Rates and thresholds change. The current figures are kept in one place: the Singapore property rules reference.
What are the ten questions to ask a property agent?
The ten questions below cover who the agent is, what you will pay, what you are signing, how they price and market, and whether their incentives match yours. Each has a short answer on what to look for and how Winfred answers it, using only what is already published on this site.
| Question | What to look for | How Winfred answers |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Are you CEA registered, and how do I check? | Ask for the agent's CEA registration number and verify it on the CEA Public Register before you engage them. | Winfred Quek is a CEA registered salesperson, R073319H, registered with Crestbrick Pte Ltd, estate agency licence L3010886H. |
| 2. How much experience do you have, and have you owned property yourself? | Ask how long they have advised on Singapore property and whether they have bought or sold for themselves, because owning property teaches the costs a textbook does not. | Winfred has nine years of experience advising Singapore property owners and owned 5 properties before turning 30. |
| 3. How much commission do you charge, and what does it cover? | Ask for the rate, whether GST is added, who pays it, and a list of what it covers. | Seller representation is 2% of the sale price plus GST, billed on completion with nothing billed before. |
| 4. Will you sign a CEA prescribed Estate Agency Agreement, and is it exclusive? | Ask for the agreement in writing before any work starts, and ask whether it is exclusive. | Winfred uses a CEA compliant Estate Agency Agreement with the fee disclosed up front, and nothing is billed until it is signed. |
| 5. How will you set the asking price? | Ask which transactions they will use and whether they will show them to you. | Winfred prepares a valuation report himself: recent comparable transactions for your stack and development, a realistic price range, and a Money, Timing and Safety read on whether now makes sense. |
| 6. How will you market my property and reach serious buyers? | Ask what they will actually spend time and money on, rather than list and wait. | His seller fee includes professional photography, a targeted marketing campaign, a 360 degree virtual tour and staging support if required. |
| 7. Will you act for both the buyer and the seller? | An agent cannot act for both buyer and seller, or both landlord and tenant, in the same transaction. | Under the standard Singapore co-broke model, buyer representation is paid by the seller's side through the co-broke commission, and Winfred's pricing page says any commission source is disclosed in writing. |
| 8. Will you tell me if I should not buy or sell right now? | Ask for an example of when they advised a client to wait. | His pricing page states that if the Property Portfolio Analysis says do not buy yet, the recommendation will say so, and that you keep the framework whether or not you work together. |
| 9. What happens after the deal completes? | Ask who you call after completion, because several clocks start at completion: the Minimum Occupation Period, the defects period on new homes, Seller's Stamp Duty windows, your mortgage lock in and CPF accrued interest. | Winfred's guide on agent support after you collect your keys lists these clocks. |
| 10. What is not included in your fee? | Ask for the exclusions in writing so nothing is invoiced after the fact. | His pricing page states everything in the 2% is in the 2%, and any work outside that scope is quoted separately before it starts. |
1. Are you CEA registered, and how do I check?
Ask for the agent's CEA registration number and verify it on the CEA Public Register before you engage them. CEA says agents should be registered through a licensed property agency.
How Winfred answers: Winfred Quek is a CEA registered salesperson, R073319H, registered with Crestbrick Pte Ltd, estate agency licence L3010886H. He is not the owner of the agency.
2. How much experience do you have, and have you owned property yourself?
Ask how long they have advised on Singapore property and whether they have bought or sold for themselves, because owning property teaches the costs a textbook does not.
How Winfred answers: Winfred has nine years of experience advising Singapore property owners and owned 5 properties before turning 30.
3. How much commission do you charge, and what does it cover?
Ask for the rate, whether GST is added, who pays it, and a list of what it covers. CEA states commissions are not fixed and you are free to negotiate the amount or rate.
How Winfred answers: Seller representation is 2% of the sale price plus GST, billed on completion with nothing billed before. He states it covers paperwork, professional photography, a targeted marketing campaign, a 360 degree virtual tour, staging support if required, financial calculation and sale proceeds mapping, and portfolio planning for where the proceeds go next. Buyer representation carries no fee from you under the standard co-broke arrangement, and if a property has no co-broke he discloses that upfront and agrees a buyer side fee before any viewing. Rental rates are in the table below.
| Service | Winfred's published fee |
|---|---|
| Seller representation | 2% of the sale price plus GST, billed on completion |
| Buyer representation | No fee from you under the standard co-broke arrangement |
| Landlord representation, monthly rent below S$3,500 | 1 month's rent per 2 year term |
| Landlord representation, monthly rent S$3,500 or more | 0.5 month x years of lease |
| Tenant representation | Typically no direct fee, disclosed in writing before viewings if any |
| Advisory and restructuring | Quoted per engagement before work starts |
4. Will you sign a CEA prescribed Estate Agency Agreement, and is it exclusive?
Ask for the agreement in writing before any work starts, and ask whether it is exclusive. Under an exclusive agreement you may owe commission for the whole validity period even if the property sells through another agent or without one, and an exclusive appointment is capped at three months.
