Property Agents in S’pore Might Have Been Secretly Conducting Physical Viewings; CEA Has Since Responded


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Husband: Should we? 

Wife: I think we should.

Husband: I can’t believe we’re finally going to have a tour of our new dream home!

Wife: Me too!

Google Chrome: You are experiencing network connectivity issues. Please try again later

Husband & Wife: Damn it, M1

Virtual house viewings might seem strange and inadequate to some potential home buyers, but with the coronavirus throwing parties all over the country, it may soon become the norm.

According to The Straits Times, some home seekers are turning to virtual viewings to inspect their potential homes due to circuit breaker measures that prevent them from seeing the house in person.

These online viewings include photos, videos, and video calls so buyers can have a thorough look at their new potential home.

Yet, even though an alternative to physical viewings exists and people have been told to stay at home, some property agents are still acting as if it’s 2019.

Property Agents May Have Been Secretly Conducting Physical Viewings

Some property agents have not been advising their clients to avoid or defer physical viewings during the circuit breaker period.

As you know, the objective of the circuit breaker is to reduce movement and large gatherings to curb the spread of the coronavirus.

People are only allowed to leave their homes for essential trips, such as buying food or exercising.

With these restrictions in place, going to someone else’s house for whatever reason is obviously a big no-no.

Unless you’re a property agent and you want some moolah, of course.

Image: Tenor

See, even though the Council for Estate Agencies (CEA) earlier advised estate agencies and agents to suspend work that requires physical interaction until the circuit breaker ended, The New Paper discovered that some agents have been ignoring this instruction.


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Three of eight property agents contacted by TNP recently agreed to facilitate physical viewings, and did not advise that such viewings be deferred if they are not urgent.

All four homeowners contacted by TNP also agreed to open their homes for viewings.

Image: Tenor

CEA’s Response

In response to media queries about the matter, the Council for Estate Agencies (CEA) sent out an updated advisory to real estate agents on 9 May 2020, saying, “We wish to remind you that the aim of the elevated set of measures is to reduce much more significantly movements and interactions in public and private places.

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“The real estate agency industry must continue to play its part to reduce the spread of Covid-19.”

In other words, they’re saying:


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Image: Giphy

A CEA spokesman clarified that a property agent can assist their client remotely, but they cannot meet or accompany the client for any related activities, like physical viewings.

So, does this mean agents have been secretly arranging physical viewings for home buyers during the circuit breaker?

Well, only they have the answer to that one (But the answer is very likely yes, and based on TNP’s findings, more than 30% of the agents seh)

Customers Prefer Physical Viewings

While virtual viewings may soon become the norm due to the Covid-19 outbreak, people will need time to adapt to the change because they prefer physical viewings, CEA said.

This makes sense; when you’re making such a huge investment, a few photos and videos of the house may not be enough to reassure you that it’s a good purchase.

Unless you’re so rich that you rent a swimming pool for $10,000 a month to swim during the Circuit Breaker period lah.


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Mr Wong Xian Yang, Cushman & Wakefield’s associate director of research for Singapore and South-east Asia, said “Being able to touch and feel the product is a must-do for most buyers. This is especially so for resale properties, which are sold as-is.”

For the time being, however, since the coronavirus is still running rampant, please stick to touching and feeling your own house, because we need to avoid contact with others.

Reader: *starts stroking couch seductively*

I didn’t mean like that.

Reader: I’m really lonely


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