Hi fellow colleagues, I will be giving away ONE YEAR FREE PROPERTYGURU ANALYTICS subscription, courtesy of Benson Koh (that’s myself) worth S$380 to a lucky partner agent whom I’ll randomly ballot from the e-mail subscription below.

NO GIMMICKS.

Now of course, I’d have to sell a little on what you should be expecting in your email if you’re signing up.

1. Co-broke Quality Listings from myself and my champion team SRI5000 from time to time
2. Tips and tricks to sell better in Real Estate
3. Real Estate News Update

Its free, you’ll be ensured no-spam policy from me. And best of all, if you don’t like it, you can always choose to un-register (*but don’t be too cruel if you’re the lucky one to get the free account okay?). After filling up your name and email below, you will have to confirm the subscription via a confirmation email.

ONLY confirmed subscribers are eligible for the lucky draw.

No related posts.

It has been awhile after my Streetsine review in August and September 2009, since then they have evolved pretty nicely as my “impress my clients” must-have tools which helped me save alot of time.

Propertyguru’s Analytics isn’t new to the market (well, newer as compared to Streetsine, but it should have been around for almost close to half a year I would reckon) and flaunts almost the same capabilities as Streetsine on the data compiled for comparative analysis for property searches. How does it really fair? ..

The Search

Since it has become a defacto standard for all Realtors to market through PropertyGuru, there’s no reason for you not to explore that little yellow text tab on the top right hand corner named “Analytics”.

Propertyguru Analytics Search

Relatively friendly user interface. Hit in the project for condominium or road name and you’ll be able to see a good load of transaction data.

Good summary info on Project

What I like is the Nearby Construction, in which allowing you to know whether the project is affected by any pollution in the area.

Impressive Presentation

Impressive Presentation

Building report is easy. You could custom your report with your client’s name, and choose the particular unit that you are keen on generating. One difference clearly to note from StreetSine would be once you have selected the unit, the bedroom type would automatically be selected as well.

The report which will come in pdf format is also being sent to your email so you could reference it anytime instead of generating another new copy.

You can custom your report with a Proposed Sale Price and many other options which tailors to your need as a presenter when you’re showing and working on getting an exclusive with your client. Generating a report takes less than 5 minutes.

On-the-go information in less than 5 minutes time? Phew, much better than our old style of compiling these data for a few hours when we do our presentations 3 years ago?

Easy to Read and Understand

Summary for Project is Easy to Read and Understand

As compared to its StreetSine peers which is data packed, PropertyGuru’s presentation in the reports is much bite-size and easier to understand. I suppose being the number one property portal in Singapore, they have enough photos, data and copywriting of condo projects that they could simply pull from to put it up in a generated report.

You can download a copy of this report that I have generated here for reference.

In a Nutshell

Not far away from StreetSine’s capabilities, lacklustre a little in terms of details such as Amenities in the area and SBS bus numbers, but I suppose as competitors they’ll always be looking at outdoing each other. I’m looking forward to Propertyguru actually releasing a iPad/iPhone version of its Analytics to compete with what Streetsine has.

PropertyGuru Analytics has my thumbs up and is highly recommended for Realtors like us because of the value of its subscription. At the moment its only costing Propertyguru users $380 per year, only a fraction of what StreetSine is charging.

No related posts.

Is this going to be a dream team for property agents and home owners? I love StreetSine reports as they always allow me to give the best and most accurate presentation to Homeowners on what is happening to their housing rentals and values. But to team up with iProperty for property listings. Hmm, It seems grey.

Anyway, here’s the press release from StreetSine

30 April 2010.

StreetSine Pte Ltd, Singapore’s leading provider of property information and analytics, is pleased to announce that it has teamed up with iProperty.com.sg, Singapore’s leading property search portal.

StreetSine will display iProperty property listings on www.streetsine.com. This means that when a property agent posts a home listing on iProperty.com.sg, it will automatically be displayed on StreetSine’s webpage, at no additional cost.

