<![CDATA[Trying out as a Property agent]]>Hi all,


i am not too sure if this is the right thread to post my posting.

Currently i am holding a fulltime job as a secretary, my department deal with security matters and i am expected to go for security aduits with my boss as and when required.

My boss will be retiring in 3 yrs times, and i am worried when he leaves, i will become a \"nobody child\", i've seen too many here, when the boss goes, the secy were being kick around. the luckier ones get to have a new boss, rest are wither being \"demoted\" or cold storage till you resign on your own. i do not wish to be in such a situation,thus i am planning ahead.

i thought of picking up a new skill and signing up for the CEA course and start out as a P/T property agent now. i can try put as a part-timer now and see how it goes. i cannot afford to quit my job now and go into full time agent, as i have 2 young kids at home. Another way is to see if i am cut out for this job.

any property agent mummies or daddies out there?
anyone can advise if this is feasible for me? i am in a dilemma 🤷

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/topic/23875/trying-out-as-a-property-agentRSS for NodeWed, 06 May 2026 09:14:28 GMTMon, 11 Jul 2011 08:05:21 GMT60<![CDATA[Reply to Trying out as a Property agent on Wed, 11 Apr 2012 16:36:10 GMT]]>When you become insurance agent, property agent etc, you must view yourself as a business owner…dun ever think as try because when u try , u will only get average results. Interested and committed are two different things. Alot of people interested in getting slim but how many are committed to exercise at least 3 times per week? Think as a business owner, be prepared to commit, to get to where u want to be…because i can only say you will sacrifice alot of quality time with your family as a property agent…and to me that’s is most precious…so make sure it’s justified in terms of returns!


Just my humble opinion

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/744665https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/744665Wed, 11 Apr 2012 16:36:10 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Trying out as a Property agent on Wed, 11 Apr 2012 07:36:08 GMT]]>what company has that plan? seems better.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/744410https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/744410Wed, 11 Apr 2012 07:36:08 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Trying out as a Property agent on Wed, 11 Apr 2012 04:38:31 GMT]]>One of my friend is a property agent but with fixed minimum base salary. And all the adverts are paid for. She needs to report to work normal office hour (though no need to strictly follow).


Only downside is the % of profit goes mostly to the company, she earns a tiny cut of it.

But since their team only deal with properties worth >$1million; the tiny cut is not bad at all.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/744256https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/744256Wed, 11 Apr 2012 04:38:31 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Trying out as a Property agent on Tue, 10 Apr 2012 02:06:54 GMT]]>must keep aside money for advertising every day times the no. of properties you are working on.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/743592https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/743592Tue, 10 Apr 2012 02:06:54 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Trying out as a Property agent on Mon, 09 Apr 2012 14:26:16 GMT]]>Hi Chloecube,


The fact that being a property agent allows you the flexibility, it also means that you must have the discipline to do what you have to do:- that is to source out clients, meet clients, arrange viewing appointments and of course close the deals. (Very much like insurance agents, i think)

I have a few friends in the property line so i heard a lot of \"stories\" from them when we la kopi. You have to learn to balance your expenses versus your income and from what i understand, you don't get paid until the completion of the deal which could mean about 3 months from the date of the closing. That means, you have to close many many deals to cover the \"gaps\" where there could be no $$$$ at all.

I heard from my agent friends that recent news announced that property agents have to attend courses to upgrade themselves every year and they mut have a valid license to practice else it is an offence. I am sure the courses are not FOC.

All in all, i think if you work hard, you will make it ! I have seen some of them very successful in this line but comes with sheer hard work and of course lots of networking. Good luck ! 😄

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/743453https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/743453Mon, 09 Apr 2012 14:26:16 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Trying out as a Property agent on Mon, 09 Apr 2012 14:12:37 GMT]]>Cannot be a secret agent yah ... :evil:

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/743449https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/743449Mon, 09 Apr 2012 14:12:37 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Trying out as a Property agent on Mon, 09 Apr 2012 14:11:14 GMT]]>CEA requires part time agent to seek approval from their full time employer. Not many companies can accept their employees do moonlighting. If you hide from your boss it may also difficult to close deal because you need to answer phone calls all the time??

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/743448https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/743448Mon, 09 Apr 2012 14:11:14 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Trying out as a Property agent on Mon, 19 Mar 2012 14:18:19 GMT]]>

happykappy:
they try to upsell you. this is only one e.g. - one of my clients, she could only afford a certain amount, so i was helping her look ard. then i had to go overseas for 5 days and she went with another agent who didn't listen to what she could afford, got her to sign the docs and when i came back, she called me panicking, ask me how to service loan. alamak, i already work out how much is your max and u go buy a house few hundred thousand more and u ask me how? so i told her to ask the agent she bought from to help her settle.

