purecat 0 Report post Posted December 4, 2009 (edited) Hi All Welcome to my T-Blog ! We are currently staying in a 4 room flat in JE. The upgrade will allow us to move into a bigger flat, at a higher level and most importantly still live in the same wonderful estate we have been living for 5 years ! Included a timelog here to help track progress. 15-Nov-09 Option Fee $1k paid - 5 rm 15-Nov-09 Apply HLE via internet 15-Nov-09 Apply for Valuation of 4 Rm via internet 17-Nov-09 Valuator visited 4 Rm Flat 20-Nov-09 HDB approved HLE application 22-Nov-09 HLE report received via post 22-Nov-09 Valuation report received via post 24-Nov-09 Exercise OTP - Bal of Deposit $4k paid -5rm 28-Nov-09 Grant Option for sales of 4 rm 09-Dec-09 Buyer exercise OTP of our current 4rm 20-Dec-09 Went Select Tiles + Pay Initial Deposit to Contractor 18-Feb-10 5Rm HDB 1st Appointment 27-Feb-10 Visit New 5rm with Existing Owner permission to measure and recheck planned quote 28-Feb-10 Ikea Purchases ( miscellaneous stuff ) 14-Mar-10 Bought Lightings from Chelsea Lightings 21-Mar-10 Deposit to Avanni for 1 Single Bedframe, Dining Table & TV Console 25-Mar-10 SP Services Electric & Water Activation 25-Mar-10 5rm HDB 2nd appointment 28-Mar-10 Praying + Formality Hacking Day to signify commencement of reno + Bal of 30% deposit payment 04-Apr-10 Meet up Contractor to choose toilet bowl / basin / tap, bi-fold door, bedroom veneer doors, window grilles, sediment flakes for balcony walls, laminates for all wardrobes, altar, kitchen cabinet + solid surface for kitchen cabinets. 11-Apr-10 Bought Recliner 2 Seater Leather Sofa + Side Table from Nova Furnishing 12-Apr-10 Bought Toilet Accessories ( Toothbrush holder, mugs for holding toothpaste/face form + holding water, liquid soap dispensers, soap holders, shower curtain ) 13-Apr-10 4Rm HDB 1st Appointment 13-Apr-10 Ikea Purchases (Toilet Accessories - Stainless Steel Towel Bar & Toilet Paper holder + Glass panels, etc ) 17-Apr-10 Purchase Electrolux Gas Cooker Hob + Ellane Chimney Hood from Lion City Co. 18-Apr-10 Purchase Toilet Mirrors + Kitchen Sink & Tap, Two way taps, bidget sprays, water filter system, bathfoam dispenser from Sim Siang Choon 18-Apr-10 Order new Cushions + 2 sets of Cushion Covers (for existing Zen Sofa ) from First Classic Textiles 19-Apr-10 Ikea Purchases ( Curtain Rods & Living Room Curtains ) 24-Apr-10 2nd payment to Primework Solutions 25-Apr-10 Purchase TV & Home Threatre System from Courts 2-May-10 Ikea Purchases ( misc ) 15-May-10 Handover Date + Balance paid to Contractor 15 to 20-May-10 Own shifting of boxes + new purchases delivery 21-May-10 Official Shift in Date (with Movers's help to move the big items ) 27-May-10 4Rm 2nd Appointment to be continued Contents of This Blog ( Click on the links below to take you directly to the topic ) 001 Pull Factors to Our Purchase of This Flat 002 为何易财二世 ？ 003 Shortlisted IDs & Contractors for quotes 004 Reno Tips 005 Getting Ideas from ShowRoom 006 Tiles Selection 007 Lightings Purchases 008 Photos Before Renovation 009 Renovation Week 1 010 Lightings Layout 011 Chosen Contractor : Primework Solutions + Estimated Renovation Costs 012 Renovation Week 2 Part 1 012 Renovation Week 2 Part 2 012 Renovation Week 2 Part 3 012 Renovation Week 2 Part 4 012 Renovation Week 2 Part 5 012 Renovation Week 2 Part 6 013 Renovation Week 3 014 Some of Our Purchases Part 1 014 Some of Our Purchases Part 2 015 Brand Loyalty ? 016 Existing 4 Room Flat 017 Renovation Week 4 018 Renovation Week 5 Part 1 018 Renovation Week 5 Part 2 018 Renovation Week 5 Part 3 018 Renovation Week 5 Part 4 019 Renovation Week 6 Part 1 019 Renovation Week 6 Part 2 - Kitchen Cabinet + Altar 019 Renovation Week 6 Part 3 - Inside of Wardrobe 019 Renovation Week 6 Part 4 - Inside of Wardrobe 020 Photos of Completed Master Bedroom Bathroom/ Toilet 021 Photos of Daughter's Room 021 More Photos of Daughter's Room 022 Photos of Kitchen 022 More Photos of Kitchen This is our floor plan. Size : 131 sq m . Comments Welcome ! Final Layout - Sorry looks abit blur because I enlarged the original copy, scan, then crop. Edited May 28, 2010 by purecat Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