In addition, agents subscribing to iProperty will have easy access to StreetSine’s Home Report™. The report provides pricing, rental, and investment information at the national, district, project, and unit level.

The Home Report™ helps professional agents price property to buy, sell, or rent.

We are excited to be associated with iProperty,” said Jeremy Lee, Director and Co-Founder of StreetSine. “By working together, the two companies bring a unique and powerful combination of search and analytics to the marketplace. I am confident that professional agents and their clients will be delighted with the enhanced marketing reach and pricing tools that will be conveniently available to them on both websites.”

CEO of the iProperty Group, Shaun Di Gregorio said, “This agreement is a great development for our agents and for anyone looking for property in Singapore. This will allow both iProperty and StreetSine to benefit from each other’s strengths and jointly create a better experience for agents and consumers looking for property in Singapore. As we power the listings on StreetSine and generate more enquiries for our agents, we are also adding the particularly useful and powerful Home Report™ widget to our current host of features for our agents. Indeed, this works well for everyone.”

Related posts:

1. StreetSine is Upgraded
2. StreetSine Home Report Is Great – Have You Had Yours Yet?

I was talking about how good StreetSine reports were with its mass information for Home Owners and Property Agents.

Now, StreetSine brings in more good news with more helpful data for home seekers and home owners.

Dear StreetSine.com User,

Since the initial launch of our private residential Home Report service a few months back, we’ve received numerous positive testimonials from our users. Home hunters, investors and agents have told us that they’ve found their ideal homes faster and smarter with the service.

Today, we are excited to announce a list of upgrades from our user feedback.

1. We now track Days on the Market (DOM)
2. We also track price adjustments to property listings
3. We have added district trends to our other trends
4. We have substituted the Median Asking PSF for the Index Price in the executive summary so that the user has more flexibility in how he uses the Index Price
5. In the drop down for landed property report generation, we have allowed for search by street. We have also included the landed square feet in the drop down. The latter will aid in the quicker selection of comparable properties.
6. Made the summary report more user friendly by making several changes, such as changing the figures to PSF.

For the Agent:

7. At the top of the Home Report, agents will soon have the option to enter their client name so that it reads “Prepared for (client)”
8. We have enlarged the “Prepared by (agent)” at the bottom of the page as well as added a disclaimer for the agent

You can already view these changes in the sample Home Report at http://www.streetsine.com and we hope you will take a look.

We are also in the final testing of our inter-active Home Report. Subscribers will soon be able to customize the report with a few simple clicks.

Thank you for your consideration. Stay tuned for more updates brought to you by StreetSine Analytics Team!

Have a good weekend,
StreetSine Analytics Team

So fellow Realtor, get your subscription with a $200 discount on a StreetSine unlimited report generation today. Don’t be left out

Related posts:

1. StreetSine Teams Up with iProperty
2. StreetSine Home Report Is Great – Have You Had Yours Yet?

I was fiddling with my new StreetSine market report for my clients to analyze and plan their marketing proposals. Just one word about this tool which I highly recommend for fellow realtors, AWESOME.

It makes Comparative Market Analysis so much easier. Gone are the days that I will have to spend to find comparatives to show my prospective clients, which could be done in just minutes.

What comes in the StreetSine Home Reports?

StreetSine Home Report

Individually selected private condominium or landed housing projects could be generated. You’ll have:-

• Unit pricing and official caveat transactions since 1995
• Comparable projects (by distance) & units (by floor level & size)
• Suggests a Possible price for the unit
• Rental prices
• Rental yield & investment potential comparisons
• Location Maps, Amenities (upcoming MRT stations)

The generation of report takes no more than 30 seconds and it’s being generated in pdf (20 plus pages, could be more) so you could send it directly to your client’s email for their references.

Tsk tsk, I save trees by sending to their emails instead. During presentation, I’ll be using my IBM X61T tablet so we could just draw on the report itself to make an impact on emphasis on any clauses in the report.

Download a sample copy of the Home Report from StreetSine.

Why StreetSine Home Report?

