The process of buying or selling a property typically involves a few external parties, like a property agent, lawyer, banker, and more.
Curious as to what some property seekers have to say about agents they’ve engaged with in the past, we interviewed five property buyers to talk about their experience, perception, and how dealing with property agents in general has been for them.
Peter Michael On ‘The Over-Promisers’
“The first thing that comes to mind when I think about property agents would be, ‘over-promising’. Some really try to lure you with a sense of hope through things like Guaranteed Rental Returns (GRR) or 100% loan guarantees. When I deal with these types of agents, I feel they’re unnecessarily dishonest.
Fortunately, I’ve also met some really patient ones. One, in particular, helped my mum and I find the house we currently live in. He was willing to bear with us for two whole years and even took into account things like cultural and religious considerations. You know lah, like how some families don’t like houses directly in front of a junction and all that?
If there’s one thing I feel property agents should stop doing, it’s to stop uploading developer photos, or photos found on Google when trying to push and promote your property.”
Richard Augustin On The ‘Ninja Agents’
“Mention property agents and of course, I think about someone who deals with property, particularly an agent who deals within a certain area, be it rental, sublet, or sale.
My thoughts on agents is that I feel they should be more proactive. I have dealt with agents that were enthusiastic about representing my property and finding me a property, in essence very proactive. But I’ve also dealt with property agents who also get in touch and then with no follow-up thereafter.
These ones are likely to just prod up their listings, which is of no benefit to anyone. This is a business after all, and also understandable as some properties do not command a great price or an easy flip, but both the agent and the agency they represent should understand that it reflects badly on them from a professional standpoint. This is a detriment as a whole to the real estate industry.”
Yenyi Goh On The ‘Try-Hards’
“I feel that agents can and should brush up on their knowledge and be more presentable in terms of how they carry themselves. I have met a couple of property agents who are well-versed about the market and well-spoken, but I guess this depends on which area the property is located as well.
For example, if it is in the Bangsar area, I find that the agents are more knowledgeable. I’ve dealt with humble, straight-to-the-point type of agents who don’t beat around the bush nor are they pushy.
But I’ve also dealt with some who really sound like they’re trying too hard to make a fast deal. I feel like I’m in a wet market! I feel that some agents definitely need to be more factual and really throw it out there: the advantages of the property and area, while sounding like he/she really knows the place really well. Brushing up on communication skills won’t hurt either.”
Denise On ‘Agent Etiquette’
“From a seller’s perspective, I find property agents to be like a convenient service as you don’t have the time to take off just to see potential tenants. Generally, they are able to rent out your place faster. I like that they do the stamping for you, and help you collect the deposits – you know, the tedious stuff that not everyone may have the time for.
At the same time, I do worry about agent ethics. Once, an agent made me wait for almost 1 hour just to meet her and get the keys back.
I feel agents should put more effort into their endeavour. For the most part, once they have a tenant interested, they’re willing to ignore certain specifications and guidelines that you’ve given to them – for example, not having more than X amount of tenants in the unit if it’s being rented out and all that.
Also, some of the standard tenancy agreements they use are rubbish and do not really protect the tenant or the landlord. I had to use my own amended tenancy agreement… so be wary of that one.”
Kiran Sathar On The ‘(Thirsty) Trust Abusers’
“Unfortunately I’ve not had much good experience with agents that I’ve dealt with in the past. I had one who only looked into the 1 month rental payout as their fee and then went missing in action. They force potential tenants to sign the contract, pay the first month’s rent as their fee, and let the tenant and owner figure everything else out on their own. There was no assistance offered after the contract was signed.
I was trying to rent out my unit and despite the agent finding the place slightly messy, took no initiative to clean it up, and even had the cheek to consume some of the drinks in the fridge for himself.
I would’ve liked for my agent to not just focus so much on the fee, but also the after-service to check up on owners and tenants. Stop misusing the trust empowered by homeowners.”
5 Things To Look For When Engaging A Property Agent
While we at Mudah.my have been blessed to have a great bunch of agents on our platform, the experiences shared above do provide great insight and value as to what people look for when engaging with property agents.
1. Patience and understanding
When your main goal is obviously monetary and not to be of service and assistance to those in need, it shows. And quite frankly, is off-putting.
Your role as an agent is to help people find (or sell) their homes. Initiatives, like listening to and properly understanding your client’s needs and wants, giving them options without trying to rush them into deals they may later regret, and being patient in explaining things they aren’t familiar with, will do you and your client a great deal of good!
2. After-sales service and follow-ups
And we mean none of that “Kthxbai” stuff upon getting your fees. Do check up on your clients, see if everything is alright, and offer any assistance should there be any concerns or unwanted occurrences.
Providing good service and a good experience for your clients can pave the way for future referrals, and they may even go back to you to help them sell their home!
3. Be real and transparent
Don’t just give clients what you know they’d want to hear. Empty promises and a false sense of hope are things an agent should avoid at all costs. Instead, give them the whole clear picture, weighing in both the pros and cons and potential outcomes.
4. Look and be the part
Having a fancy watch with a slick hairdo and a shiny ride doesn’t really count for much, unless you live up to that image in terms of service and etiquette. Do your research, know your area of focus inside out, and remember: always be punctual and not flaky.
Property Agents And Homeowners Need Each Other
Be it good or less than ideal, there is much that can be learnt from both homeowners and property agents. This can be further proven through our collaboration with IQI Global, where we discover 5 problematic homebuyers and the secrets to transforming them into lifetime clients.
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