mel77

Did CEA get back to you? My experience with CEA has been horrible. Nobody gets back to you on the status. Call nobodu answer, email bounced. Last straw, send email to the "Contact Us" listed in the CEA website and if still no picture no sound, will go down to CEA office again and KPKB. Friends have been asking us to go straight to media and don't bother to get response from CEA. Agency also don't bother to contact us to find out details.

Always like that. I'm still receiving calls from agents on units that are for sale based on the specifications stated back in late 2009 when i started searching for a new place.

Hahahah..... you should have called to check. In case it is a "Penthouse Unit".

Personal experience. Updated new address with SP services, Starhub, M1, Banks..... all acknowledge and update of change in address, but con't to send the statements and bills to old address. 2nd month after shift out, called again to inform and update changes. Again received acknowledgement, then cycle repeat again. Only on the 4th month then the mails get to the correct address. Lucky thing is the buyer of the flat is very nice and always keep the letters and passed to my ex-neighbour. Out the blues now (6th month) received a Bill from Starhub indicating an outstanding bill from the old address where we paid before suspending the services for 1month during the reno period. KNN.

Unethical practices will always be around.....like what some folks in the forum say: "When dealing with agents, Open Eyes & Ears Big Big and look out for signs of foul play" Also for sharing purpose, if you are in the market looking for a place....try to document all the services and agreements with the agent, in case foul play and you want to lodge a complaint with CEA, they ask you do you have any documentation to proof. Sigh!

I also concur that it could be the agent doing the mischief. I've my fair share of hic-cups and now the agents turned around to bite us back. Lucky thing is i've all the evidence of the "claims" that the agent has since replied to CEA.

What i would do. 1. Lodge this with CEA. Go personally to CEA at Toa Payoh. Weed out these type of agents.... 2. Then go to HDB file the official complaint of seller walking away with your 5K deposit... 3. Then go Lawyer's office and issue the lawyer's letter to the seller If still no response, go to the unit and bang door..... Btw, have they en-cash your cheque?

Don't be surprised that those that you called don't have a unit for sale. What they are doing is "Fishing" for potential buyers and scoping out the details for them to search within their database. My househunting started in early 2010, i've agents who recently text me on the available units for viewing. Kekekekeek!!!! Try running an advert on your requirements and you'll be surprised that how many calls you receive. For me, if i were to sell my HDB again i'll do all the work myself. Not worth the hassle and fuzz to deal with a bad agent and then still have to pay commission.

"Gentlemen agreement" is non-existence these days.... Personally i would advice to vacate and do temp lodging & storage. Pay the commission, then follow your heart in whether to pursue. I've gone the route of writing in to CEA and lodge the complaint. Agent has turned around and reply the complaint that we were un-reasonable Buyers. Claiming things that he has done but actually didn't and the best part all the "facts" he claims were captured on CCTV footage that he was not present. Loads of Bull-**** and the agency actually didn't even bother to call us to check.

Must say that it is a common practice even before the new rule was implemented. Sellers just need to do a "surprise" check by pretending to be an interested "Buyer"....viola, the truth will be unveil if your agent is acting in your interest. Personal experience....even when my agent tried to call to arrange for viewing it was said the Unit was Sold. Next when i called and identified as Buyer, the unit b'comes available. (In a space of mins with my agent next to me) When up to the unit with my agent and F@#$ the seller agent in front of the owner, then tell seller agent that this is my agent deal with her. Seller's husband then pulled me aside to check why i F@#$ their agent, when i explain they were shocked. Bumped into the couple again recently when i've shifted in to my new place, surprise...they have not sold their place and have decided to stay put as their agent drop the case due to "No offer" or "Offer didn't match asking" and advice them that their unit can fetch a higher price. Kkekekekeek....

Hi All, For sharing purpose, recently completed my re-wiring for the whole house and is very happy with my electrician. So if anyone planning to re-wire, can try and ask him to quote. PM me is you need the contact. Cheers!

Sharing purpose. Done with my re-location work and is very happy with it. Price also reasonable.

Hi, Need advice on how to polish the kitchen solid surface top? (besides asking the contractor to do) I'm thinking of DIY. Not sure if it is the same process as polishing for cars. Cheers!

