Buying a condo without an agent, but seller’s agent seem to ignore me — advice needed

Recently I reached out to one agent and arrange to view a unit in a condo. I knew that this condo had many problems with quality, hence during the viewing I asked a few questions to verify what I’ve heard, to which the seller’s agent appeared to try to dodge.

After the viewing, I tried to arrange for another viewing; we want to determine if the quality issues affect this house — since the unit has plus points for us, if these are not real issues, we may even make an offer.

But the seller’s agent keeps delaying in arranging my viewing, and usually ignore my message until I nudge her.

I know that seller’s agents usually prefer to sell to someone without a buyer’s agent since they would get to keep the entire commission. I made it clear that I’m on my own.

Could the agent thinks that I’m a tire kicker kind of buyer who is just wasting her time? I have an IPA and prepared to make an offer for the right house.

Or could she think that it’s too troublesome to deal with me since I know too much? It might be easier to work with a less-informed buyer?

[Update] Or could it be that there are some more serious defects in the unit, as some Redditors pointed out below?

I’m trying to give her the benefit of doubt, but if she’s not a very forthright person, then I don’t know if I should move forward even if I like the unit?

If she keeps avoiding arranging the next viewing for me, what are my options? What would you do?

I have been working for a few years now and am thinking of pursuing further studies, both to slow down in life and to add new skills.

I am undecided on whether I should be studying something that I really like but may not make me more marketable than before, and studying something in line with the skills in demand, which I neither dislike or am passionate about.

Fees for masters or post-grad studies are really not cheap. Coupled with the income loss in the sabbatical year, its a decision that needs to be carefully deliberated.

Netizens’ comments

1. So have you decided on the career path yet or are you still discovering and learning about yourself? If is the former, I think the answer is obvious what you gonna do next. If it is the latter which I think you belong to that, I don’t think it is worth spending money and time on further studies until you understand yourself better on what you really want to do in your life.
   • I am still in the exploratory stage. But how long should this phase last? Entering into 30s soon, which is a time that I think is the phase of life to be in a industry to deep specialise. But I don’t seem to know enough of a world out of my current job (with the organisation since graduation).
     I am personally interested in psychology, particularly clinical psychology and mental health related issues. But I do not have a psychology background and I am not sure how much job opportunities are there in this field since it is quite a mature field.
2. I’m of the opinion that whatever you study if you have a few employable skills you’ll never have trouble making money. If anything it’s easier to find a high paying niche.
   I did a diploma in mass comm at a poly, then a degree in computer science at an Australian uni and now I’m doing a part-time MSc. in neuroscience at NTU out of interest. I’ve worked in ed-tech startups, private education institutions, and a corporate consultancy in mixed roles requiring a mix of technical and management expertise.
   I also recommend doing your masters part-time while having a job because the slower pace will not only allow you to consolidate what you learn better but you’ll have more time to think of applying it in your career. It’ll also be easier on finances.
   For example, I’m doing a module now on using neural networks to understand brain activity and because I’m only taking 1 module a semester I can take a udacity course on machine learning to implement neural networks on the side to supplement my learning and turn what I learn into a more employable skill.
   Lifelong learning and being able to guide your own learning to get the type of employment you want is going to an essential skill going forward so think about your interests, aptitudes and the kind of employment situation you want before selecting a path of learning for yourself. The local unis here are offering micro masters pathways now too so look into that and try out a course first if you’re not sure.

Growing old together or Growing up together

Is it common for me to have no more admiration towards my husband anymore?

i feel that i am constantly upgrading & improving myself in terms of knowledge and body physique but he is still behaving like the boy i met 15 years ago, playing games and earning 2k per month.

“Where is the nail clipper?”

“Where is the toilet paper?”

“Where is the laptop charger?”

He is lazy. All these things are kept at the same place since day one. He knows where but is just too lazy to move his ass to go get them himself.

“A good relationship is when both of you grow and improve together” Apparently i am the only one growing and improving, to a point that i think i can do almost everything myself.

I used to think that he is humorous but his jokes are no longer funny to me now. I used to think that he is self-motivated because he kept telling me about his dreams and aspirations when we were dating.. but now he tells me that a 2k salary is enough for a family of 3.

