Huttons: News

Angry Public Hp No/Email Address To Be Omitted. Do-Not-Call/SMS/Email (Updated As At 03.02.2012)

Leaders' Conference - 27 Feb 12

All Group Directors & above are invited to attend. Agenda includes Huttons franchising, international properties, reflection and review of 2011 targets and way forward. The event will commence at 10am sharp and later comer(s) will share equal cost of the breakfast. Sumptuous breakfast will be ready from 9am onwards.

Mandatory CPF Medisave Contribution by Salesperson

Effective Date

For new applicants who are self-employed persons: With immediate effect

For registered salespersons who are self-employed persons: With effect from the renewal exercise in Oct 2014

Contribution to CPF Medisave

All self-employed persons are required to register with the CPF Board when they commence business. Under Section 3(1) of the Central Provident Fund (Self-Employed Persons) Regulations, self-employed persons who earn a yearly net trade income of >$6K a year need to contribute to Medisave. The Medisave contribution payable is based on age and net trade income for the year. Self-employed persons can find out how to make payment from CPF Board's website www.cpf.gov.sg.

With immediate effect, it will be a registration requirement for individuals who apply to be salespersons to contribute to their Medisave, if they are self-employed. Registration and renewal applications will not be approved for those who are in arrears of their contributions and have not made arrangements with CPF Board to pay.

For salespersons who are currently registered and are self-employed, CEA will impose this as a renewal requirement starting from the renewal exercise in Oct 2014. All are advised to check on CPF Board's website if they are in arrears of their contributions. Should they be in arrears and not make arrangements with CPF Board to pay, their registration will not be renewed starting from the renewal exercise in Oct 2014.

Please do not check directly with CEA if there are any queries on the above but check with CPF Board on Medisave-related questions such as whether they need to contribute, how much they are required to contribute, and how to make payment.

REQUIREMENTS FOR OUTDOOR ADVERTISEMENT

Attached is a circular with regard to the requirements for outdoor advertisement signs put up by Estate Agents and Salespersons for compliance with immediate effect. BCA and CEA wish to remind all that the display of real estate and property sale advertisements require an outdoor advertisement licence from BCA and must also comply with CEA's Practice Guidelines on Ethical Advertising as well as the Code of Ethics and Professional Client Care as set out in the First Schedule to the Estate Agents (Estate Agency Work) Regulations.

If you require clarification on regulations on Outdoor Advertising, please contact BCA at 1800-342-5222 (Option 1) or through their email at bca_adv_lic@bca.gov.sg.

If you require clarification on regulations on Estate Agents (Estate Agency Work), please contact CEA via our Customer Service Line at 1800-643-2555 or email at feedback@cea.gov.sg.

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Bank Referral Fee - UOB & STCH (Updated As At 26.01.2012)

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Payment Advices As At 01.02.2012

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Namelist for Collection of Namecards

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Namelist for Collection of Magtag

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Recruitment Incentive

Good News! Back by popular demand, newly recruited salespersons that join Huttons from 3 Jan - 31 Jun 12 can claim for $300 reimbursement from receipt of 1st commission. Pls note that claim must be submitted within ONE month from receipt of 1st commission.

CEA's Consumer Guide Brochure

CEA had launched a consumer guide and copies are available in the office (#05-01 & #05-05) for distribution to your clients. The educational brochure, in folded DL size, provides pointers on the responsibilities of a salesperson and how consumers should do their part in a property transaction. It is also available for public download in the CEA's website.

Reimbusrement/Claim

All salespersons are reminded to submit your claim (advertisement, recruitment incentive, etc) within 2 months from receipt of invoice/1st commission.

Guidelines to Adopt on Recruitment of Salespersons

With immediate effect, all salespersons are to comply with the attached guidelines when posting recruitment advertisements. This Licensing Circular provides guidelines on ethical practices in advertisements for recruitment of salespersons.

We should leverage and focus on professionalism, values and service culture when posting recruitment advertisements. All are to refrain from advertising freebies in their recruitment advertisements as it may attract new entrants/salespersons that join for the wrong reasons and project a negative image of the real estate agency industry to the public. Advertisements that are misleading such as claims of 100% commission, when there are various costs that are to be borne by the salesperson if he joins the estate agent must also be avoided.

Salespersons shall not undertake recruitment activities at certain venues e.g. carrying out recruitment activities of any kind at other estate agents' premises or recruitment activities such as distribution of recruitment flyers at centres for RES courses or examination. Salespersons are also not allowed to approach persons undergoing courses/exam at the RES / Approved Course Provider course venue or exam venue for recruitment purposes.

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SPECIAL RES EXAM FOR EXISTING SALESPERSONS (ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA APPLY)

CEA has extended the deadline for the provisional registered salespersons to pass the Real Estate Salesperson (RES) Exam from 31 Dec 2011 to 30 Jun 2012. To assist provisional registered salespersons whose highest qualification is below 4 GCE "O" level passes, CEA will arrange Special RES Exams for them. Its main difference from the RES Exam is both Papers will be Multiple Choice Questions and there will be no 15 short questions answers. Candidates who meet the following two eligiblity criteria will qualify for the Special RES Exam:

(i) The existing salesperson’ educational qualification is below 4 GCE “O” Level passes; and

(ii) He/she must have attempted at least one normal RES exam.

However, there are conditions imposed for existing salespersons who passed the special RES Exam, as follows:

(i) They will be issue with a different certificate title ‘Special RES Examination”;

(ii) They must attend additional CPD courses at a minimum of 3 credit hours in courses such as (a) English language for improvement, (b) HDB resale documents, CEA Prescribed Estate Agency Agreements in the initial 1 year from date of passing the exam. This is over and above the yearly 6 CPD credit hour requirement;

(iii) They need to work under close supervision by the KEO (or designated Team Director/Leader); and

(iv) KEO must give an undertaking to CEA in support of their salespersons. The undertaking may include the commitment to supervise them and the relevant CPD courses.

There will be three Special RES exams, tentatively set for dates at 22-23 Feb, 25-26 Apr, and 27-28 Jun 2012. Eligible candidates will have until 30 Jun 2012 to pass either the Special RES exam (conducted at Informatics only) or normal RES exam (conducted at Informatics and NTUC Learning Hub). The contact information for CEA’s Appointed Exam Administrators can be found at

http://www.cea.gov.sg/cea/content/estate_agencies_agents/examinations/applyingforexamination.html

PERFORMANCE INCENTIVE - S$1 MILLION LUCKY DRAW

Golden opportunity not to be missed! 10 lucky draw prizes of S$100K cash each will be given away during our Annual D & D 2013. To qualify, just complete 5 x successful project transactions where Huttons is the marketing agent from 01 Nov 2011 - 31 Dec 2012 to remit for 1 x lucky draw ticket. Co-broke(internal/external) will be considered as 0.5 case and will not eligible if there are dispute and/or co-broke cases that have more than 2 salespersons, Claims must be submitted to #02-01 asap or by 31 Dec 2012. To be eligible, he/she must be a practising salesperson in Huttons, and CEA registered on the day of the draw. Check with your GDs/DDs for more details.

CEA Ethical Advertisement and Prescribed Estate Agency Agreement Guidelines

CEA had issued the guidelines to enhance clarity and understanding. Attached are the 2 sets of guidelines for strict compliance with immediate effect. Any infringement is subject to CEA's disciplinary action, including fine and suspension.

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