Today, I received an unexpected call from a fellow colleague about a long-term tenant.
I was told that the tenant had encountered a serious medical emergency while overseas.
It was difficult news to hear.
My first thought wasn’t about the rent, the tenancy agreement or what would happen next.
It was simply: I hope he will be okay.
I informed my landlord about the situation as well. And after putting down the phone, it left me thinking about something that is very easy to forget when we are busy with our everyday work.
Property is about numbers. But behind every number is a person.
Behind Every Property Transaction Is a Person
As a property agent in Singapore, a large part of my day revolves around numbers and practical matters.
Selling prices. Rental rates. Valuations. Loans. Negotiations. Contracts. Timelines. Repairs. Handover.
All these things are important.
But after years in this business, I’ve also realised that no two property transactions are ever really the same, because the people behind them are different.
A young couple may be buying their first home together.
A family may be selling because they need a bigger home for their children.
Someone else may be downsizing after their children have grown up.
A seller may be letting go of a home filled with decades of memories.
A landlord may be entrusting their property to someone they barely know.
And for a tenant, a rented apartment isn’t simply somebody else’s property. For the years they live there, it is their home.
Behind every transaction, there is usually a story that isn’t written in the contract.
Sometimes, We Need to Look Beyond the Transaction
Of course, as property agents, we have responsibilities.
Agreements matter. Deadlines matter. Financial obligations matter. And we still have to protect the interests of the clients we represent.
Being understanding doesn’t mean ignoring those responsibilities.
But there are also situations in life that nobody plans for.
Illness. Family emergencies. Financial difficulties. Changes in relationships. Unexpected changes in someone’s circumstances.
When something genuinely serious happens, I believe there are moments when we need to look beyond the paperwork for a while and remember that we are dealing with another human being.
The practical matters can still be addressed when the appropriate time comes.
Sometimes, humanity has to come first.
Every Home Carries a Different Story
Over the years, I’ve represented buyers, sellers, landlords and tenants.
Some transactions are happy occasions.
Some are stressful.
Some involve difficult decisions.
And some stay with you long after the transaction has been completed.
That’s one of the things I’ve come to appreciate about being a property agent.
We may be dealing with properties every day, but we’re also being invited into important moments in people’s lives.
Buying a first home. Selling a family home. Moving overseas.
Starting a family. Beginning again somewhere new.
Or sometimes dealing with circumstances that nobody expected.
Perhaps that’s why I’ve never seen property as purely a numbers business.
A Reminder to Myself
Today’s phone call was a reminder.
We spend so much of our time working, chasing the next appointment, the next viewing, the next transaction and the next goal.
There’s nothing wrong with working hard and wanting to do well. But sometimes life reminds us that there are things more important than the next deal.
Life is short.
Do your work properly. Honour your responsibilities. Treat people fairly and, when circumstances genuinely call for it, have some understanding.
But don’t forget the people waiting for you when the workday ends.
Spend time with your parents while they are still around. Visit your grandparents if you’re fortunate enough to still have them. Make time for your husband or wife, your children, your family and the people you love.
Sometimes we’re so busy building a better future that we forget to appreciate the people who are already part of our lives today.
Make the phone call. Have that meal together. Take that family trip. Be present when you have the opportunity.
Because one day, the properties will have changed hands, the contracts will have been signed, and the transactions will be long forgotten.
What stays with us are the people, the relationships and the moments we shared with them.
Behind every property is a human story. And behind every one of us is a life much bigger than our work.
For now, I’m simply hoping to hear some good news about my tenant soon. 🙏