purecat 0 Report post Posted December 4, 2009 (edited) Pull Factors to Our Purchase of This Flat Our brother in law was the one starting the flat hunt. He is looking into a flat that can be rented out as he could be posted overseas in recent years. That prompt us to think if we should upgrade as well. We checked the Balance of the Oct Brand New flats- ( Clementi area - SO EX ! ) . Checked the expensive levy we have to pay. In the end we decided that we should go for resale flats in the same estate we are living. However we set rules for ourselves. It is afterall a seller's market at the moment and we dont want to end up paying high COV since we dont have much cash to begin with. We started by using a Propnex agent. Randomly picked this agent as we saw a web ad with very nice reno at a reasonable price. Unfortunately it was sold. This agent is interesting, when they first visited our 4 rm flat, 3 of them came ( Son, Dad, Mum all Propnex agents !) They sounded very experienced /pro, took down notes ( what facing we dont want, which area we are looking at, COV amount that we are willing to pay , Total pur price not to exceed $X ) and sounded very keen to help us . However we didnt found a flat under them. Seen 6 flats with them in 2 viewing. We concluded that 5 rooms are rarely available to begin with in JE area. As there is growing concern that they are only bringing us to see high COV flats (despite us telling them we cannot afford high COV ), I decided to try another agent. We found "S" of ERA from one of the booklet mailer he delivered door to door. Surprise to hear that he is living just a block next to ours. How convenient ! Told him my requirements and the rules that he has to abide. Last time we sold our woodlands 4m flat first... and it was a mad rush over two weekends seeing lots of flats before we found the current 4 room.This time round, we would buy first ( find the desired flat ) then sell . And I told him, " Dont waste your time to bring us to see flats with high COV". He must be real lucky. A week later, the first unit he brought us became our CHOICE ! The unit was just out for sales. Owner is moving into private property. We saw their son in " graduation suit " taking photo with a minister. Then we found out from the owner that his son took a scholarship and graduated with a master. The initial offer was a COV of $30k. We cant afford of course. So " S " help us bargain. Slash 1/2. Afterall the flat is 20+ years old and really need lots of work to fix things. Seller's agent told us to wait as another couple coming to view the flat. They didnt offer. Then after some deliberation, seller decided to sell to us. It is that smooth ! Seller even offer to give us the set of encylopedia and "mother of pearl" trimming altar. Generous ! As we decided to build our own altar, we turn down the latter. Will post some of the valuation pics of existing flat condition, once I get hold of the report . (which my blur agent keep forgetting to bring.) Edited December 5, 2009 by purecat Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
amrasenelya 1 Report post Posted December 4, 2009 congrats on getting a house which u like! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kelvinkezz 0 Report post Posted December 5, 2009 congrats! which part of Jurong East is this? 20+yrs.... near central? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
purecat 0 Report post Posted December 5, 2009 congrats on getting a house which u like! Thanks Amrasenelya. Flat hunting is really not easy these days. COV battle against available cash flow ! It gets disappointing to be looking at flats you like but the COV is like Sky high. And it is more amazing to be seeing flats asking for $40 to $50 k cov without built in wardrobes , hardly any renovation. Really glad that we managed to secure this unit Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
purecat 0 Report post Posted December 5, 2009 congrats! which part of Jurong East is this? 20+yrs.... near central? Hi Kelvin , JE Ave 1. Think it should be 24 or 25 yrs flat forgot the exact yr of built. It is probably not as near as my existing 4 room which is only 400 m to MRT and walking distance to market. Now it is further away (900 m from MRT) though still walkable ... But i know my husband grumbled because food centre is abit further away heehee... but then there is a coffee shop mah ( self consoling, lolz ) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
