After looking at a number of houses, finally came across a house that we really like, but I’m already stuck at step of signing the booking form. For the agency’s credibility, I couldn’t find it in google, but it’s still an active agency in BOVEAP. Should i continue buying the house with this agency? I thought of giving a call to confirm whether this agent still works at the company but now I’m just doubting the credibility of this agency. And about the agent’s credibility, he did tell me that I could cheque in/bank in to his agency company, but the payment needs to be done after I sign the booking form. In my mind, I thought the usual process is that me/buyer and the owner/seller would sit down, look through and amend the booking t&c, and to come up with an inventory list of what the owner wants to take/leave. When both of us are satisfied, then only we sign on each of our booking form, then only I give the 3% cheque to the company. Am I wrong in this?

Thanks a lot for the replies, i just worry too much to the point that BOVEAP doesnt give the most updated details whether the agency is registered or not because the 3% deposit is still quite a lot of money.

The owner is still living at his house.

The agent finally agreed to setup an inventory list before I sign the booking form and also mention he will take pictures of it for future attachment with the SPA.

I see.. so that's why the agent is so reluctant about me wanting to meet the owner of the house even though i have repeatedly told him that i need him as a witness for the inventory list. Is there any way to give him assurance that I will still go through him in buying this house?

I really want to go to the owner's house (with the agent) because i want to see the furnitures mentioned in the inventory list for myself, and me taking the pics instead of him. Because.. i dont want to do extra work to remove the broken furnitures in my house, and if the agent is the one taking the pics, it could be any other house's furniture right?