asiahomes.com

26, 26A - 26E Pierce Road bungalows

2006-04-04T18:43:00.000+08:00

Good class bungalows in Singapore

2 storeys and basement, Site area around 15,834 sq ft (No. 26).
Completed: 2001
Renowned architect: Ettore Sottass, a grandee of late 20th century Italian design and founder of the early 1980s Memphis Collective architectural movement.

2005. 6 freehold bungalows sold at average price of $5.83M.
Mortgagee sale. $365/sq. ft

2006. 1 sold at $9M. (No. 26). $568 psf.

Sep 21, 2005. 6-bedroom semi-detached near downtown for rent

2005-09-20T04:48:00.000+08:00

SINGAPORE HOUSES FOR RENT.
BARKER ROAD, SEMI-DETACHED FOR RENT

Modern, incredibly large living, dining, family areas and bedrooms. See to believe.
6 bedrooms. Land 5000 sq. ft. Built-in 4,500 sq. ft.
Rental: $8,000.
Green grass garden at side and in front. No pool.
Quiet high class neighbourhood. 8-min walk to Newton subway.

Suits expats who want home office and yet near downtown center of action.

Tel: Judy +65 9668-6468 now.
judy@asiahomes.com
More properties at http://www.asiahomes.com, goto SUBDIVISIONS>

Sep 21, 2005. Singapore penthouses for rent

2005-09-20T04:36:00.000+08:00

SINGAPORE PENTHOUSES FOR RENT

judy@asiahomes.com
Judy +65 9668-6468, 6254-3326

21 September 2005

Property Name
Room
Sq. Ft
Rent
Mutiara Crest 18th storey new penthouse
4+1
3724
$10,000
Mill Point 19th storey
4+1
2067
$10,000
Casa Fina
3+1+1
2000
$3,000
The Cornwall near Holland Village
2
1700
$5,400
Aspen Heights
5+1
3000
$7,500
Richmond Park
4+1
3400
$10,000
Maplewoods
4+1
3000
$6,000
Yong An Park
5+1
6500
$11,000
Habitat
5+2
3600
$9,500
Crystal Tower
5+1+1
8600
$9,000
Regency Park
4+1
3650
$10,000
Wing On Life
5+1
3500
$7,000
Parisian
4+1+1
4500
$8,000

28 August 2005

Property name
Room
Sq. Ft
Rent
Habitat 1
5+1
3600
$12,000
Mandalay Tower
3+1
5059
$3,000
The Montana
3+1
1200
$3,700
Beverly Mai
4+1
6000
$16,000
Sarkies Garden
4+1
1900
$4,500

21 August 2005

Property Name
Room
Sq. Ft
Rent
Balmoral
4+1+1
3300
$9,500
Ardmore Park
5+1
8700
$12,500
Queens
4+1
2280
$6,500
The Claymore
5+1
5400
$17,000
Caribbean
4+1
4600
$12,000
Heritage
4+1
2600
$7,000
Valley Park
5+1
3800
$8,800
Aspen Heights
5+1
3100
$9,000
Water Place
4+1
2300
$8,000
Queens
4+1
2271
$5,500
Queens
4+1
2389
$6,500

Singapore penthouses for rent. More information at:
http://www.asiahomes.com, goto: SUBDIVISIONS

Make appointments to view or for more information:
judy@asiahomes.com
Judy +65 9668-6468, 6254-3326

Sep 21, 2005. Singapore Condos & Townhouses for Rent

2005-09-20T04:28:00.000+08:00

SINGAPORE CONDOS AND TOWNHOUSES FOR RENT

Sep 21, 2005
Housing Agent: Judy
Tel: +65 9668-6468
www.asiahomes.com

Leonie Condotel - Limited units available now.
- 4+1 Bedroom (2722sqft) @ minimum $9.1K

Grange 70 - Call for special rate
- 3+1 Bedroom (1970sqft) @ $6.5K
- 4+1 Bedroom (1981sqft) @ $8K / high floor available

Orange Regency - Renovated showflat, near Shangri-la Hotel and downtown Orchard Road.
- 4+1 Bedroom (1765sqft) at $6K for renovated unit
- 4+1 Bedroom (2433sqft) at $8,5K for units with loft
Privacy. Low density. Suits expatriates.

