http://www.straitstimes.com/ST+Forum/Story/STIStory_270716.html
Two-tier test system raises standards of estate agency industry
WE REFER to the letter 'HDB resale net services open to abuse' by Mr Steven Lau last Saturday. We would like to take this opportunity to clarify the misconceptions about the SAEA (Singapore Accredited Estate Agencies) accreditation schemes.
The SAEA scheme was launched in November 2005 with the objective of raising the level of professionalism in the estate agency industry by getting agencies and agents to be accredited.
A time frame of three years was proposed so that agents would have the opportunity to upgrade themselves during that period. The accreditation requires agencies to have a certain percentage of their agents pass the Common Examination for House Agents (Ceha), starting with 40 per cent in 2006, 60 per cent last year, 80 per cent this year and 100 per cent next year.
To support the SAEA accreditation scheme, the HDB has kindly provided the use of the HDB resale net services to accredited agencies, bearing in mind that there are agents with the accredited agencies who do not possess the Ceha.
During the implementation of the scheme, feedback from the industry and agency bosses was obtained. One of the feedback given was to introduce a two-tiered accreditation scheme, one for agents who intend to practise as a principal licensee, and another for salespersons on the ground, who deal with the buyer and seller.
This two-tiered scheme is not uncommon in other countries. Hence, the SAEA salespersons accreditation was announced in April this year. Under the two-tiered scheme, agents can either take the Ceha or the CES (Common Examination for Salespersons) to be accredited as an accredited agent or salesperson.
The syllabi for the CES examination are as extensive as the Ceha except topics like those that deal with the management of the agency, such as business operations and human resources management, are excluded. Those taking the CES, for instance, are required to understand the procedures to carry out HDB resale transactions, to be aware of the HDB policies and familiar with the resale checklist, various upgrading programmes and so on in order to pass.
The possession of Ceha or CES is only one of the requirements for accreditation. All accredited agents or salespersons are required to comply with a code of ethics and conduct, and will be subject to disciplinary action if they misconduct themselves.
We urge Mr Lau or the public who is aware of any abuse of the HDB resale net services to inform us so that appropriate disciplinary action can be taken against our accredited agencies.
The two-tier system is a good system to exercise control on the estate agency industry where there are close to 20,000 agents who do not even have a basic qualification and understanding of real estate and property transactions.
We urge the general public to deal with accredited agents or salespersons in order to protect their own interests.
Wilson Lim
Executive Director
Singapore Accredited Estate Agencies (SAEA)
Two-tier test system raises standards of estate agency industry
WE REFER to the letter 'HDB resale net services open to abuse' by Mr Steven Lau last Saturday. We would like to take this opportunity to clarify the misconceptions about the SAEA (Singapore Accredited Estate Agencies) accreditation schemes.
The SAEA scheme was launched in November 2005 with the objective of raising the level of professionalism in the estate agency industry by getting agencies and agents to be accredited.
A time frame of three years was proposed so that agents would have the opportunity to upgrade themselves during that period. The accreditation requires agencies to have a certain percentage of their agents pass the Common Examination for House Agents (Ceha), starting with 40 per cent in 2006, 60 per cent last year, 80 per cent this year and 100 per cent next year.
To support the SAEA accreditation scheme, the HDB has kindly provided the use of the HDB resale net services to accredited agencies, bearing in mind that there are agents with the accredited agencies who do not possess the Ceha.
During the implementation of the scheme, feedback from the industry and agency bosses was obtained. One of the feedback given was to introduce a two-tiered accreditation scheme, one for agents who intend to practise as a principal licensee, and another for salespersons on the ground, who deal with the buyer and seller.
This two-tiered scheme is not uncommon in other countries. Hence, the SAEA salespersons accreditation was announced in April this year. Under the two-tiered scheme, agents can either take the Ceha or the CES (Common Examination for Salespersons) to be accredited as an accredited agent or salesperson.
The syllabi for the CES examination are as extensive as the Ceha except topics like those that deal with the management of the agency, such as business operations and human resources management, are excluded. Those taking the CES, for instance, are required to understand the procedures to carry out HDB resale transactions, to be aware of the HDB policies and familiar with the resale checklist, various upgrading programmes and so on in order to pass.
The possession of Ceha or CES is only one of the requirements for accreditation. All accredited agents or salespersons are required to comply with a code of ethics and conduct, and will be subject to disciplinary action if they misconduct themselves.
We urge Mr Lau or the public who is aware of any abuse of the HDB resale net services to inform us so that appropriate disciplinary action can be taken against our accredited agencies.
The two-tier system is a good system to exercise control on the estate agency industry where there are close to 20,000 agents who do not even have a basic qualification and understanding of real estate and property transactions.
We urge the general public to deal with accredited agents or salespersons in order to protect their own interests.
Wilson Lim
Executive Director
Singapore Accredited Estate Agencies (SAEA)
