Yahoo Finance The realtor who goes the extra mile
Vincent Lim of OrangeTee & Tie receiving the Top Transactor Award for Landed Property from Shermie Tee, EdgeProp Singapore vice president, agency sales and training (Picture: Albert Chua/The Edge Singapore)
Having a savvy and resourceful realtor in your corner is always a plus if you are looking to buy or sell your home. If you are looking to do both, having one who’s able to navigate through the numerous interactions is practically a must.
That’s where the services of Vincent Lim, associate executive director at OrangeTee & Tie, come in.
The veteran realtor, who has been in the industry since 2000, is one of six realtors who have clinched the highest number of transactions in the landed property segment by an individual real estate salesperson at the EdgeProp Excellence Awards (EPEA) in 2022. The award covers transactions made between July 2021 and June this year.
Lim: Because of my work with clients, I’ve gained their trust, and they’ve also referred me to their family and friends
Delivering the desired results
To Lim, being able to deliver the desired results for his clients and surpass their expectations is one of the secrets of his success. “I am someone who will go the extra mile to ensure a smooth transaction,” he says.
The realtor reveals that his clients are surprised that selling their property and buying another at the same time can happen seamlessly, especially due to the precision of timing required. Those who have been through the same experience before would know this is not an easy task to manage. But Lim does it beautifully.
Lim shares: “Whenever my clients are looking to sell their home, they’re not sure how long they’ll need to secure their next home. That’s where I come in. Whether they put in this request or not, I’ll request an extension from the buyer so that my clients are able to move to their new place within a comfortable time-frame.”
He adds: “I usually ask for an extension of around six months, which is more than enough time for my clients to move into their new home comfortably.”
On making such requests, Lim says that realtors have to do it “properly and at the right time”. At the buyer’s end, Lim has to ask them in advance, so they can adjust their expectations and make their own preparations too.
As a property realtor, Lim makes transactions like these look seamless. “So far, I’ve been able to help all my clients sell their current place easily and move into their new place without fuss,” he says. “Because of my work with them, I’ve gained their trust, and they’ve also referred me to their family and friends.”
Closing transactions within the month
Another feather in Lim’s cap is his ability to close transactions within the month. These transactions also usually happen within the first viewing, he says.
One of Lim’s fondest memories of such transactions involves an owner who was selling her landed home and had had her property listed on the market for two years.
“During those two years, my client had met many realtors, and eventually chose me after I’d presented my pitch to them. Within two weeks of my presentation, I sold the place,” he shares, adding that the same client called him a “godsend”.
Fit for the role
Prior to joining the industry, Lim was trained as an engineer. Yet, when he followed his best friend into the property industry, his close friends had expected it. “They know that I’m an outspoken person who can excel in a sales job,” he laughs. “Most of my friends agree that my decision to join this industry was no surprise to them!”
As a young realtor, Lim started out servicing clients across several property types. While he had transacted within the landed segment a few times, his big break came after his client, who had asked him to sell his property, noticed that he worked quickly and efficiently. After that, there were many referrals.
In addition, as his clients work their way up the property ladder, Lim is with them. “Naturally, where my clients go, I’ll go with them. Whenever they grow, I, too, grow with them,” he says. “Wherever the referrals come from, I’ll service them too, so I must thank my clients for their trust.”
While Lim prides himself on ensuring transactions go smoothly and seamlessly, the realtor also believes in offering sound advice to his clients when it comes to making decisions about their property.
“I’m very transparent in that I always share the data that I have with my clients,” he says. “I am familiar with the various types of residential properties, and I have kept up with information on the economic outlook, especially that pertaining to the property sector.”
He adds: “Thanks to the data that I have on hand, I am able to offer my clients excellent advice. This includes information on why they need to make certain moves due to the direction in which the economy is going, and so on.”
Moreover, Lim is someone who is able to deliver results. “When my clients ask me to transact at a selling price they’re satisfied with, I’m usually able to do so,” he says.
A heart for the elderly
One particular segment of Lim’s clientele is the elderly, whom he has a soft spot for.
“Whenever I meet an elderly client who asks me to sell their landed property before moving to a more convenient home such as a HDB flat or condominium unit, I make sure they or their children fully understand the processes,” he says. “In this way, they’ll be able to trust me to make the move a hasslefree one.”
Lim adds that based on his experience, elderly clients do not usually know what to ask or note, as they do not have a lot of experience with moving homes.
In this vein, he says that a realtor has to be proactive in knowing what their clients need. This includes selling their home at an “appropriate price” and ensuring that they are comfortable with the overall transaction.
Lim adds that if his clients prefer him meeting their children to discuss the deal, he would be happy to do so.
Changing perceptions for the better
Winning the trust of clients is important to Lim. “I envision changing the way people feel about property realtors or consultants. Most clients, as I understand it, don’t have a good impression of realtors. I hope that after they meet me, I’ll be able to change their impression,” he says.
On his Top 6 Transactor award from EdgeProp Singapore, Lim says: “I am truly blessed to receive this award as there are many veteran realtors specialising in this segment who have been around for a long time. I thank God that I’m blessed this year to receive this award.”
The award was unexpected for Lim and marks one of the proudest moments in his career. He looks forward to continue providing his services to clients with a good outcome. “I have to continue ensuring my clients are satisfied with the end-result. This award has truly validated my work,” he says.
Top Transactor is a Sponsored Series in recognition of Real Estate Salespersons who have achieved the highest number of transactions, based on information from CEA’s Public Register and data.gov.sg between July 2021 and June 2022 that was extracted on 10 August 2022.
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