Cavenagh Lodge - Quiet facing with 1, 2 and 3 bedroom available. Downtown, near Somerset subway.
- 1 Bedroom (626sqft) at minimum $2K
- 2 Bedroom (1216sqft) at minimum $3,5K
- 3 Bedroom (1482sqft) at minimum $4,2K (with patio)

Chancery Grove - Limited townhouse units available. Mainly Expatriate family community.
- 3 + 1 sunken living + 1 store (2540sqft) at $6K
- 3 + 1 basement + 1 store (2260sqt) at $5,4K. Swimming pool. Greenery. Near to Newton and 2-min drive to downtown Orchard Road and the American Club.

Banyan Condo - Near to Science Park
3+1U (1582-1873sqft) at $3K

Meadow Lodge - Brand New unit
3+1 U (1206-1335sqft) at $3K

Serenity Park - Yio Chu Kang area
- 3+1U (1313sqft) at $1.7K. Expats working in Seletar, Sembawang.

Some of the above units are described in http://www.asiahomes.com, goto SUBDIVISIONS.

To view, make an appointment with:
Housing Agent: Judy
Tel: +65 9668-6468
www.asiahomes.com

Sep 1, 2005. FOR RENT. Townhouse Near Australian School.

2005-09-01T13:36:00.000+08:00

FOR RENT

NEAR AUSTRALIAN SCHOOL

Golden Villas. New corner terrace, 3 storey with roof garden. 4+1 $4,500. Near Australian School. 1-minute drive or 10 minutes walk.

Tel: judy +65 9668-6468
judy@asiahomes.com

SURVIVAL SECRETS - Driving an old bomb

2005-08-02T18:19:00.000+08:00

August 3, 2005. Driving an old bomb.

"If the person is that good," the prospective 40-year-old employee said to me, "He will not consider working for asiahomes.com as a manager."

At the end of the first interview which took over 2 hours, he parted saying that he had not decided. So, I felt that he was not that keen and asked him to write down the scope of his duties and what he could offer me.

He had expected a monthly allowance of $2,000, 50:50 sharing if agency commission is less than $10,000 per case and 60:40 if the amount is more than $10,000.

"Do you know how to use info-tools (an online database)?" I asked at this second interview. I thought he had left real estate 3 years ago. He was talking of networking and Straits Times Classifieds to source prospects.

"Never heard of it."

He had no experience in residential real estate and had been out of the real estate industry for seven years. How could he manage my agents if they don't respect him? He acknowledged his weakness but was willing to start from the bottom. So, he said. However, he would not be able to do expatriate rentals as competitors have better and bigger cars and he would not be able to project an image of a successful realtor. Worse, he might damage the reputation of the company by association.

"Would you mind spraying your car?" I asked. I was willing to give him an opportunity and advance him the $500 to spray his car. When he earned the commission, he would pay the company back.

The paint work had dried up. The black body paint was wavy and as wrinkled as the oldest man in the world.The boot paintwork peeled off revealing a white paint.

Image is important for real estate residential work as we drive expatriate clientele to see prospective houses and condos. Agents who drive Mercedes, no matter how old it is, commands some respect. The interviewee was driving a small Japanese car which must be over 13 years old. It is extremely difficult to spot such a car in Singapore as almost 100% have decent paintwork.

Was this prospect just using me as a stepping stone for better offers? Nobody can read another person's mind. $2,000 is a lot of money to pay a manager who does not want to let me know how many days off a week he wants and how many hours of work he will devote to building up the company.

I was willing to give him an opportunity. He was extremely reluctant to spend $500 to re-spray his old bomb. Maybe he was not hungry enough as he had just left a $2,000 job recently. We parted amicably. I had known him for 3 years when he was managing a non-real estate job and had impressed me with his hard work and excellent public relations skills.

This is sad. But life is like that.

SURVIVAL SECRETS - Frequent communications and updates

2005-05-27T06:31:00.000+08:00

SURVIVAL SECRETS FOR HOUSING AGENTS.

REGULAR AND FREQUENT COMMUNICATONS TO THE CLIENT ARE TOP PRIORITY IF YOU WANT TO BE SUCCESSFUL.

