a year, they hold my car for 2 months already, I should be able to claim a $1100 from them... Anyone has such bad experience from WARRANTY AGENT? PLS Share with me what I can do.....

Hi all, An expat friend is considering to ship over his car in UK to Singapore. Any recommendations for a reliable freight forwarding and shipping agent? Thanks.

hi guys, i have a studio unit at Soho 188 which is located just next to Farrer Park MRT Station for sale / for rent at 2.9k/month. any guys here can recommend a good agent? pls PM me if u're agent or tenant. Thanks.

Hi guys I shipped 4 boxes of car rims from the US. They arrived on a ship here ytd. It was a very complicated process involving the shipper passing the item to the forwarding company which would then consolidate items to be shipped to singapore into one container. Once the shipping company takes over from the forwarding company it would then be up to the agent here in singapore to handle the administration. This method albeit complex, cost the least. Still $600 or so. The goods were due to be picked up by me at the port. So I waited for ~1 month for the ship to arrive. I sent the shipping company the bill of lading and invoice had the items declared as a gift around 3 weeks before the arrival of the goods. The CRO assured me that she would expedite the process and that they could provide customs brokering service as well as delivery for a fee. However, today when i called up the shipping agent they forwarded me the notice of arrival. Turns out agent fees, wharfing and DO fees were not included and they came up to $125. This was not mentioned to me or the shipper by the forwarding company OR the agent here despite me contacting them beforehand to send them the B/L and invoice 3 weeks beforehand. I checked with my friend and he said he wasnt informed. I checked with the agent and they said the $600 i paid was only the ORIGIN FEES So i told the CRO no problem I dont mind paying this amount even THOUGH it was not included in the $600 i already paid for which was told to me as the nett figure. That one im willing to absorb. They then sent me the admin FEEs for processing customs. This one added up to ANOTHER $200 or so. This one was expensive but not unexpected. The forwarding company had told me that I had to pay for customs clearance even if I had declared it as a gift. The agent then chut stunt again say the invoice declaring the rims as a gift doesnt work. That i have to pay GST. This one i also dont mind paying BUT KNNCCB NOW THEN THEY TELL ME AFTER THE RIMS ARRIVE. THEN THEY CHARGE ME FOR 1. FORKLIFTING THE RIMS TO THE WAREHOUSE $75 2. MANPOWER $50 3. WAREHOUSE STORAGE 4. REMOVAL OF RIMS How can they f--king charge me for bringing my rims to the warehouse when it was supposed to be a port pickup They did not even inform me or ask my permission to send it to the warehouse. Even if they claim its not processed by customs yet and i cant collect my good, its their fault why didnt they tell me declaration as a gift doesnt work till today. and charge me for storage and movement BECAUSE OF THEIR OWN DELAY. WHY DIDNT THEY SETTLE ALL THE CUSTOMS ADMIN WITH ME BEFOREHAND BEFORE THE GOODS ARRIVED? I am waiting for my friend to rewrite the invoice. And see what the company can do about this. Im not a calculative person. I dont mind paying $100-200 more even though it was not included in the original deal. BUT $540+ IS AS MUCH AS THE MONEY IT TAKES TO SHIP THE STUFF FROM AMERICA. WTF If they had informed me earlier then I wouldve have used air freight which would have saved me 3 weeks +++ and lots of opportunity costs in my sale of old rims for just abit more $$$ They did not have the decency to inform me or the shipper despite me contacting them 3 weeks beforehand and now they want to charge me for their negligence? They still had the cheek to tell me its their "STANDARD" CHARGES. BS Can i go to the small claims tribunal if they play punk? Its a big shipping agent. I have all the proof and evidence with me. Can any bros in the shipping industry advise?

The Housing and Development Board (HDB) has sent out a warning to flat owners: Do not sublet your flats illegally. In a statement today, it said: 'HDB would like to emphasise the severity of unauthorised subletting. HDB flats are meant for owner occupation.' A housing agent who had three cases of illegally subletting flats without prior approval from the HDB is learning this the hard way. HDB has taken legal action to repossess his flat, and will be doing the same for the other flats he sublet without authorisation. In 2007, Mr Poh Boon Kay, a registered real estate agent with five other properties, bought his 4-room Bukit Batok flat at $150,000 without any loans, listing his wife, Mdm Khoo Kim Cheng as occupier. However, in November 2009, HDB discovered that Mr Poh was actually subletting the flat - without HDB's prior approval - to 3 Burmese couples (six adults and one child) at a monthly rent of $1,900. Mr Poh and his family were not residing in the flat. Two weeks later, HDB informed him that unless the unauthorised sub-tenants are evicted, HDB would take compulsory acquisition action. As the subtenants continued to stay in the flat, a Notice of Board's Intention to compulsorily acquire the flat was served on December 23. On the same day, he said the sub-tenants had signed an undertaking that they would vacate the flat by the end of December. Mr Poh appealed the next day, claiming that he rented out the flat to the sub-tenants while they worked out their finances in order to buy the flat from him. When interviewed, he and his wife claimed they did not know that they needed to seek prior approval from HDB before subletting the flat, or that they needed to fulfill the Minimum Occupation Period (MOP) of three years before they are eligible to do so. Two other cases of illegal sub-letting HDB subsequently discovered that Mr Poh is related to two more cases of unauthorised sub-letting. In the second case, he acted as the housing agent for his 91-year-old aunt, whose flat was sublet without HDB's approval to Burmese monks at a monthly rent of $1,400 since July last year. They had used it as a meditation centre, with monthly rents paid out to Mr Poh. The third case involved his daughter's Telok Blangah flat which was again sublet without HDB's consent to subtenants for $900 a month. According to a statement released by the HDB, "With these further instances of unauthorised subletting related to Mr. Poh, his claims that he is "unaware" of HDB rules cannot be substantiated. Furthermore, these regulations are publicly available from many sources such as HDB's InfoWeb or service hotline. There is clear evidence that Mr Poh, a housing agent by profession, has been intentionally abusing HDB flats for monetary gains." HDB has now taken legal action to compulsorily acquire Mr Poh's flat. It plans to take the same action towards his aunt's and daughter's flats as well. HDB ramps up enforcement against unauthorised subletting The Housing Board said it would take action in those who commit this infringement, from penalties that ranged from fines of $1,000 to $21,000, to repossession of flat. 56 owners have received these penalties from January 2008 to December 2009. Flat owners who wish to sublet their whole flat must obtain approval from HDB and fulfil the Minimum Occupation Period (MOP). The current MOP for the subletting of flats is as follows: Flats bought directly from HDB: 5 years Resale flats purchased with CPF Housing Grant: 5 years Resale flats purchased without CPF Housing Grant: 3 years They must also comply with HDB's terms and conditions. For instance, the maximum number of subtenants allowed. 1-Room and 2-Room flats are allowed a maximum of four persons, 3-room flats can have 6 persons, while 4-Room and bigger flat types can have 9 persons in total. Residents are encouraged to call HDB's dedicated hotline at 1800-5556370 [Monday to Friday - 8am to 5pm] to report any suspected cases.

Really helpful? Selling two bottles at $50,. Which also translate to ~25liters of fuel at petrol station. Assuming my car can travel 13km per liter, then 25liters can get me to 325km. Will mixing this additives allow me to travel more than 325km, in order to make it worthwhile??? Anyone with actual usuage comments? http://forums.keeptouch.net/showthread.php?t=103032 http://www.ceratoforte.sg/lobang-sharing-f...-ride-t1963.htm