As professional Realtors, we do choose our listings, try to manage our time and effort when it comes to dealing with our buyers and sellers; The report generated by StreetSine references to the latest official statistics and data from URA. The reports act as a pivot point as data comes from official sources which would give a fair indicative of how the current market is doing.

Both parties would then know that an agreed price in terms of rental or sale if not far away from the recommendation would be an acceptable range.

You save time by closing deals more effectively.

StreetSine Home Report Sample - Similar Projects to Hillview Regency

The statistics generated impresses me. And if it could impress a professional like me, it should do more delight to your clients when you present it to them. I find the ‘Amenities within 2km’ and ‘Similar Projects’ very useful for presentation.

Should I get per report basis at $25 each or just pay $899 for an annual subscription for unlimited report generation?

It costs $25 to generate an individual report. If you’re a home owner who’s curious about your property data, I would suggest you just purchase one report. But for fellow colleagues, take the $899 option, whatever that you’re closing will make you way more folds than the subscription.

It’s just part of your business cost, tax deductable.

They’re also having a current special promotion. If you’re using my referral link to subscribe, you’ll save an additional of $200, discounting it to $699 effectively.

Bah why not share with my colleagues to get the account?

I would strongly object to this move. These things are intellectually StreetSine’s rights and I’m sure they do monitor your usage.

Also, your name, Real Estate company and phone number is included automatically in the report, so why go through the hassle of having a possibility of your account suspended or editing the data with your own signature?

Subscribe at $699 for a no-frill unlimited report generation today!

Home owners who are looking for an effective agent to market your property can also contact me for an analysis of your apartment or house anytime (:

Related posts:

1. StreetSine is Upgraded
2. StreetSine Teams Up with iProperty

I’ve received an email reminder from Sherlyn, PropertyGuru to inform me that my premium account is due for a renewal next month.

Let’s recap PropertyGuru’s review that I’ve done donkey months ago on how it’s affecting my review to the service it provides for both agents and consumers. Since then, PropertyGuru has massively transformed from a new player in the property market place to a veteran with a huge spike in internet traffic.

The Positive Changes So Far

All the minuses that I mentioned previously in my article was taken care of (and I wonder does the PropertyGuru team actually reads my article, and if they do, good call )

+ AgentNet Login is being really obvious now with the big blue icon
+ Since I’m on premium, I have no complains with their photos limit of 3 unlimited photo uploads limit.
+ New segments such as MarketPlace that allows more agent features, Wanted Leads that brings you direct clients with requirements.
+ Ask Guru still remains strong for property searchers to ask and for agents to showcase their knowledge.

Something New
+ SMS text message sent to your phone on enquiries by prospecting buyers, you get to call them right away. How’s that for customer service?
+ Listing of properties has became more friendly over the months, with new suggested search for condo listings, quality score, watermark feature and extending expire ads.

The Traffic War

First, let’s look at how much traffic it has picked up since the last review done a year ago.

PropertyGuru has breached the 150,000 Alexa rankings since last year and is top 40,000 sites of the world. It's a feat.

Even Alexa has changed dramatically with a facelift over the year. PropertyGuru has shed 120,000 ranks and is now at 39,000 (The lower, the better) ranked site in the world. PropertyGuru’s site penetration has one of the best for our locals, followed by South Korea, China and India.

The 3 reputated Singapore Property Portals (ST701, iProperty and PropertyGuru) showhand in Alexa’s comparison chart.

ST701, iProperty and PropertyGuru Shootout

PropertyGuru emerged the winner among the 3 sites, considering ST701 was the market leader previously (again it’s not fair to judge with ST701 being a portal which is directly competing with classified sites like 88DB and Mocca, which means PropertyGuru did considerably even better than expected)

Testimony from Benson Koh

It works, I’ve some deals that has been closed with fellow agent friends and direct buyers coming. Why do I know? I have premium accounts with most available effective portals that we’ve mentioned previously and I always do ask my leads on where did they get to know me to keep track the effectiveness Return On Investment (ROI) tool I have, PropertyGuru scores undoubtedly high in that department.