1. This is a letter from a prospective client of www.asiahomes.com.

2. I have high-lighted what the other side thinks of you (the housing agent) in bold letters. Somebody unprofessional who does not even provide reports or feedback? Who could not be bothered with an exclusive marketing contract even to let the client know what's happening to his property being marketed? Unfortunately, this is a common scenario of many housing agents.

3. I have given some answers to his queries. See below.

Thanks a lot for your email and the link to your company website.

Here’s our situation: We purchased this flat about 10 years ago(it locates
at corner, but no lift at that level), and left Singapore 7 years ago to US,
the flat has been leased out since then. We started marketing our HDB flat
in February this year; Our current housing agent was incharge of hiring
contractors to clean the house etc. and has been working on marketing our
flat exclusively for nearly 90 days and still cannot make it. He never shows
us any of the advertisement for our flat, we just doubt about his marketing
ability and started losing our confidence in his work.

Right now, the condition of the flat may not exactly as nice as the pictures
show after 7 years leased out, I believe. I think the wall and bathrooms may
need re-paint. Also, we have some personal stuff in the small room, other
than that, it's move-in condition.
Here’re some questions hope you could help us,

1) What's your company's marketing strategy? What's the media your company
usually put the advertisement on?

MARKETING STRATEGY.

1. MEDIA
1.1 Regular but affordable advertisements in the Straits Times on Wednesday and Saturday, but CLIENT PAYS for the Straits Times advertisement upfront and gets the bills and invoices as well as weekly reports. If client is unwilling to pay, let us know.

1.2 Internet advertisements at 2 national agent-subscription websites
1.3 Internet advertisements at at www.asiahomes.com website front page.
1.4 Flyers in the neighbourhood and word of mouth.
1.5 Open house on Sunday afternoons may be planned depending on situations.
1.6 Other methods as situation permits.
1.7 Co-broking is actively encouraged to close sale very fast.

2. QUALIFY THE SELLER
2.1 Exclusive marketing contract for 90 days.
2.2 We accept genuine Sellers. They are usually realistic and not asking for high prices. Better not to handle cases deceiving Sellers that their unrealistic prices are attainable and then tell him the bad news. Don't handle cases where the Seller is in "no hurry to sell, but just testing the market."
2.3 Property marketed must be in good condition. New coat of paint, repaired defects and clearing of rubbish. If the client is not willing to make the residence marketable, we should not take in such properties as we are wasting our time.

2) Usually how long does your company need to sell out a flat?
Varies with the market demand and the Seller's expectations of selling price. As short as 1 week and no sale if the property is in poor location or exposed to main road traffic noises or some unfavourable conditions.

3) The valuation report($188K) for our flat was made at early March, it will
be expired at early June. Do we have to re-do the valuation again? Our
bottom line price is 185K, how do you think of it?

Needs new valuation report payable by the Seller. Bottom line price from June 2005 depends very much on the valuation report as the HDB now clams down on an illegal practice prior to the first quarter of 2005 to inflat the selling price to get a higher loan.

4) We need a power of attorney (PA, maybe with partial power because I'll be
back to Singapore personally to attend the second appointment at HDB to
close the transaction at the final stage) to sign related HDB documents on
behalf of us, are you willing to be our PA? If yes, could you email us a
copy of your photo so that we can "see" you?

First impressions are important. Try and get a professional photographer to take a decent picture of you. I prefer that lady agents do not display low cuts or sexy soft looks and that the men do not show beards, side-burns or moustache. Look professional rather than look highly sexed.

5) Is there any sole agency agreement we need to sign, could you please
email me a copy of it?

YES. However, qualify the Seller first and go to the ground to check out the property first. We don't want to waste our time marketing un-sellable properties as time is of the essence. We don't earn a cent till we close.

THIS REPLY IS FOR THE EDUCATION OF NEW ASIAHOMES.COM AGENTS AND IS A REAL CASE STUDY.
Dr Kong Sing
May 27, 2005

SURVIVAL SECRETS FOR NEW HOUSING AGENTS - Focus

2005-05-24T07:07:00.000+08:00

SURVIVAL SECRETS FOR NEW HOUSING AGENTS - PASSSION, MONEY, HARD WORK AND BEING AVAILABLE

"Long queues, long waiting time," a new pet shop operator said to me as he wanted to open a veterinary practice in Singapore despite my discouragement. "The vets must be making a lot of money."