purecat 0 Report post Posted December 5, 2009 (edited) 为何易财二世 ？ Chinese has an exquiste mind. We stayed in 8th floor before back in Woodlands. Generally , Cantonese will like our unit no because of the no 8 ? It was #08-68 . Think in a positive manner, it represents, 赢发又发. It definitely helped in our sales then. 2nd family viewing the flat and deal was concluded. That was like 5 , 6 years back. We shifted to Jurong to be nearer my parents ( west coast ) and his mum & siblings ( CCK ). Current 4 room contain nos like 3（升） , 2 (利）, 6 1 ( lucky ) Cool ? In our flat hunting, husband explained that his brother will never get 8th floor ? I asked him why. He mentioned 七上八下. Well human. We always have reasons to justify our choice and similary reasons we gave agents when we reject heehee. Honestly when we like the 5 room we are buying. It is squarish and faces an ideal fengshui direction ( Southeast ). Family that stay there are doing quite well ( evidenced by their photo displays in the living room ). We made an offer immediately after viewing . Husband actually made an effort not to highlight to me the unit no. It really depends on whether you are a positive or negative person.1724 viewed negatively will sound bad. We are hokkiens. Husband feels that 7 means 财 . So well it really depends how u choose to perceive. His mum and siblings were happy for us to . ( They were staying in 7 floor btw. ) So think in a positive manner. 1724 means Easy to get wealth which lasts two lifetimes ! 易财二世 Cool eh ? Heehee.. Edited December 5, 2009 by purecat Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
purecat 0 Report post Posted December 5, 2009 (edited) Shortlisted ID & Contractors We have umple of time to source a suitable ID or contractor. So glad to have found this forum ( while surfing for ideas ). Suggestions welcome ! ID / Contractors 1) Decormark Design Pte Ltd ( JE) 2) 2form Interior Design Pte Ltd ( Trade Hub ) 3) Inspiration Living ( Upper Thomson Road ) 4) Fuse Concept Pte Ltd (Sims Avenue ) Just receive the quote from Decormark last Wed. Exceed our budget and we saw a few " markup " basis experience from our past flats . We will most likely check out a few contractors as well since it is still early. We wanted granite ( going for long term durability ) but not sure can afford or not ? Labour costs seem very high. Granite choices are limited. Alot look like " Ah Ma " Clothes Fabric print ? No wonder some forumner decided to hack their resale purchase that comes with granite flooring . If we do go for granite, ideally it should be the sleek colour black , but prices will be high... room will be dark... Anyway we are visiting Inspiration Living ( Neighbour's friend ) tomorrow. Already know roughly if we do Granite, will exceed budget, so we told the guy to revise another two sets, one with marble flooring, one with homogenous tiles. But honestly havent given up. We will try some contractors to see how much we can save as compared to an ID. Edited December 6, 2009 by purecat Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jesslyntan 1 Report post Posted December 5, 2009 (edited) 为何易财二世 ？ Chinese has an exquiste mind. We stayed in 8th floor before back in Woodlands. Generally , Cantonese will like our unit no because of the no 8 ? It was #08-68 . Think in a positive manner, it represents, 赢发又发. It definitely helped in our sales then. 2nd family viewing the flat and deal was concluded. That was like 5 , 6 years back. We shifted to Jurong to be nearer my parents ( west coast ) and his mum & siblings ( CCK ). Current 4 room contain nos like 3（升） , 2 (利）, 6 1 ( lucky ) Cool ? In our flat hunting, husband explained that his brother will never get 8th floor ? I asked him why. He mentioned 七上八下. Well human. We always have reasons to justify our choice and similary reasons we gave agents when we reject heehee. Honestly when we like the 5 room we are buying. It is squarish and faces an ideal fengshui direction ( Southeast ). Family that stay there are doing quite well ( evidenced by their photo displays in the living room ). We made an offer immediately after viewing . Husband actually made an effort not to highlight to me the unit no. It really depends on whether you are a positive or negative person.1724 viewed negatively will sound bad. We are hokkiens. Husband feels that 7 means 财 . So well it really depends how u choose to perceive. His mum and siblings were happy for us to . ( They were staying in 7 floor btw. ) So think in a positive manner. 1724 means Easy to get wealth which lasts two lifetimes ! 易财二世 Cool eh ? Heehee.. 这样也行？哈哈！每次看屋子，看到1724我第一想到的是“一起饿死”，用中文谐音，所以都不会选择，你的号码意思很特别，让我改观，我新家是07198，我就联想成“你去依旧发”哈哈！很直接翻，很没创意 但是大家买屋，开心就好^^ 欢迎你来renotalk :-) Edited December 5, 2009 by jesslyntan Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