Is it worth to pay for a premium account?

Hands Down YES.

ps. Tsk, if you’re thinking that PropertyGuru is paying me for such a review, maybe that SHOULD

No related posts.

Rent Protection Insurance in Singapore by QBE and Jardine Lloyd Thompson

It’s confirmed.

I was attending to a introduction session in our office by a lady from Jardine Lloyd Thompson on their new rent protection insurance product produced by their company and QBE. The launch will be on April’s Fool (1st April 2009) opening only to Real Estate agents to sell to their Landlords.

Cost of the premium is 15% of one month of rental (excluding GST), coverage of up to 24 months of the tenancy, which sounds alot more affordable than I thought. I had the misconception that this will be a premium cut from the rental every month.

Benefit kicks in when the policy is in effect when you have a loss of rental income with the following:-

• Tenant defaulting
• Tenant absconding
• Eviction and/or Failure to surrender vacant possession
• Loss or damage to property
• Prevention of access
• Murder or suicide
• Death of tenant under sole tenancy
• Loss of rental income due to real estate agent absconding with rent paid by tenant (you’re extremely unlucky if you’re that guy)
• Legal costs
• Agents commission for replacement tenancy agreement.

It seems and sounds really good, with some catches here and there.You can only get the insurance with a new tenancy term with your property and not when your current tenancy term is in effect.

Remember, you can only get this policy through property agents, so contact your usual leasing agent for more details.

I’d advice you to visit their site (the site is down for me, try it on 1st April 2009) and download the PDFs on their policies to understand the product further. If you need any clarification, you can also contact me questions on how it works.

Related posts:

1. Rent Protection? Go Directly To Insurance Company

SISV Services Pte Ltd is running CEHA classes commencing from mid April in preparation for July 2009 Examinations.

Course Fee: $335.00 for 3 papers (exclusive of examination fee @ $321 for 3 papers)

Date/ Days/ Time: 15 April to 12 June 2009 (Every Wednesday & Friday) 10.00am to 1.00pm

Duration: 17 sessions (14 Lectures & 3 Revision Classes)

Venue: Toa Payoh Central Community Club, 93 Toa Payoh Central, #03-03 The Theatrette

You can contact Jennifer (SISV) @ 6848 7691 or email courses@sisvrealink.com

For those who is going for their CEHA, I’d suggest signing up for their course and attend ALL their lessons (without skipping and listen). You’ll pass if you put your heart to it. Good luck!

Related posts:

1. SISV CEHA Course – April 2008 Intake
2. Jan 2008 CEHA Results Out
3. CEHA January 2009 Papers for Download
4. A Helping Hand to 2008 July CEHA Intake
5. CEHA, The 2008 Round Starts

Here’s a doze of my mobile station that allows me to work anywhere be it in the car, in the washroom or when meeting clients

HTC Touch Pro

The former Dopod 838Pro (Hermes) was retired last year. I was one of the first few who jumped into the sliding keyboard form factor when Dopod launched its old 838Pro despite its brick like size.

XDA Developers has been my creed for the past few years on mobile upgrades, customed ROMS which work usually wonders than the original ones provided by HTC and tweaks that maximises the phone’s potential.

With the TouchPRO, reminders and calendars are the boon to Realtor jobs, friendly Opera browsing and email functions are pluses (which I dont really use much since 3G/HSPDA connections tax alot on the battery life usually)

ps. I’ve just gotten the news that Touch Pro 2 is to be released by HTC this Q2. Pfft.

Jawbone 2

I remember reading about the review of Jawbone 2 excitedly over some forums on how sleek and how impressive the noise cancellation technology was with the Jawbones. Aliph’s stuffs have never been available locally in Singapore, with only Jabra, iTech, Motorola and a small hint of Plantronics dominating the market here.

Ordered my two sets from eBay (I lost one unfortunately) which sets me back about US$160 per piece including shipping, and have never looked back ever since.

Idiot-proof pairing with phone, crystal clear conversations, decent battery life.