Obviously successful veterinary practices have been established for over 5 years and the proprietors have had worked hard to build up the practices. I have seen unsuccessful practices closed down but nobody talked about them. The grass is always green on the other side (if it is successful).

1. FINANCIAL STRENGTH.
I discouraged him from setting up a veterinary practice not because a new veterinary practice would be one additional competitor. Competitors are inevitable. Under-pricing is a fact of life, even amongst veterinarian.

This pet shop operator was not financially strong. As I go around the pet shops and breeders vaccinating puppies, I get to know who is doing well and who is not. His employees would tell me that they have had not been paid promptly or their salaries had been delayed. I did not want to be brutally frank.

2. TIME TO BUILD UP - ONE YEAR.
I mean, the employee veterinarian of this proposed veterinary practice will just pack up and go once he or she sees that the proprietor has no money even to pay staff. The younger generation is not going to be patient to wait till the veterinary clientele builds up. This takes about a year. With changes of veterinarians or no vets being available due to poor finances, how could this practice be built up?

3. REGULATIONS.
How could this proposed practice adopt the various regulatory demands if the proprietor has not much money to operate daily? These regulations need money to construct or buy equipment. To service them. To maintain a standard of care that is expected of a veterinary practice by pet owners and by regulatory authorities.

4. SUPER STAR. The vet is the super star of the proposed veterinary practice. If this professional sees that the investor is not prepared to pump in more money to build up the practice, delaying his salary payment, he will just look for other busy clinics to gain more experience and build up his expertise so that he will open his own practice. The practice cannot be open if there is no vet.

CONCLUSION.

In this example, you can see that there is no PASSION, MONEY or HARD WORK and therefore, the pet shop operator who is not a veterinarian and who has no money (to be brutally frank), will not be able to retain a good veterinarian who will make money for him. There is something wrong with his thinking but I may be wrong for being negative.

I may be seeing half a glass of water as empty while he is seeing half a glass as full of opportunities to make money. If he can find investors to pump in money that is, using OPM (other people's money), he would prove me wrong.

In real estate work at www.asiahomes.com, I note that my successful agents are those who have passion in focusing on the clientele and able to have some money to pay for the car and office equipment. Hard work is second nature to them.

BEING AVAILABLE is a very factor in success not stated in most articles and books on HOW TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN REAL ESTATE.

If your mobile phone is switched off most of the time and you are lazy or not interested in replying to emails within 24 hours, you don't expect me to refer any more cases to you or to entrust you with clientele of asiahomes.com

For those of you wanting to go into real estate as self-employed, you still need to have PASSION, MONEY and HARD WORK (working day and night). And be available at least during the 8 am to 10 pm period of time. If not, I don't know how you can survive or support your family.

May 20, 05. Bungalows with pools for rent

2005-05-20T05:04:00.000+08:00

May 20, 2005

EXPATRIATES.
FOR RENT. BUNGALOWS WITH POOL

1. Nassim 15,000 sq ft
2. Third Avenue, 20,000 sq ft
3. East Coast Conservation, brand new.

Unable to co-broke with agent.
Expats: Phone Judy +65 9668-6468, judy@asiahomes.com, drsing_98@yahoo.com
Website: www.asiahomes.com

SURVIVAL SECRETS FOR HOUSING AGENTS - Be open-minded and always follow up immediately

2005-05-14T07:15:00.000+08:00

SURVIVAL SECRETS FOR HOUSING AGENTS - Be Open-Minded and Follow Up to succeed

"He can't afford the Costa Del Sol condo," my associate told me over the phone when I asked whether he had followed up on the expatriate whose landlord had given notice of not renewing the lease when it expires in June 2005.

The expatriate was renting a 2-bedroom The Bayshore condo. The expatriate had been living in this condo for the past 6 years and rental is now around $2,000 or less. His unit on the 27th floor in Tower 2A had the most breathtaking sea view.