purecat 0 Report post Posted December 5, 2009 (edited) 这样也行？哈哈！每次看屋子，看到1724我第一想到的是“一起饿死”，用中文谐音，所以都不会选择，你的号码意思很特别，让我改观，我新家是07198，我就联想成“你去依旧发”哈哈！很直接翻，很没创意 但是大家买屋，开心就好^^ 欢迎你来renotalk :-) 对呀，用不乐观的想法便是 “一起饿死”。我的同事车牌4444， 可不待表死死死死。 真正代表“ 事事是势” means every situation is advantageous. And he is really a lucky man btw. 做人嘛要乐观，一切变会顺利。有手有脚，如果肯努力，哪怕没饭吃呀。现任屋主也混得不错，屋子两架piano, 孩子有本是，现在大家搬进豪宅啦 ！ 7 福建人觉得代表财。 那你的门牌便是 赢财，依旧发！（hokkien pronounciation : gao huai! means easy to win !) 非常吉利喔 ！ Edited December 5, 2009 by purecat Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jesslyntan 1 Report post Posted December 5, 2009 对呀，用不乐观的想法便是 “一起饿死”。我的同事车牌4444， 可不待表死死死死。 真正代表“ 事事是势” means every situation is advantageous. And he is really a lucky man btw. 做人嘛要乐观，一切变会顺利。有手有脚，如果肯努力，哪怕没饭吃呀。现任屋主也混得不错，屋子两架piano, 孩子有本是，现在大家搬进豪宅啦 ！ 7 福建人觉得代表财。 那你的门牌便是 赢财，依旧发！（hokkien pronounciation : gao huai! means easy to win !) 非常吉利喔 ！ 呈您贵言，希望能快点解决我新家的问题，尽快迁入，再来赢财，依旧发！哈哈！ 当然更希望你的新家装修顺利^^ 我会多来看看有没有照片update的。期待。。。。。 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
purecat 0 Report post Posted December 5, 2009 呈您贵言，希望能快点解决我新家的问题，尽快迁入，再来赢财，依旧发！哈哈！ 当然更希望你的新家装修顺利^^ 我会多来看看有没有照片update的。期待。。。。。 那可要叫您等上一阵子了。最起码４个月。因为还没见ｈｄｂ嘻嘻。 真期待二三四月的到来呀。 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jesslyntan 1 Report post Posted December 5, 2009 那可要叫您等上一阵子了。最起码４个月。因为还没见ｈｄｂ嘻嘻。 真期待二三四月的到来呀。 你看你的卖家有平面图吗？如果没有你可以上HDB买$5，会e-mail给你(by mail to your home也行)，然后可以趁等待的时间先计划一下要怎么装修新居，可以复印多张自己画平面设计先，可以翻翻杂志(或到图书馆借关于装修设计的书籍)。然后，大概自己需要做什么了再多去拿一些装修估价单参考，这些功课做足，见HDB那里的时间也差不多了，到时再等你拿到KEY就可以马上开工装修了^^祝福你！ Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
purecat 0 Report post Posted December 6, 2009 (edited) 你看你的卖家有平面图吗？如果没有你可以上HDB买$5，会e-mail给你(by mail to your home也行)，然后可以趁等待的时间先计划一下要怎么装修新居，可以复印多张自己画平面设计先，可以翻翻杂志(或到图书馆借关于装修设计的书籍)。然后，大概自己需要做什么了再多去拿一些装修估价单参考，这些功课做足，见HDB那里的时间也差不多了，到时再等你拿到KEY就可以马上开工装修了^^祝福你！ 谢谢您。平面图已有。我还真的向图书馆借了好几本书。就差决定用那家装修公司了。我想也不会装潢的太复杂。因为这是第三次搬家。吸取了上两会的经验，会以实不实记为考梁。 btw my chinese actually also "limited company"... hopefully i chose the correct chinese words heehee.... Edited December 6, 2009 by purecat Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
purecat 0 Report post Posted December 6, 2009 (edited) Shortlisted ID or Contractors 1) Decormark Design Pte Ltd ( JE) - Quote collected 2) 2form Interior Design Pte Ltd ( Trade Hub ) - Awaiting Quote, hopefully next week 3) Inspiration Living ( Upper Thomson Road ) - Quote Collected 4) Fuse Concept Pte Ltd (Sims Avenue ) - Quote should be ready next sunday. 5) Meng Design and Build ( Jurong West ) - Awaiting Quote, hopefully next week 6) Primework Solutions ( Tampines ) - Awaiting Quote, hopefully next week Today visited Inspiration Living. Basically this was the ID recommended by our neighbour who did his flat several years back. Basis first quote from Decormark, we already know quote will likely exceed budget because of the expensive granite tiles. Hence before the visit, we already asked him to prepare an additional quote to change floor tiles to homogeneous tiles for living/dining and 3 bedrooms. The diff is about 10k. Also visited Meng Design and Build in the morning. Ok another ID. I guess the pricing more or less around the same range. Late afternoon , we visted Primework Solutions recommended by a forumner ( Thks Jaden! ) . Looking forward to seeing Primework's quote since they major as a builder and their main customers are IDs and commerical/institutional work . Pretty impressed so far Fingers Crossed. Btw we learnt about one new type of "flooring". It is call sediment flakes , some sort of splash paint. Can be done over existing tiles / timber / walls or pipes. Now we are thinking if we should keep the old toilet walls and have it refurbish with this paint ? Anyone tried before ? Comments welcome ! Most likely we will do it for the balcony area. Toilet wise need more thoughts .... hmmm..... Once all quotes are ready., I am going to put into a spreadsheet and do a side by side comparison. Edited December 6, 2009 by purecat Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
