Expat Living City Guide – June 2018

Do your research beforehand

as you and the agent may have

different perceptions of what your

ideal area may be. We had a good

experience with ours and really felt

he was on our side. Just be open

and honest about what you’re

looking for.^ – Alexandra

List all your requirements for

renting a home in order of priority.

Stick with an agent who knows

your prospective area well and isn’t

pushy.^ – Ankita

Find a good agent and stick

with them. You need to be patient

when it comes to house hunting,

especially if you’re looking at

properties online. Don’t be

surprised if the agent doesn’t

even have the listing for the

property you are keen on; a lot

of the time they are only listed

speculatively.^ – Beth

We’ve always used Kristen Graff

from Home Equity. She’s from the

US, but has lived in Singapore for

many years, so she’s very familiar

with every district and knows the

best locations, buildings and local

THE PROPERTY GAME

The panel members share their

experiences in searching for a

home and dealing with landlords

and agents.

business practices. Compromise

is also key; you won’t always be

able to get everything you want

(unless you have some serious

funds!).^ – Dana

Find the right agent! There are

some that don’t listen to your

needs and requirements and will

just show you anything. Don’t be

afraid to negotiate and ask for

what you want to be fixed or added

before you sign any contract. In

Singapore, the tenant is responsible

for fixing things that break. There

will be a certain amount written

in your contract that the landlord

will cover. Above that amount, the

tenant is responsible.^ – Linda

I had quite a bad experience with

an agent in the past – they tried to

bully me into signing a contract

when I’d had second thoughts on

the property. Don’t be afraid to

chat to a few agents until you get it

right. They can put a lot of pressure

on you but hold out for what’s right

for you. Go with your gut!^ – Lisa

Scout out the areas in advance

that you are interested in living

in, and make a list of the things

that matter most to you (for

example, location, transportation

and schools).^ – Mel

Do your initial research using

platforms like Property Guru and

99.co to get a sense of what you

like, make sure you see plenty of

places and then always ask for a

discount as there is value to be

had!^ – Sophie

84 CITY GUIDE 2018

FIND YOUR HOME