From the balcony, one could see the planes angling upwards at 45 degrees to the sky as they fly off from the Changi International Airport to the blue skies. Green trees dotted the large piece of land flanked by sandy beaches. On a clear day, blue waves lapped on the beaches.

At night, stars sprinkled the black blanket and city lights of the time-harried Singaporeans going to work or back dotted the road with amber lined street lights on the left side of the balcony far below. It was the starry night in this condo that he had fallen in love with a big-eyed Singaporean girl, ambitious and career-minded. I thought they would get married but the different religions and the need to convert to one party's religion forever separated them, I guessed.

I told my associate that this single would take a similar condo or a better one with such good views. His present rental was around $2,000.

"I read in the Straits Times that the Developer of Costa Del Sol was renting directly," I told my associate. "That means there is no need to co-broke." Co-broking means sharing 50% of his commissions with another agent who has the property for rent. Developers and owners give 100% of the commission directly to the housing agent.

This associate had been in full-time work for at least two years. I was thus shocked that he made such a statement without having met the prospective tenant and had not been able or had not followed up on my tip to contact this expatriate whom I had serviced 6 years ago.

Planes lift off at 45 degrees towards the heavens, ships dotting the calm blue waves, fresh sea breezes brushing your cheeks. At night, romancing a big-eyed tanned Singaporean girl under the starry, starry blanket above. The expatriate stayed in this The Bayshore condo for 6 years. Now, the Landlord wants him to go as the condo will be for sale.
http://www.toapayohvets.com

"Costa Del Sol with seaviews may cost more than The Bayshore condos," I said. "But this expatriate has prospered in his business in the past 6 years. He just loves high floors and a similar beautiful sea view and sea breezes. You have never met him. How do you know he can't afford a higher rental condo?"

We must have an open mind. We cannot pigeon-hole a prospect just because he (or she) had resided in a $2,000 condo. No doubt, the prospect will not rent a $5,000 condo. However, if you can show him value-for-money condo, say, at $3,000 rental per month, he can afford it. His company may pay as he contributes at least a million dollars of profit to that company. I know because I have had kept in touch with him over the years.

So, what is an extra $12,000 rental to pay to him when he can bring in $1,000,000 of profits to the company? He is the cash cow of the company. He builds up the Asia Pacific business for this software company. He has negotiating power for high performance. Staying power. He is a proven race horse.

In other words, housing agents of asiahomes.com must change their mind-set of thinking that all expatriates have a limited budget. To be successful, be receptive to new ideas. Every prospective tenant is different. To succeed, be open-minded. Most important, to follow up fast and get to meet the prospect. To know what he wants. To offer value-for-money. To be the first to meet him. Keep phoning if he is overseas and has not returned your calls. You know what makes his heart tick faster from my description. If not, view the picture I have put up in this webpage. Get a similar Costa Del Sol condo for him. He will gladly pay a higher rental. If you are nimble enough and capable or lucky enough to find him what he wants. Just like what I did 6 years ago before.

From May 2005, associates must phone me, before I phone you up to ask you what's happening? If associates receive my e-mail about handling a case, they must phone me on the same day. Preferably in the morning not late at night as I send e-mails usually before 5 a.m.

Then, I know you really appreciate the cases from www.asiahomes.com and not be distracted by your other activities. And most important, you really want to succeed in your choice of profession. Real estate can bring you $10,000 a month easily and that is from one of my top performers.

$10,000 for a much shorter hour of work compared to working for a corporation and getting bossed around or playing office politics. In any case, few Singaporeans can hope to earn $10,000 a month except for those with considerable years of experience and able to take the high stresses in the Information Technology field. So, follow up. Don't be narrow-minded. Have hunger in your belly.

If you have no fire in your eyes and are not willing to work hard, how can you be a successful housing agent and grow your own business in this cut-throat competitive high cost Singapore?

Dr Sing Kong Yuen
Education tips for asiahomes.com housing agent
www.asiahomes.com

SURVIVAL SECRETS FOR HOUSING AGENTS - Nasty clients

2005-05-08T08:16:00.000+08:00

SURVIVAL SECRETS FOR HOUSING AGENTS - How to handle nasty clients

All the expletives she could think of, she hurled them at the asiahomes.com housing agent. The agent had gone all the way to find this company manager a replacement tenant so that she and/or her company would not have to pay the rental for breaking the lease.