Oh. But will your boss stress you to find clients or close deals etc?

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/731315https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/731315Mon, 19 Mar 2012 14:18:19 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Trying out as a Property agent on Sun, 18 Mar 2012 12:57:56 GMT]]>be prepared abt 9 mths with no stable income as you used to get. make sure all your car, housing, credit cards loans are fully paid within these 3 years.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/730749https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/730749Sun, 18 Mar 2012 12:57:56 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Trying out as a Property agent on Sat, 17 Mar 2012 08:16:43 GMT]]>Please ask your boss to write an excellent testimony for you and I still think you should find a permanent full time job before your boss retires. You have 3 years to plan and its definitely not too late, unless you are willing to forgo your precious family time with your children as most viewings are in the evenings and weekends.


p.s.: I’m not a property agent. As I have sold my place last year, so I know when most of the viewings will be.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/730357https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/730357Sat, 17 Mar 2012 08:16:43 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Trying out as a Property agent on Sat, 17 Mar 2012 07:47:25 GMT]]>they try to upsell you. this is only one e.g. - one of my clients, she could only afford a certain amount, so i was helping her look ard. then i had to go overseas for 5 days and she went with another agent who didn’t listen to what she could afford, got her to sign the docs and when i came back, she called me panicking, ask me how to service loan. alamak, i already work out how much is your max and u go buy a house few hundred thousand more and u ask me how? so i told her to ask the agent she bought from to help her settle.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/730349https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/730349Sat, 17 Mar 2012 07:47:25 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Trying out as a Property agent on Sat, 17 Mar 2012 03:37:43 GMT]]>

happykappy:
hi, i tried it out once...still a property agent actually, but yeah, it's not easy if u're not fully committed. i'm also a bit er...too honest for my own good so it's hard for me to close a deal if i think there are problems with the unit. also, it's not cheap to \"try out\", u'll have to pay all the courses that CEA now insists u take so it's a few hundred dollars, plus CEA's registration fee plus a lot of other fees also few hundred dollars. I don't think i will be renewing again cos there are too many \"sharks\" out there and too difficult to compete with them (unless u're a shark yourself i guess).

OMG!! What do those sharks do?

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/730294https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/730294Sat, 17 Mar 2012 03:37:43 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Trying out as a Property agent on Fri, 16 Mar 2012 15:52:52 GMT]]>hi, i tried it out once…still a property agent actually, but yeah, it’s not easy if u’re not fully committed. i’m also a bit er…too honest for my own good so it’s hard for me to close a deal if i think there are problems with the unit. also, it’s not cheap to "try out", u’ll have to pay all the courses that CEA now insists u take so it’s a few hundred dollars, plus CEA’s registration fee plus a lot of other fees also few hundred dollars. I don’t think i will be renewing again cos there are too many "sharks" out there and too difficult to compete with them (unless u’re a shark yourself i guess).

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/730154https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/730154Fri, 16 Mar 2012 15:52:52 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Trying out as a Property agent on Fri, 09 Mar 2012 07:29:16 GMT]]>It is not as easy as you think…

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/726828https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/726828Fri, 09 Mar 2012 07:29:16 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Trying out as a Property agent on Fri, 09 Mar 2012 07:18:27 GMT]]>you cannot just "try out". a property agent is self employed, in other words, you’re your own boss. so you must view it as your own business, and you must keep ur business afloat.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/726809https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/726809Fri, 09 Mar 2012 07:18:27 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Trying out as a Property agent on Mon, 18 Jul 2011 09:22:19 GMT]]>Hi Chloecube, being property agent is not easy especially with so many rules and regulations to keep up. Every industry has its pros and cons. While it is true that attrition rate is high for property agents, on the bright side, there are agents that can succeed in earning a decent income to provide for the family.


It might be a good idea to be CEA certified as you'll have more options in the future. You may even be able to help friends sell their houses as a P/T agent 🙂

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/494372https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/494372Mon, 18 Jul 2011 09:22:19 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Trying out as a Property agent on Fri, 15 Jul 2011 01:03:33 GMT]]>thks kiasu-but-generous,


actually what u and the rest mentioned are true and i know.
nothing is easy, in fact what i am doing is also not easy. just that my current job provide me with a stable income, though not a lot.
being an agent is like being your own boss, everything is done by yourself to keep the biz running.
thank you all for the feedbk and advise, i have a clearer picture of what i think i should do now.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/489587https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/489587Fri, 15 Jul 2011 01:03:33 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Trying out as a Property agent on Thu, 14 Jul 2011 13:40:24 GMT]]>Just to add and just my 2 cents.


I agreed with others.
Being an property agent is not as easy as you see.