Some things i learn from my recent sale & buying. 1. Don't rush into exclusive. Agent need to explain the pro/con for signing exclusive 2. Discuss commissions % and payment timeline 3. Try to talk to at least 5 agents to have a good gauge on their abilities. Cos some is only interested in getting the commission and will not advice you on other matters to consider. Like as Seller, you might have special arrangements for next house...buy first or sell first, financial planning, HLE or Bank loan etc. 4. Establish what is the agents role & responsibilities. 5. If you going in as a Buyer, state your requirements clearly. Hand over date, seller's reno details if seller claims that things are done. Make sure it is stated on the OTP document. Don't get caught in a situation where after completion, the house has issues and seller act blur and start ignoring. Agent also start acting blur.. 6. Check with agent if you suspect seller is divorce case. Can have a lot of issues. Wife don't want to talk to husband, don't want to sign OTP....etc 7. If both seller and buyer agents are friends and from the same agency, chances are you will be in for rough time in terms of acting for your interest

From my experience. 1. Run thru the keys to the house with the seller. (Go buy those little plastic tags to label the keys) 2. Check that the aircon remote (if you are going to reuse) are available. 3. Check the overall condition of the house and confirm the items that the seller is taking away. (mine had things that the seller wanted to "leave" behind saying that we might need it.....but it is a case of they don't want.) 4. Check electrical points to confirm nothing illegal that will trip the house. (this one i kanna Big Time!) Best is ask for the renovation details that the seller has done. Especially for electricals. If you purchase with the understanding that the house was re-wired ask for proof.

Why the shop tell you cannot replace? Look for the same or similiar design, get a screwdriver and you are set. I just replace all my door locks as my seller pass me keys that don't work or jammed up the locks. Kekekeek!!! ** Why u buy the lock, it show come with an instructions sheet.

My old place was a gas heater provided by SP when we got our flat 10yrs ago. It was a promotion at that time. Free heater, only pay the piping connection. (Brand: Bosch) 10yrs change battery twice. Hot water comes out almost instantly. Never waited more than 5secs. Kids love it. I want to install the Citygas heater, but it seems like they are not interested to do as i'm not re-doing my kitchen. Contractors mentioned that Citygas on want to do the connection + running of piping when it is totally empty.

That both agents are aware. Even the ex-husband is aware of our complains on the keys, house was dirty and some left behind stuff. Agent did all the cleaning up prior to handing over the keys to me. Anyway, HDB has responded and they are coming to inspect the house. Even my contractors also say the electrical tapping very stupid one. If it is a licensed person, the electrician will not tap from a point where the loading cannot be shared. (aircon socket)

Sometimes agents think that once the deal has been inked, the story ends. But in fact the story has just begun. If you look at each step of the process, the agent plays a big role in making the process flows smoothly. So like what some have mentioned, doing a bit of reading up and finding out would give you a upper hand and in control.

Frankly, even agents also won't know the issues cos when we did the inspections, the plugs were pulled out. Which you wouldn't know. So when we took the keys, decided to test the lights, fans, aircon....then the tripping starts. But i must say that HDB has responded pretty fast. Arrow straight shot to area Technical officer. Ended the email to HDB: " ....as it is a potential Fire and Electrical Hazard, prepared for stop work to allow HDB to inspect flat so that renovation contractors can work Safely"

For folks who are keen to try and understand about your aircon requirements for your house. Link: http://www.inspectapedia.com/aircond/AirConditionerChart.htm

Thanks for your advice. Just need to know where to start from and not along the way i get surprises. This electrical thingy is getting on my nerves as i've old folks and kids at home. I'm not re-doing the kitchen, thus getting the facts to whether the electrical wirings is done is important. Cos if not done and i need to re-wire, the kitchen and some areas needs to be torn down to access the cables. Which means the reno cost is going to increase further....

Finally completion done. But if after completion the house has many other issues, how can i get the seller to sort the issues? 1. All doors bo keys or keys jammed into the door locks 2. Window grills bo keys. Contractors need to open grills to work on the air-con 3. Illegal wirings that trips the house (tap wirings from air-con plug). Not sure how many more such things around the house. Fire hazard!! 4. When OTP state that the whole house was re-wired, but now (based on the circuit breaker) cannot have been done cos the breaker is very old type. (this one is our fault, didn't check) I know bo pian i've to fix all this issues, since i've taken over the flat. But i want to make life difficult for the seller now, cos she totally claim don't know right now. **** Pissed!! Even lawyers also si bei pissed off with her attitude. Any advice appreciated! Kum sia!

Can you share the contacts for your carpenter? Which part of Sungei Kadat? Any name of the company or the address. Thanks!