No need to form new estate agents’ group
February 15, 2008
I REFER to the article, ‘Plans for new group to lift standards of housing
agents’ (ST, Feb 4).
Legislation
for individual estate agents is already in place in many neighbouring
places, for example, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Macau and Australia. Why not
a First World country like Singapore?
In
1998, three organisations amalgamated to form the Institute of Estate
Agents (IEA). Setting up another association is a pure waste of resources
- and gives the impression of a divided and fragmented industry. The
best solution is for all to get involved, resolve problems and evolve.
Unity, a standard set of self-regulation and self-policing measures
are the only way to move forward with IEA.
An
accreditation scheme was launched in 2005 to raise industry standards.
Clearly, three years on, standards have not improved. Statistics provided
by the Consumers Association of Singapore (Case) show complaints against
agents continue to rise. The scheme has not solved problems, raised
industry standards or injected more confidence among consumers.
If
parties are serious about the state of affairs and cleaning up the industry,
be it raising standards or information sharing, IEA’s doors are always
open. It is more sensible to work together to address and resolve industry
problems quickly and resolutely, working on an ability to recommend
solutions to meet future challenges. Practitioners should decide what
is best for the industry.
Make
estate agents responsible and accountable for their actions, especially
when they are dealing with consumers’ biggest asset. Over time, with
tighter control it will raise industry standards and lead to better
service, more discipline and higher professionalism. Eventually, there
will be fewer complaints about estate agents.
IEA
plays an active role in promoting public awareness and keeping estate
agents abreast of the latest housing policies. The IEA Central Registration
Scheme is supported by more than 354 licensed real estate agencies with
well over 21,000 real estate agents’ names. It also acts as a platform
for IEA to disseminate information and exchange programmes with agency
bosses.
IEA
and Case are presently working closely to provide solutions towards
self-regulation of estate agents and setting up self-policing measures.
It is time we stood together and united as one body that truly looks
after the interests of all estate agents and that of consumers who engage
the services of estate agents in Singapore.
Jeff
Foo President, Institute of Estate Agents
Source
: Straits Times - 15 Feb 2008