You will meet different type of people, foreigner, rich, not rich, young, old, family, single, couple, etc. You will meet the seller, buyer, tenant, landlord, etc.
You will meet rude people, nice people, etc.

Your communication play important role. You might need to have network with other property agents too. Keep update with new policy, rules, etc.
Perhaps you will face dillema to do the right things or wrong things. You must be able to decide.

And yes, as someone has mentioned, you may need to sacrifice your precious time with your family. When other family member at home, you need to be outside. When you are at home, actually they are outside (working, school, etc).

But if you are serious doing this job, yes, you will get what you want.

Btw, I am not property agent. 🙂

Just my 2 cents.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/489051https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/489051Thu, 14 Jul 2011 13:40:24 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Trying out as a Property agent on Thu, 14 Jul 2011 13:40:23 GMT]]>Just to add and just my 2 cents.


I agreed with others.
Being an property agent is not as easy as you see.

You will meet different type of people, foreigner, rich, not rich, young, old, family, single, couple, etc. You will meet the seller, buyer, tenant, landlord, etc.
You will meet rude people, nice people, etc.

Your communication play important role. You might need to have network with other property agents too. Keep update with new policy, rules, etc.
Perhaps you will face dillema to do the right things or wrong things. You must be able to decide.

And yes, as someone has mentioned, you may need to sacrifice your precious time with your family. When other family member at home, you need to be outside. When you are at home, actually they are outside (working, school, etc).

But if you are serious doing this job, yes, you will get what you want.

Btw, I am not property agent. 🙂

Just my 2 cents.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/489050https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/489050Thu, 14 Jul 2011 13:40:23 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Trying out as a Property agent on Thu, 14 Jul 2011 13:40:23 GMT]]>Just to add and just my 2 cents.


I agreed with others.
Being an property agent is not as easy as you see.

You will meet different type of people, foreigner, rich, not rich, young, old, family, single, couple, etc. You will meet the seller, buyer, tenant, landlord, etc.
You will meet rude people, nice people, etc.

Your communication play important role. You might need to have network with other property agents too. Keep update with new policy, rules, etc.
Perhaps you will face dillema to do the right things or wrong things. You must be able to decide.

And yes, as someone has mentioned, you may need to sacrifice your precious time with your family. When other family member at home, you need to be outside. When you are at home, actually they are outside (working, school, etc).

But if you are serious doing this job, yes, you will get what you want.

Btw, I am not property agent. 🙂

Just my 2 cents.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/489049https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/489049Thu, 14 Jul 2011 13:40:23 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Trying out as a Property agent on Tue, 12 Jul 2011 01:22:29 GMT]]>Thank you all for you advise. Nothing venture nothing gain. if i really do not make it in this line, at least i had tried before. will seriously give it some thought about being an agent.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/482261https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/482261Tue, 12 Jul 2011 01:22:29 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Trying out as a Property agent on Tue, 12 Jul 2011 01:20:33 GMT]]>

dicky:
Not too sure about the secretary job... Though you can talk to your boss about life after his retirement, seek his help to get you a suitable posting within the same company if you dont wish to leave. He/She is likely to oblige as retiring soon.


If you wish to seek elsewhere, look around for next job. Leave before your boss does, again for same reason he/she wont deter you and likely support you with their strong recommendation or testimonals.

As for your description of 'cold storage' etc, unless you are ambitious in your career, you should be still \"collecting\" same pay.... Enough time to look for jobs within or elsewhere....

The way I see it, nothing to worry much unless you are not living within your means, no savings etc.... :oops:
my boss did try to plan for me, but some of the postings that he wants to send me to may not suit me.But nevertheless, i would love to give new posting a try and learn new things. just hope that people are willing to show me the rope..

Thks Dicky.
i have 3 more years to plan and also on the look out for new job here and there. i hope all will be smooth after he retires.

i guess i worry too much :oops:

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/482255https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/482255Tue, 12 Jul 2011 01:20:33 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Trying out as a Property agent on Mon, 11 Jul 2011 16:16:10 GMT]]>you have to be thick skinned at all times, must talk and talk and talk. be prepared to take nonsense from sellers/buyers even fellow agents.


if you are one of those shy shy type, might be a tough road ahead of you. but :rahrah: 加油。

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/481980https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/481980Mon, 11 Jul 2011 16:16:10 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Trying out as a Property agent on Mon, 11 Jul 2011 10:55:45 GMT]]>I know of a friend who did it full-time and didn't even close a deal in 6 months 😞 she went back to office job. You can make a lot of money in sales if you are the right kind of personality. You will be the best judge if the job fits your personality. All the best in your planning 🙂

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/481402https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/481402Mon, 11 Jul 2011 10:55:45 GMT