Field notes on homes.
And other things.
I advise others on property decisions in Singapore. I also write. This space sits somewhere in between the two.
My buyers asked for a second viewing of a house they were eyeing.
Can we make an appointment to view again? I want to feel the rooms in the afternoon sun.
The seller agent duly obliged.
So on that Sunday afternoon, we returned for a second viewing.
Incredibly stressful. Emotionally exhausting.
I didn’t think I would ever use these words to describe closing my very first sale. Typically, you imagine them to be incredibly liberating or emotionally rewarding. But I guess this was not a typical sale.
Two small signatures, one very big move.
I sat across from both of them. They were about to make arguably the third biggest decision of their lives so far. The couple (let’s just call them N and M) had just gotten engaged last year. Barely a week ago, they had optioned for a three-room resale HDB flat in Tampines. At that moment, they were about to make a $4,000 payment to the sellers to exercise their Option to Purchase.
As always, I arrive to an impeccably tidy house. Fresh flowers stood neatly in a vase on the dining table.
A young couple had asked to view the house at 4pm. (Let’s call them J and K.) They arrived visibly excited, carrying a large plastic bag stuffed with packets of potato chips. They had just come from the mall, they explained, having won the chips through a series of claw machine victories. They laughed as they set the bag down, without any hint of embarrassment.
It turned out to be one of my more engaging viewings.