When you embark on a property transaction, facing one of the biggest and most important deals of your life, you might typically worry about issues such as:
- How can I get the best price for my property?
- How long will the whole process take?
- Is my property agent legitimate?
Most likely, the last question doesn’t even cross your mind, as you assume your property agent is already a registered and licensed broker.
In reality, this should be the very first thing you check before hiring a real estate agent to help you buy, sell, or rent a property!
So, why should you do this, and how can you verify if your real estate agent is reliable?
Fact: All Real Estate Agents Must Be Registered with the CEA
The Council for Estate Agencies (CEA) requires all property agents in Singapore to be registered with the CEA through their respective real estate agencies. It is an offence for anyone to carry out estate agency work without a valid registration.
It is crucial to hire a licensed real estate agent. An unlicensed property agent may not be familiar with the relevant laws and procedures for property transactions. They might make mistakes when handling your transaction, leading to delays or, worse, significant financial losses.
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Fact: Anyone Can Check If a Property Agent Is Registered
All registered property agents have a unique CEA registration number, for example: R061721D. This registration number must be displayed along with their name on the estate agent card they are required to wear when meeting clients, and on any advertisements they put out.
Once you have the agent’s CEA registration number, name, or mobile number, you can verify their details through the Public Register on the CEA website or the CEA@SG app (available for download on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store).
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Fact: The CEA’s Public Register Displays All Professional Information About Property Agents for Fact-Checking
The Public Register lists the following information so you can verify the details provided by the agent:
- Agent’s name
- Agent’s photograph
- CEA registration number
- Registration period
- Disciplinary actions taken
- Awards received
- The real estate agency the agent belongs to
- Real estate agency licence number
Be an Informed Consumer
Among the long list of concerns when buying/selling a property, ensuring that your agent is a trustworthy and dependable professional is paramount, so you can have peace of mind. After all, they are handling a very large transaction on your behalf!
If your property agent is not listed on the Public Register, please contact the CEA immediately at feedback@cea.gov.sg.
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