Property Guru-Angela Lee

I am the founder of Lianco International Property Pte Ltd (LIP).  It is a service provider (SP) to clients locally as well as serving markets in the global arena. My business is unique in the sense that my company brands itself as ‘the property professionals’ instead of a property agency in which the main concern is to close the deal.

The significant difference of my company is that we evaluate, analyze and educate our customers after knowing their current financial condition to invest in properties.

As the social entrepreneur, I have all the property agents as my working partners and a handful professional property team consultants who are able to dispense professional advice on top of being able to carry out their assigned duties.My business model is based on doing excellent work and holding social responsibility at my heart and trying to the best of my abilities.

2. So when did you venture into property field and what conspired or motivated you to take a plunge into this venture? ?

I think it is due to my experiences as an overseas student counselor in the overseas students servicing department to serve overseas students in Australia 20 years ago. overseas student My major in accountancy and minor in marketing and management backed me up for my venture choice. I have the right venture for expansion now as Singapore has positioned itself to be the global hub and my overseas experience will definitely assist our nation. Next, I am a very lucky one who had my mother as the referral as a start. She secured three cases and in just only one week entered the property market, I managed to close them and make a net profit of S$15,000/- and we take it as our working capital and expanded it till today. For the first few years, we had a good start; the right timing and overseas experience make us unique to expand our network.

3.Can you share with us, some of the challenges you faced during your initial days?

All business starts from scratch! I think most important of any business challenges exist in  part of incorporating the value and culture of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) into any business model planning from the start is the immediate move of 21st-century entrepreneurs. Especially Lianco as the service provider in the present Singapore environment without any resources available thus we need to have CSR incorporated as the self-regulation with our knowledge of products and services to come up with a good plan to start the business, and subsequently financing it to sustain its growth.

In the year 1996, the property market overheated and a lot of government policies implemented. One of them is to implement the standard of agents’ professionalism and code of conduct. As at that time, the government even faced the dilemma that there were no Chinese lecturers able to conduct the course. I even went for extra mile assisting to translate the English materials to Chinese materials and stand out to be the first and only Chinese lady lecturer for code of conduct training for Certificate Examination for Hosing agents (CEHA) course which is the first and only examination for the Chinese educated agents in the property industry for the association. Since the start of my business, I practice as the socialpreneur and emphasis the code of conduct and to be self-regulation of the industry which I have observed the professional agents did in Australia. After nine years of implementation, as at the 01.05.2005, the government authority and the property industry required only CEHA agents are permitted to close deals and it has great improvement of professionalism is the proudest achievement we have. Finally, only recently 01.01.2011, the Council of Estate Agents (CEA) being formed! I am looking forward the property agents integrity and standards could be maintained after being mandated so for others to emulate.

In the industry for 22  years, I have experienced the worst significant event which has made me stronger now! For the period 2003 to 2004, my business was badly affected by the market force of ‘Cash Back’ in the property market. I, as the socialpreneur, even went through to bring up the issue and alert the public of the criminal impact on individuals.  The ‘Cash Back’ issue finally ceased with the new rule imposed by the government in the 1st quarter of 2005. However, my strong belief in social responsiveness brings us to further height

4.So how do you balance your personal and professional life?

I am the person who believes in 3Ps (Planning, Process & Professional approach). As long as you have good planning ahead, the balance of personal & professional life is automatic fall in place.

5.What would you suggest to other aspiring women who want to venture out on their own?

As the women, we have to work double hard than men to prove  our ability.  No matter where you go, women are being classified to be under male’s domination! As a woman, we have advantages than men in the service industry.  As by nature, we are more caring & have more concern for people. Just do it and bear in mind that we are also there for mankind.  As my slogan states: “ Be With U, For U, By U!”

6.Is there any person who has mentored/supported/inspired you?

I am inspired by my mother, the unique woman in Singapore, with her strong spirit within her! Also, she is a very sharp investor I have ever seen!  I think I have inherited her supervision of future investments and I use the skill to advise my clients in property investments.

7.What do you have in the pipeline for your company’s/ business future development?

I still want to be in the property industry for another 13 years to complete my 35 years contribution to the property industry. I have the intention to write a book about Singapore property industry. Perhaps, e-books via our up-coming launched website: www.singmarts.com to share with netizens will be the immediate move for our development

8.How you keep yourself motivated every time?

I can recall that I have a special case which I had to deal with “Ah Long” (Moneylender) in the year 1996 for my client who purchased the property by borrowing the money from them and expecting to have immediate sub-sales and pocket the capital gain. Unfortunately, the government implemented the policy to control property price with immediate effect, which landed him to be in trouble and the “Ah Long” interest really killed him and made me ask where is the professionalism of this trade? I almost wanted to give up this career. However, I believed that this is not what a socialpreneur should do and I picked up and went till the CEHA course imposed half a year later, I quickly assisted the industry as a lecturer for the property agents so to improve the industry to be the better career for anyone who are interested to pick it up. influence other

9.What are your hobbies?

I enjoy reading, jogging & thinking

10.What message will you give to Womenlines readers?

Dear women! Learn the art of being yourself at your best in the art of unfolding your personality into U to be.  Prepare to learn, re-learn & un-learn with the right attitude toward human kinds. When you try to achieve your goals even how much obstacles lay in front you still feel energetic all the time! One of the things we have to keep in mind is that when people start to challenge us and business starts coming in, Alphabets visions: ABCDEFGHI remains a priority. A=Attitude; B=Behaviour; C=Conduct; D=Disciplines; E=Excellent; F=Fullness; G=Gratitude; H=Habit and I=Ideas!

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