Seller, Protect Yourself

Source : The Sunday Times, Feb 8, 2009

A property agent should work in his client's best interest, so look out for anything that indicates otherwise.

1 Do your homework. Always get a valuation done on the property so you know if you are being cheated, said Mr C.M. Tan, 64, a retired bank manager who has worked on home loans.

2 Don't rush to appoint an agent. Meet a few and have detailed discussions with them before deciding on one, said Ms Ivy Lee, chief executive of Ivy Lee Realty.

3 Get a reputable agent from recommendations by friends.

4 If an agent is unwilling to advertise or co-broke your property, he is not exposing it to a maximum number of buyers, said experts.

5 Be wary of agents who make promises that sound too good to be true, said Ms Lee.

6 Do not leave your agent alone to do his work. Check up on him every two weeks or so to ensure that he is working hard to sell the property.