How Winfred answers: Winfred uses a CEA compliant Estate Agency Agreement with the fee disclosed up front, and nothing is billed until it is signed. His published view is that a well negotiated exclusive listing that explicitly permits co-broke usually gets both focused marketing and broad buyer reach, see exclusive vs open listing.
5. How will you set the asking price?
Ask which transactions they will use and whether they will show them to you. Pricing correctly decides both how fast a property sells and what it sells for.
How Winfred answers: Winfred prepares a valuation report himself: recent comparable transactions for your stack and development, a realistic price range, and a Money, Timing and Safety read on whether now makes sense. It is an indicative market opinion, not a formal valuation, and it does not guarantee any sale price.
6. How will you market my property and reach serious buyers?
Ask what they will actually spend time and money on, rather than list and wait.
How Winfred answers: His seller fee includes professional photography, a targeted marketing campaign, a 360 degree virtual tour and staging support if required.
7. Will you act for both the buyer and the seller?
An agent cannot act for both buyer and seller, or both landlord and tenant, in the same transaction. CEA treats this as an offence. Ask who the other side's agent is and how any co-broke split is disclosed.
How Winfred answers: Under the standard Singapore co-broke model, buyer representation is paid by the seller's side through the co-broke commission, and Winfred's pricing page says any commission source is disclosed in writing.
8. Will you tell me if I should not buy or sell right now?
Ask for an example of when they advised a client to wait. An agent paid only on completion has an incentive to push a deal.
How Winfred answers: His pricing page states that if the Property Portfolio Analysis says do not buy yet, the recommendation will say so, and that you keep the framework whether or not you work together.
9. What happens after the deal completes?
Ask who you call after completion, because several clocks start at completion: the Minimum Occupation Period, the defects period on new homes, Seller's Stamp Duty windows, your mortgage lock in and CPF accrued interest.
How Winfred answers: Winfred's guide on agent support after you collect your keys lists these clocks. His seller fee also includes portfolio planning for where the sale proceeds go next.
10. What is not included in your fee?
Ask for the exclusions in writing so nothing is invoiced after the fact.
How Winfred answers: His pricing page states everything in the 2% is in the 2%, and any work outside that scope is quoted separately before it starts.
What should I do after I get the answers?
Write the answers down, check the registration on the CEA Public Register, and compare agents on the same ten questions so the comparison is fair. Then read the Estate Agency Agreement line by line before you sign. For sellers, see the commission guide and whether it is worth hiring an agent to sell your HDB flat. Winfred answers these questions in a free 30 minute call, with no pitch.
Frequently asked questions
What is an Estate Agency Agreement?
It is the written agreement between you and the agency that sets out the commission, the scope of service and whether the appointment is exclusive. CEA advises using its prescribed form and reading all clauses before you sign.
Is property agent commission fixed in Singapore?
No. CEA states commissions are not fixed and you are free to negotiate the amount or rate. It is paid to the agency once the transaction completes, and GST applies only if the agency is GST registered.
Can one agent act for both buyer and seller?
No. An agent cannot act for both buyer and seller, or both landlord and tenant, in the same transaction. CEA treats this as an offence.
How do I check that an agent is registered?
Search the agent's name or registration number on the CEA Public Register. Winfred's number is R073319H, under Crestbrick Pte Ltd, licence L3010886H.
Should I appoint more than one agent?
It depends on the agreement. An open arrangement lets several agents market the property and pays only whoever closes, while an exclusive one gives one agent sole rights for a set period. See the exclusive vs open listing guide before you decide.
What are the three key takeaways?
- Verify registration on the CEA Public Register, then ask for the commission, what it covers and what is excluded, all in writing.
- Read the Estate Agency Agreement before signing, especially whether it is exclusive, because an exclusive agreement can leave commission owing for the whole validity period.
- Ask the same ten questions of every agent you speak to and write the answers down, so the comparison between agents is fair.
Want these ten questions answered for your own case?
Book a free 30 minute strategy call and ask Winfred any of them directly. Nothing is billed before a signed Estate Agency Agreement.
Book a free 30 minute strategy call WhatsApp WinfredWinfred Quek is an Associate Marketing Consultant at Crestbrick Pte Ltd (CEA Licence No. L3010886H). CEA R073319H. This page is for general information only and does not constitute financial, investment, or legal advice. Verify current figures with IRAS, HDB, CPF Board or MAS before making any decision.