Singapore real estate cluster houses, Barker Road by asiahomes.com, Singapore

Case study: Japanese single ladies do not give name cards to realtors?

Saturday, January 8, 2000.

A phone call from a Japanese lady, Ms Sato regarding my 2-bedroom ad for $1,600. She said she had only $1,500 budget and would like to see the unit on Monday evening. I told her that this Harbourlights 2-bedroom was below-market rent for a 2-year old modern condo. It has good views of the Sentosa island and sea and on a high floor. It would be best to view on Sunday. I agreed to pick her up at the Outram subway on Sunday at 11.00 a.m.

Sunday, January 9, 2000.

Two good-looking Japanese ladies in their mid-twenties who probably disbelieved a realtor's claim that they should see the best condo near downtown were punctual. Good dress sense in their Sunday best. One was in a silver-grey dress with matching eye shadows and the other in a leopard-spotted blouse and skirt and a bit more face powder on a fair lady. Black handbags and black shoes make a good impression of a career type of person.

They said they had no name-cards for me although I thought the Japanese executives usually exchange name cards based on my one-month stay in Japan under the auspices of the Japanese Racing Association many years ago. Everyone was giving me name cards during my tour of the Japanese racing offices.

They appreciated the advantages of the World Trade Centre being close to the condo as there are food and beverage joints, the supermarket and Sentosa Island for recreation. The Mount Faber is at the door-step and there is a large hawker food stall centre opposite the World Trade Centre. Singles tend to eat out more.

The Harbourlights condo pool, with its cascading waterfall was practically empty except for a sunbathing Caucasian gentleman reading a book. There was a serene resort ambience at 11.15 am on this sky-blue Sunday .

Ms Sato really liked the gym equipment which she said was as good as those in her California Fitness Centre club.

Her flat mate expressed great surprise on being shown the hot-water spa beside the gym and since both chatted animatedly in

Japanese, I guess this was part of the Japanese culture.

Access to the apartment was by a card and this security was important for single expat ladies. They saw the sea views of Sentosa Island, the Merlion statue to the right from the living and master bedroom and were impressed as this was a 7th floor apartment. The second bedroom had green tree views.   Ships and ferry boats were moored and framed as a picture from the window of the master bedroom. A long road to Sentosa Island could be seen. The 2nd bedroom faced a slope of green trees, probably going up to Mount Faber. No traffic noise was heard although it was facing the main road.

The Japanese ladies were expressing their admiration of the features and interior design of this modern apartment in Japanese. They saw the electronic safe in the closet which they thought would be of no use to them. There was an Singapore airline stewardess batik uniform in the cupboard.

Their inner beauty was illuminated by their body language and their chattering. Both the landlady and I do not undertand Japanese but we had a good feeling that they would take good care of the condo

The landlady just liked them and the fact that they said they would look after the place well. They spoke good English.

As I told them that the Landlord was particular about the background of the prospective tenants, both ladies remembered that they had name cards after checking their purses and gave them to the landlady and of course, to me. It must be hard for single ladies to trust strangers with the name cards.

I asked them to discuss what rent they would offer. When they offered $1,500 rent, the landlady agreed immediately. There was profuse thank you. I did brief the landlady that the husband had stated a minimum of $1,600 rent but she did not even negotiate.

Later, the husband phoned to tell me that it was a mistake, but I told him that his wife had shook hands with the prospective tenants.

After informing the existing landlord of the Jurong HDB apartment in which they were renting 2 bedrooms, non-air conditioned, at $860 per month, Ms Sato phoned to say they would take up the Harbourlights apartment. However, payment of the rental deposit would be on Tuesday.

The Landlady had said that the keys would be handed over once the rent deposit of 2 months and advance rent of 1 month is paid and the ladies could move in early, even 10 days before the commencement of lease. I had to explain as the ladies did not understand the offer of an early occupancy without having to pay rent.

Monday, January 10, 2000.

I advised Ms Sato to give a holding deposit immediately and went to her office at 9.am. Received a holding deposit of one month's rent from Ms Sato and a signed Letter of Intent. The tenancy agreement was given to her and she said she would give it to her flat mate at night. The Landlord was informed immediately that the holding deposit cheque was banked into his account.

However, she was in the gym till 11 p.m as her flat mate, Ms Kyoto told me when I phoned up at 9.30 p.m. She had not read the contract and said that it would be 4 p.m on Tuesday before she could sign the contract.

At 10 p.m, the Landlord received an offer of $1,600 from Realtor Joice whose prospective tenant was a couple with a child and maid. They had not decided for the last 2 days.

The Landlord told her he had received a holding deposit from me. In any case, the Landlady was not happy with the "arrogant attitude" of the wife who, by her body language, was unhappy and probably had complained that the apartment was facing the main road. This complaint might be used to drive the rent further down to $1,200 hopefully. This is an example of why many Singapore landlords will prefer not to rent to locals.

There was the issue of higher rate of wear and tear of the apartment since there were 4 occupants from Joice.

The apartment was sound-proofed and little traffic noise could be heard. The higher offer of $1,600 was better than the $1,500 as in 2 years, there would be an extra $2,400 for the Landlord.

Tuesday, January 11, 2000.

Ms Kyoto phoned to postpone signing of the lease till 4 p.m although 9 a.m was scheduled. She needed time to read the 4 pages of the tenancy agreement.

I told her there was a competing offer at $1,600, but this could be a realtor's ploy to get an earlier closing. She agreed to sign at 1 p.m and give me the necessary payment.

"It is a good deal?" she asked in her soft-spoken voice, after signing the contract at her office. Yes, I said. It was nearly a lost deal too.

An 8-minute bus ride to the Tanjong Pagar subway where her office and that of Ms Sato are located. A modern condo with excellent views, a good pool, a gym and hot water spa for $1,500 per month. Fully furnished with quality beddings. Crockery and television provided.

At 3 p.m, the Landlord signed the lease.

The Landlord phoned me to re-confirm that I had deposited the 2 months' security deposit cheque at 5 p.m. I said yes. The Landlord provided the personalised services of picking the new tenants from their Jurong apartment to hand over the unit.

Yes, it was one of those too good to be true good deals and I will not have another one for a long long time. There were 6 calls from expats within the last 3 days.

Time is of the essence in many decisions in life.

For expats who have found their choice homes, they must be able to act fast to secure the unit.

Your body language is equally important to the landlord as many sophisticated ones are looking for good tenants to look after their unit well.

Caucasians, in my experience, seldom criticise the apartments in the presence of the landlord.

In Joice's case, it was a Singaporean Chinese wife who was perceived as "arrogant" by the landlady. After criticism, it may not be a good idea to make an offer.

Take the apartment warts and all and do not comment in front of the landlord. If you must comment, don't make an offer even if one spouse is keen.