Visiting your first showflat? How to avoid being pressured into buying

1. PREPARATIONS BEFORE YOU STEP INTO SIREN’S DEN

It’s incredible what you can be convinced to buy, if you don’t prepare yourself before stepping into a showflat. Remember, everything in that makeshift building is finely calculated to make you take leave of your senses, and lull you into a sense of complacency.

To avoid being entrapped by a clever sales pitch, prepare the following:

• A definite budget

Ideally, you shouldn’t spend more than five times your annual income on a house. The absolute maximum should be seven times your annual income.

In addition, it’s best to limit your home loan amount. Your mortgage repayments, along with the rest of your monthly bills, should not exceed 40 per cent of your monthly income.

READ: Moving out on your own? 7 important rental clauses you never knew existed

We know the government allows for 60 per cent under the Total Debt Servicing Ratio (TDSR), but frankly that’s on the dangerous side. Most people can survive on 60 per cent of their monthly income, but surviving on 40 per cent is a tough call.

So, if your combined household income is S$15,000 per month, the prudent price for your house should be around S$900,000, or S$1.26 million at the most. Your monthly repayment, inclusive of all your other debt obligations, should not exceed $6,000 per month.

• Approval in Principle (AIP) from the bank

An AIP states how much a bank agrees to lend you, if you buy a house. AIPs are usually valid for up to two weeks.

Get the AIP from the bank first, because you don’t want to end up putting down a non-refundable deposit, and then being unable to get a loan.

• Data on sale prices and rental rates of nearby properties

Check the location of your desired property on the map. Take note of the median prices in the area, such as in condos across the street. Also take note of the rental rates.

READ: Property agent commission in Singapore: How much should you pay?

This helps you to make a fair comparison of prices – a new condo is typically priced at 10 to 15 per cent more than its older counterparts in the area. If it costs much more than that, make sure the developer has a justification you can accept.

You can also use the data as a bargaining chip (e.g. point out that nearby condos have been falling in prices, when trying to negotiate for a lower price).

2. UNLESS YOU’RE SURE, LEAVE YOUR CHEQUEBOOK AT HOME

If you’re new to all this, we suggest you leave the payment methods at home for now.

This will prevent you from being fast-talked or pressured into putting down a deposit. Never underrate how much pressure you can fall under; you’re dealing with professionals who have often spent years fine-tuning their methods.

The only exception to this is if the property really is selling out fast, and you already know you want it.

READ: Viewing property? 5 things to inspect to save yourself time and a headache

In any case, we suggest you give yourself at least two to three days to think things over, before you make your deposit. Do this even if you’ve already viewed other properties and narrowed it down to “the one”.

3. PREPARE THE QUESTIONS YOU WANT TO ASK THE PROPERTY AGENTS

Write down your main concerns, be it the distance to the PIE, or the noise pollution in the evenings. Take especial note of things you won’t be able to detect at the show flat, such as:

• Noise pollution from MRT tracks (ask which blocks are closer to the tracks)
• Construction work going on nearby, and for how long it will continue
• Changes to the area marked on the URA Master Plan, over the coming years (your “quiet enclave” might become a roaring business hub five years from now)
• The likely maintenance fees

The list goes on, but you get the idea: Write down the questions so you don’t forget to ask them later.

4. PACK WATER, A SANDWICH AND A POWER BANK

A lot of first-timers are caught off-guard by how long the wait can be, and how ulu the location of the showflat might be (we’ve seen a few where the closest 7-11 is a 10-minute drive).

Also, if there’s a big rush, you don’t want to give up your spot in the queue to go buy water or food.

Incidentally, what we’re suggesting here is not a trivial comfort issue. When you’re thirsty or starving, you’re not as sharp. It makes you more prone to mistakes, especially when a non-stop sales pitch is levelled at you.

And if your phone is dead, it severs your ability to call your property-savvy friend for advice, or look up information on the condo when you need it.

5. KNOW HOW TO REALLY VIEW THE SHOWFLAT

Do the following the first time you view the showflat:

• Ignore the furniture. Try to visualise where your stuff will be, in the bare bones apartment. For example, work out where your children’s bedrooms will be, where your study will be, which room you’ll use for storage, et cetera.
• When there are mirrors positioned in the room, it tends to look bigger. Try to block out the mirror from your vision (raise a hand to block it if you need to), and then try to get a sense of the real room size.
• Illumination is never accurately reflected in a showflat. Be wary of areas with no window access, such as connecting corridors – these are likely to be much darker in the actual unit.
• Note the labels on any appliances. Developers will usually label an item that’s included, such as the fridge or washing machine. If you don’t see the labels, ask the agent.
• Check if the surfaces and finishing in the showflat are what you’re actually getting. If the flooring is parquet, check with the agent that it will be in the actual apartment. Never assume that what you see is what you’ll get.

6. BE PREPARED TO HAVE ALTERNATIVE PAYMENT SCHEMES OFFERED TO YOU

In closing the deal, you may be offered alternative payment schemes such as 20 per cent down, and 80 per cent in two years, or even in-house financing. These alternative schemes can be quite complex, and end up costing you far more than you expect.

READ: 5 common mistakes Singaporeans make when upgrading to a condominium

If you feel at all confused, don’t sign anything – give yourself time to look over the schemes, and come up with questions. We know that some mortgage brokers will go out of the way to offer you extra insight, and compare what you’re paying to a regular bank loan if you ask them for help. Consider doing that before putting your money down.

7. ASK FOR A SHORT BREAK BEFORE YOU SIGN, IF YOU FEEL HESITANT

If you feel uneasy at all, don’t hesitate to ask for a short break before you sign anything. Ask for a few minutes to take another quick look at the showflat, and use this time to think it over.

If you find you’re still doubtful, then it may be a better idea to hold off on the deposit (remember, the deposit to secure the Option to Purchase is non-refundable). Never rush into purchasing a house.

Finally, take some pictures of the showflat, and email the agent with any of your key questions.

This is so that you can check the actual apartment once you get the keys, and look for discrepancies with the showflat (e.g. different flooring materials being used).

As for emailing the questions, you’re not simply doing it to repeat them. This provides written confirmation of what you were told by the agent – it’s useful in the event of disputes later.

This story first appeared on 99.co.