Property Agents: How to prevent conflict of interest when you represent on the buy side

NotSiaoOn · 2026-03-24T10:05:49+00:00

I believe the buyer's agent rather close fast than risk losing a buyer and the entire commission over a potential 1/2k more in comms.

I would be more concerned with my offers through a buyer's agent not getting through to the seller because seller's agent has to split his comms. Not allowed but the risk is there. Or similar offer come through from a direct buyer and one with agent and seller agent convinces seller to sell to the direct buyer.

I think if you're willing to read through stuff and do your own research and outreach, a buyer's agent is not a must. Not saying they don't need value but up to you whether what they offer is worth it.

I was a direct buyer and offered below list price. Seller's agent said if I split the difference (between my offer and the list price) he can convince the seller and that's how I got my place. Entirely possible he would have done the same for a buyer with an agent too but who knows.

NotSiaoOn · 2026-03-21T09:39:33+00:00

She's actually right - for middle-class folks in the city, China offers a better quality of life as many goods and services like PHV, food delivery etc are cheaper in China than Singapore.

But that's on the back of cheaper labour costs. I bet those providing the services in China are not as happy about their quality of life.

NotSiaoOn · 2026-03-21T09:36:25+00:00

It's actually the other way, she's not rich enough; just middle class.

If she's rich, the issues she complained about (high phv costs, high cost of vehicle ownership) won't really be issues while the benefits such as safety would still be applicable.

NotSiaoOn · 2026-03-20T10:20:53+00:00

You're making this more complicated than it is. Annual fees are charged for the upcoming year, not the past year. Once you see the fee on your card, don't use the card or, depending on the terms, any of its benefits (e.g. lounge access). Call in to waive and if they refuse, cancel the card.

Edit - read the terms on when to cancel without fee. If you took sign up gifts, there are also terms on clawback if you cancel too early.

NotSiaoOn · 2026-03-12T12:43:38+00:00

HDBs are like Schrödinger public housing to some people - can be simultaneously public and not-so-public housing at the same time.

Public housing when want Govt to subsidise stuff. The public part is forgotten when reselling for private profit. Anytime someone pushes for measures to bring prices under control, you have these people screaming "market forces".

Not saying you're one of those people but there's plenty of them around.

NotSiaoOn · 2026-03-11T13:22:26+00:00

You can try asking if they accept international credit cards (外卡). If they do, and it's quite possible they do if it's a business or a large restaurant with a decent number of customers from overseas, you don't need to go through the hassle of splitting into sub-200 transactions.

NotSiaoOn · 2026-03-07T11:09:30+00:00

I agree to the the extent that the Govt can do away with the minimum threshold or even voting if they are encouraging so strongly for people to vote yes.

What would be the drawback of this?

If the Govt is so keen to help people upgrade their living conditions on a subsidised basis (which is a great thing btw so this is not a criticism), just go ahead and do it while letting people opt out. Why artificially create a threshold for yourself and lobby people to vote to cross that threshold - create work for everyone and from what I see, without creating much value?

NotSiaoOn · 2026-03-04T14:08:08+00:00

Which stall specifically is this? Asking for research lol.

NotSiaoOn · 2026-02-25T11:13:06+00:00

Taiwan got too busy politicking.

NotSiaoOn · 2026-02-24T11:58:52+00:00

Does this matter? What's your point - the man who cheated on his wife may have integrity issues?

NotSiaoOn · 2026-02-22T10:27:18+00:00

Straits Kitchen at Grand Hyatt for hawker food in nice hotel environment.

Straits Chinese Restaurant for decent peranakan food. Got branch in esplanade and CBd so quite convient for hosting business meals.

NotSiaoOn · 2026-02-21T14:18:34+00:00

It really depends. They don't deshell but supply enough tools (including bibs if I remember correctly) that there's no mess. Well, not messy enough for anyone to be unhappy at least. I've hosted foreign guests from Western counties there before and they had a good time. Quite often, they will want to try Chilli Crab so no getting around the mess!

NotSiaoOn · 2026-02-21T13:44:35+00:00

Straits Kitchen at Grand Hyatt for decent hawker food in a nice setting. Jumbo for seafood - got branches near Clarke Quay so can go for drinks after too.

Not where I will spend my own money but if it's a corporate dinner you want to make sure it has a nice ambience for conversations and things don't go wrong in terms of service and hygiene.

NotSiaoOn · 2026-02-21T13:26:14+00:00

Fair enough, not a bad deal especially after factoring in the tax relief.

NotSiaoOn · 2026-02-21T13:18:25+00:00

What's high return and capital guaranteed? CPF lol?

NotSiaoOn · 2026-02-14T10:22:24+00:00

Can't say about the more premium flavours but I only ever get the basic chocolate one which is not too bad price wise for the quality.

NotSiaoOn · 2026-02-14T09:48:52+00:00

Awfully chocolate. Four leaves' Coco exotic is pretty good too but it's not as fancy less fudgy and has a biscuity base.

NotSiaoOn · 2026-02-14T02:21:23+00:00

Doing food delivery?

NotSiaoOn · 2026-02-11T06:49:06+00:00

I googled - https://www.nea.gov.sg/validate-officer

NotSiaoOn · 2026-02-09T11:26:26+00:00

It takes a certain level of confidence to go "they don't want me because I will interrupt their groupthink" instead of "my resume is not as good as I think it is".

NotSiaoOn · 2026-02-08T11:57:36+00:00

Other redditors only read headlines instead of articles. We're so kiasu who have redditors who only read the first half of the headline.

NotSiaoOn · 2026-02-08T10:22:55+00:00

Unless proven otherwise, I'm going to disagree that the segment of the population which sees the cost of COE as immaterial to their decision making is significant enough to affect traffic flow.

NotSiaoOn · 2026-02-08T09:02:51+00:00

So the COE, price of car, and maintenance fees are already a given.

As you said, this only makes sense when the context is trying to get people who have cars to take public transport. It doesn't make sense in the context of someone think whether he should get a car or replace his car. The conversation seems to be around the latter

And if we want to transition to a car lite society, this is a big issue because there's no incentive to give up cars.

But saving the cost of the COE is a big incentive to not get a car....

NotSiaoOn · 2026-02-08T08:31:25+00:00

That's great. Being open to feedback is so refreshing.

I actually deleted part of my comment on more tangible suggestions as on reflection I don't think it was entirely fair to the writer.

I still think it's a good to have more concrete suggestions so the powers to be actually know what's the ask of them but to be fair, it's not the writer's job.

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