Lenovo Thinkpad X61 Tablet

This was inspired by Nick and the video on jkOnTheRun. I would agree this US$1,200 Lenovo EOL tablet has served me well for the past few weeks with the wooo and the ahhhs of my clients. And yes, get your Lenovo from eBay. Even if it sets you back with a GST when it arrives, it’s still much cheaper than getting it at the retail shops (at least 40% savings). International warranty.

Since X61T has stopped production, you should be looking at X200T.

Armed with Microsoft OneNote, PDF Annotator for PDF dawdling, and my Singnet Broadband on Mobile for uninterrupted 3G internet connection (usually), I can work anywhere.

Singnet Broadband on Mobile (BBoM) 3G/HSPDA Connection

The mother of all pearl for internet connection anywhere in Singapore. We have Wireless@SG at most spots but sometimes the particular relay station might be having some flu which doesn’t allow you to have a decent internet connection for work.

I’ve signed up for Singnet BBOM for a 1.5mbps connection since last year. No looking back. Sets you back about SGD$15 a month or so. You can read my review on Singapore 3G broadbands here.

Canon Powershot A1000IS

Just some random camera that I got from Alan’s Photos lesser than $300. This 10.1 mega-pixel replaces my 5 year old Canon Ixus-500. Canon always delivers sharp photos and eases my printing with PictBridge for snappy photo printings.

Plus plus points, it uses AA alkaline batteries, making emergency battery flat issues seemingly impossible.

Canon IP100

And if the Tablet is not enough, I have the portable IP100 always in my car if my client needs anything solid for their contracts, information on projects or anything that needs to be printed out on the spot.

This set me back about SGD$300+ with the battery pack (since 6 months ago), but has saved me tonnes of travelling time/ and petrol.

Diet Coke

Yes, you’ll need to quench your thirst somewhat somehow. I have affinity towards drinks that doesnt add carbs to my belly, so a chilled diet coke always relaxes me. Cost $1.20 – $1.50 at all major convenient stores and kopi tiams.

No coffee!

No related posts.

Besides getting hitched with its Win $10,000 worth of advertising competition for the Best Singapore Agent award, here’re some other benefits that I’ve experienced over the past 1 week of fiddling with PropGO.

Networking

Networking with PropGo

A new agent friend that specialised in commercial listings gave me a private messaged to touch base with me.

For fellow colleagues who has different market specialization might want to easily touch base with one another to just share their leads to co-broke.

Effectively, you’re shortening your workload and still solving your clients need in terms of rental or sale of a property.

Property Listings in Different Segments

This is where PropGO is different from other portals. We can safely acknowledge that this is works like Facebook for agents where fellow colleagues can match listings very quickly by Districts and Neighbours segment.

Blogging and Discussions

My Blog Article on Grand Duchess with PropGo

This is where Realtor can help one another if PropGO manages to build up a strong user base of Realtor.

Any property agents could just post any questions with regards to developments that they’re unsure of; Fellow specialists could answer their questions and offer even their listings to quickly close the sale.

Hong Kong/ China/ USA Market?

New Markets is Possible with PropGO

Unlike PropertyGuru and ST701 (which I highly recommend for your listings for local leads), PropGO looks like they’re working very well in Hong Kong as well as China. With their new alliance with Condo.com, they’re now expanding also into the USA market.

With PropGO, you might have the chance to touch base with other foreign Realtor who might be interested in Singapore’s real estate. Ah, that would be new market segments for most, wouldn’t it?

In Short..

I believe in the spirit of esprit de corps even in property sales. The more sociable you are, the more friends you make, be it your direct clients or property agent friends, the more happier you are and the more easier and faster it would be for you to close your sales.

PropGO might make it possible with the 20,000 ++ property agents (current estimated number of real estate agents in Singapore).

Why not give it a go and have your listings posted here? Give me a hola when you’ve registered to add me as a friend

I think PropGO is still experiencing some bug issues with the adding of friends, but it should resolve pretty soon

Related posts:

1. PropGO Real Estate Social Portal Contest – List and Win $10,000