The replacement expatriate's flight was delayed. So, the agent got abused verbally. He was very angry. He was a soft-spoken genteel man. Always able to control his temper in adversity. Now, he got an earful of obscene words. "Profanity from a lady who is a manager," he told me.

"Stay cool. This is the modern world, the real world," I told him. "Some ladies are not what you expect them to be. Managers may not be civil anymore in a quick-paced society."

So, what should he do? Gave her a nasty e-mail reply as she would be complaining about him to the boss of the housing agency. Show her reply to everybody including the CEO of her company.

"Don't reply," I instructed. "E-mail the company to say that the expatriate was unable to come and that you would be unable to help. I don't want the new expatriate to encounter UNPLEASANTNESS when he comes to take over the apartment. He can get another unit without hassle."

The company human resource manager knew about the manager's profanity. So, let it be.

It is best not to fight fire with fire. You can get burnt and may be sued for libel if you reply when you are so angry.

I expect him to accept my advice. And so do all housing agents of asiahomes.com. It is just not worth teaching crude people how to behave civilly. There are better things to do. Focus your energy on moving to new business and sip a cup of green tea to cool down.

Kong Sing
www.asiahomes.com

SURVIVAL SECRETS FOR AGENTS. Power Plays by Executives

2005-04-10T05:50:00.000+08:00

POWER PLAYS BY EXECUTIVES - Time and Tide wait for no man.

CASE STUDY FOR WWW.ASIAHOMES.COM HOUSING AGENT. Sunday, April 11, 2005

You have a client who is willing to pay $30,000 a month for a Singapore penthouse 4 months later. He is willing to pay a premium and immediately. You contact the executive managing the penthouse. She says, "Wait, I have to confirm whether the incumbent tenant wishes to renew her lease."

So, you wait for 2 weeks. No action. I expected that as you might have offended the executive sometime earlier regarding other bookings and this is her way of paying you back by playing hard to get.

I can tell you that the executive is playing a game with you. If she is concerned about the bottom line of her employer, she will have taken your offer just by giving the incumbent tenant 7 days to reply as to whether he wishes to extend the lease.

So, what do you do? Look for alternative accommodation? But your client wants this penthouse or other apartments in the same development. So, there is no point in making him hang on indefinitely.

Fortunately this agent consulted me as I warned him that he was not closing the case despite so many e-mails to the prospective tenant c.c to me. His e-mails at first gave me the impression that the case was closed. On further scrutiny, I discovered that the reservation was pending renewal.

The solution in this case is to make personal contact with the next management level. E-mail will do but DO IT and not wait. This is what I mean by being PRO-ACTIVE. All talk and no action means NO CLOSING.

The best is to see the next management level. Failing which, contact the Managing Director. Time and tide wait for no man.

The agent e-mailed the next level manager, stating the problems and unhappiness of the client waiting and waiting. So far, the response seem to be better. Alternative apartments are booked pending confirmation of the availability of the penthouse in 3 days.

We try not to antagonise executives on the grass-root level. However, many of them seem inert. They have a fixed salary and no bonus for working hard. In Singapore, most cannot be "bribed" with some gifts. Therefore, they have no motivation to boost the company's income and have no ideas what to do.

The system of waiting and waiting for the incumbent tenant to renew the lease when it is due is a bad way of doing business. For some operators, this is the policy and may not be a power play.

You, as the housing agent, needs to know what to do to close the cases as you will have spent so much time waiting and waiting till you lose out on better offers given to the executive from other agents. I mean, the executive could be playing you against another offer, making this a bidding auction. You wait patiently and gets outbidded. Being pro-active and knowing the system is one way you can be successful.

Kong Sing
www.asiahomes.com
www.toapayohvets.com

Poor performance of full-timers - no luck?

2005-04-03T05:12:00.000+08:00

POOR PERFORMANCE OF FULL-TIME HOUSING AGENTS - No luck?

Housing agents of www.asiahomes.com are independent contractors. Prospects seeking Singapore properties for rent or sale phone +65 9668-6468 or e-mail judy@asiahomes.com.
The leads are given to various housing agents of www.asiahomes.com.
I highlight the performance of 3 of the agents here.

