Finding an apartment, need agent or need not ?

Last week i was with a property agent to see some units in HK. As i am going to move to HK soon and work in Kowloon Bay area, the agent has brought me to Whampoa Garden, Amoy Garden and Telford Square. Somehow i felt like the agent was only try to get those units out of his hand to me. Thought I am not a Hong Kong people, and they think my company will pay for the rental, the apartment with 500 sqft in Amoy Garden offered at HK8000 & up exclusive, and the other 2 areas, HK 10,000 - 15,000 exclusive (as what the agent told me). I thought this must be overpriced. I know that I can get a good place for a budget rental of 10k like in TKL, TKO etc.


Now, do i really need a property agent to get an apartment or i can find by myself ? If I have to deal with the owner directly, what sort of things that i need to take note for the contract ?

This is by far the largest resource for direct owner properties in Hong Kong:


http://hongkong.asiaxpat.com/property/default.asp?type=1