Usually the wife will look up to her husband like as if he is her universe right? Like a hero who protects the family… but he has nothing for me to look up to.

In fact, i am starting to despise him already. I used harsh words like “parasite” “stupid” and “useless” on him hoping that he can wake up but sad to say it does not affect him at all.

“Useless then useless loh. The most useful person in the world is you.” Thats what he said. He said that i have changed. Yes i admit, but it is definitely for the better.

Seeing him irks me so much.. i rejected all his sexual advances.

Need some advice on how to motivate a spouse who is delusional and lazy? Divorce is not an option now as we have a kid that is only 3 years old.

How common is to get scammed on tinder by men?

I have been talking to a guy for almost two weeks, he apparently is 32, he’s really handsome to be real. He told me, we will do many things in the future but has not asked me out yet. And he even thought I was fake.

Yeah he tells he works a lot, I don’t know if it’s customary in Singapore to talk for some time online and then meet in person?

I search for his pictures on google and didn’t find them and also I search by his name on Instagram and Facebook and nothing.

He told me the following once which came off as weird to me!

“My hobbies are sports and fitness, listening to music, reading, and occasionally cooking my favorite dishes. At the time that suits my vacation, I choose to travel and see the beautiful things in the world.

Now that I am busy with work every day, I will still take time to observe and analyze the trend of USDT, because my parents and I bought a freehold house here, and our savings are almost exhausted, and my parents are retired.

So the rest of the assets are given to my parents, and it is enough for them to live without worries in their later years.

I am now equal to a new beginning, so am studying USDT every day, and the return it brings me is considerable”

I mean who the hell talks about USDT to a girl?

Netizens’ comments

• Yeah it’s obviously a scam. Most likely a China individual google translating to English too
  • The person has a Singapore number; we communicate over WhatsApp
    • Yeah they have to use a Singapore number as part of the scam, otherwise it would be too obvious. Their preference is usually to speak in Chinese, but when I faced such a scammer before and forced them to communicate in English, they just google translate (it’s quite obvious with the sentence structuring
    • yeah kena also. the sg number is fake one

Currently working part time, and agent wants to change terms of contract and make me re-sign the contract.

Currently working for a contract freelancer job and last week, my agent informed me that the working hours were changed from a friday-wednesday work week to monday to friday one, but did not ask me to sign a new contract.

However, only today he informed me that a new contract has to be signed and OT pay is only applicable in this new contract after 44 hours are reached, whereas in the previous contract, it was after working hours that was paid OT pay.

Netizens’ comments

• Lol. Tell him no.
  • yea im planning to just not sign the new contract since it just fucks me over, just not sure of any repercussions
    • at most terminate u lor
    • oh thats fine its a temp job and im at the end of the contract anyway. just wondering if theres anything i can do if they dont pay the amt that im supposed to recieve
• O there are part time jobs that pays OT beyond regular hours? I’ve never seen that. All the ones I’ve done are after 44hours
  • that was what the original contract stated ah from the contract: In the event the Freelancer is required to provide additional service hours after official work hours, the additional service hours shall be paid at 1.5 X after official work hours per week. Work done on an off day is 1.5x and rest day is at 2.0 X.

I was unlucky to have an insurance agent as my hitch driver and she made me sign this Great Eastern Savings Plan where I have to save $10/day ($300/m) for 10 years.

And during that period, I will not be able to withdraw my money at all.

At that point of time, I was too tired and just signed it without thinking much. Before signing, I tried to tell her I wasn’t interested but she kept insisting.

I also asked if I could choose to cancel the plan after signing and shs said yes.

After I got back home, I realised that the plan isn’t worth it at all and I would like to cancel the plan. I messaged the insurance agent about it and she said that she will come by my area to help with the cancellation.

Should I just call the customer service to cancel the plan? Or do I wait for her to come by to help with the cancellation?

I regret not being firm enough to tell her that I do not want to sign the plan

Netizens’ comments

• Just call customer care and cancel
• Just call GE to cancel. Don’t need to meet the FA.
• There should be a free look period. Just call in and cancel. Or send in an email. In fact sending in an email would be better, since there’s a black and white digital trail at least.