Agent 1. Experienced Agent. Around 40 closings of serviced apartments within 10 weeks in first quarter of 2005. All cases were from www.asiahomes.com. This agent is a part-timer who could only show prospects during lunch-time and during weekends. Yet he had >3 closings every week. The more he closed, the more successful he became at closing serviced apartments.

When he first started 3 years ago, he had a similar amazing streak of success. Every week, he would close at least one case and let me know the good news. Then, he had a long period of not one closing per month for a few months in 2004. He was a part-timer and what do you expect of part-timers? They have no fire in the belly. They are not hungry.

I stopped giving him any case from www.asiahomes.com as the company needs the commissions from agents to survive the high overheads of expensive Straits Times advertisements and the internet website charges and other fees.

In the last quarter of 2004, I gave him 1 or 2 cases of serviced apartments to handle. Every week, he would let me know the good news. So, was this "luck'? Like a winning streak in black jack?

Agent 2. New Agent. Around 8 closings from Dec 2004 - Mar 2005. Around 50% of the cases were not from www.asiahomes.com. A new agent referred to me by one of my top housing agents. I had stopped taking in any more new agents as I had discarded 3 poor quality agents in 2003 and 2004. The quality rather than quantity of the housing agents is important for www.asiahomes.com.

This person had no real estate experience and had small children to look after. I delayed any meeting with her. There were bigger and prestigious firms she could go to. The prospective agent made an appointment to meet me. This showed that the person was keen on real estate. I did not want to entrust this person with any www.asiahomes.com case but since the person asked for leads, I passed a very small number. Well, she closed on the very small number of cases which I did not expect full-timers to succeed. Then, she closed on her own clientele.

Agent 3. Experienced Agent. Less than 1/10 closings in 2004 with over 30 cases given by www.asiahomes.com. Why did Agent 3 perform badly? He closed around 0.5 case per month/agent in 2004. He said he had "no luck."

Does "luck" play a significant part for real estate agents? Statistics show that around 80% of small business fail. So was the failure due to "no luck"? I don't think luck plays a significant part in business success for most businesses. It is

1. MARKETING. Letting others know you are in real estate full time, being hard working. Following up with the leads and referrals. Having real properties to rent or sell in a database. That means sourcing and keeping proper records of owners and sole agents. Focus on specific developments. Advertise in the Straits Times at least on one Saturday per week and prospective owners will come to know you. Or to phone you.

2. HARD WORK & BEING AVAILABLE . If the agent is usually overseas for whatever reason or not contactable by mobile phone call, can he close many cases? Prospects want instant answers, not answering machine messages. They want convenience of being able to contact the agent immediately.

3. PRO-ACTIVENESS & DEPTH OF KNOWLEDGE. Hard to define "pro-activeness". You could see that Agent 2 was having initiatives to meet me to be accepted as a housing agent, to ask for www.asiahomes.com cases and to prove that "Success" is her first name. How did she do it? She certainly had a depth of Singapore real estate knowledge. She was good at comparative marketing analysis of properties for sale or rent. Prospects want to know more than location and amenities. It is hard to define success.

There are other factors for success. For Agent 2, would you say it is "beginner's luck?" Was Agent 1 lucky and Agent 3 unlucky? I don't believe luck contributes to more than 10% of one's success. It is marketing yourself as an honest housing agent and lots of hard work and more hard work to follow up leads.

It means a focus on your speciality, being available 24 hours on your mobile phone. Or at least from 7 a.m to 10 p.m. Very successful self-employed independent or ambitious people sleep with their mobile phone switched on. Sounds weird but true. Not good for your health as you don't get sufficient sleep. But if you want the money or the promotions, you have to be available whenever your boss or your customers want you. Try and have a balance between your money making and health. Easier said than done if you have so many cases.

ALLIANCES. For those agents with too many cases, learn how to form alliances and farm out cases to associates you can trust. You can't handle them as clients want instant services. If you have a good spouse to help you, it will be great. Usually this is not possible. Hopefully, those associates are able to close cases too. Otherwise, it is money down the drain.

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