The husband had a different pager number. I did not need to contact Ms C because I was not successful in placing prospects. This happened to all agents as sometimes, the unit was not right or priced uncompetitvely. The curtains and lighting cost $20,000 which might have lead to higher asking rentals of $6,000 partially furnished now but much more earlier. (UE Square 3-bedrooms’ asking rentals vary from $4,500 - $8,500).

Ms C insisted that I co-broke with the "resident" agent who made great sacrifices, missing lunch (which many agents do too during viewing with prospective Tenants but no Landlord knows). I presumed the husband had given her instructions to open the apartment (actually none was given). I did not want to co-broke because I had more than sufficient number of Owner units.

I explained I have high overheads (as do most agencies) and I would prefer not to co-broke. She wanted to refer another agent to open the apartment and if I close, I could contact her directly, thereby getting the full commission. I did not want any part of this unethical scheme. The husband later contacted me to say he would be at the unit.

I do co-broke as no agent can control all types of units in Singapore. Just earlier, I showed an English couple a bright corner unit "open house" by a PAL agent and they loved that 2-bedroom well furnished 14^th floor unit with views of Fort Canning and floor-to ceiling windows in the 2 bedrooms and expensive upscale furniture. The $3,800 rental might be above their $3,000 budget.

Advices to first-time Owners. Resident agents usually have too many units and you may be better off doing your own viewing or giving the key to many or certain rental agents if you can’t stand going to open the unit so many times, at odd hours. You still need to advertise your own unit as "Owner" to remind the others that your unit is still available. Most of the closings are done by other agents as expatriate clientele are distributed to various agencies. Your "resident" agents are one or two of the numerous housing agencies in Singapore.

Some Owners whom I had direct contact, do insist that the "resident" agent show the unit to me without co-broking but this may not be fair to the resident or his Company might have issued different policies to frustrate such viewing (by not being available at the appointed time).