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Hi Fingercrossed, This also the floor trap that i'm aiming for but not for current house of course. Been checking out all the renovation stuff and accessories online. You can find it locally too but price wise will be more expensive to get from TB. For those interested, here is the site: http://www.jonite.com/products/floor-traps But not sure are they willing to sell direct to the consumer or we have to get through their retailers.

My blur blur dog trying out her door for the first time! It's so funny to watch. Seems like she will take a while to learn how to use this XD!

Back to Renovation Gimmicks and tricks. I shortlisted and met up with some more ID and contractors whose price looks competitive enough. Guess what... As usual, at the meetup, they show me the catalogs for the laminates. Its all the normal type. If I want those better grade high gloss or patterned design got to top up. Quoted $1000 top up to $1600 If I want to have better type of wood for the shoe cabinets, Quoted $1200 Top up to $1650 If I want to have better grade of paint and more choices of colors. Quoted $1400 Top up to $1800 So, eventually after all the top ups, the price remains between 23K to 25K. Back to square one again Bros! I know the meaning of pay peanuts get monkeys. But, too many grey areas, got to be cautious. Once you committed, you just got to pay and pay.... And who knows what will be the final sum My colleague who just did up his house suffer. Contract price at $32,000 for a 5 room BTO. Signed and final bill $36,538. Some of his top ups as follows: 1) Painting whole house limited to 3 colors. He wanted 5 colors 2) Price quoted for 6 to 8 weeks completion. He needs to move in 4 wks. So... Pay Overtime 3) Price quoted for supply and install wall tile max at $2.50 PSF which is not indicted in the quote till they went to select the tiles. He shortlisted $3,50 psf. Top up around 1k+ and the list goes on.... Will be meeting up some more contacts again. Update soon ya. Here is the floorplan I edited myself for all the contractors/ID for reference. In a nut shell, below is my template for all the contractors/ID for my Resale 5 Rm. My lowest quote till now with all my expectations $19,000 net. This Contractor dont have GST. I save 7%. else will be $19,000 + $1,330 = $20,330. Can easily get a 50inch TV with that saving of 7%. Since I am still shortlisting for contractors, I will not list down the Schedule of Rates (Unit price). S/No Description 1 Living / Dining 1.1 To provide dry polish for existing marble flooring c/w skirting 470sqf . 1.2 To construct 100mm hight platform with laminate finish 4.5ft x 11.5ft . 1.3 To design & fabricate 8ft x full ht shoes cabinet . 2 KITCHEN 2.1 To cut & hack existing entrance concrect wall ( half & full ht 2 slab ) . 2.2 To supply & install 3pce of table top, 2.5ft / 3ft / 6ft . 2.3 To supply & overlaying matt homogenious flooring . 2.4 To hack existing fridge base . 2.5 To dismantle & dispost existing all cabinet door . 2.6 To supply & install new laminate door 15 nos & 1 set of drawer . 2.7 To design & fabricate 2.5ft x full ht storage cabinet . 2.8 To supply & install Glass Backsplash L900x600mm 3 Common Toilet 3.1 To dismantle & dispost existing all sanitary item . 3.2 To supply & overlaying ceramic wall tiles till ceiling ht 230sqf . 3.3 To Supply & lay single way incoming water pipe . 3.4 To supply & overlaying matt homogenious floor tiles . 3.5 To supply & install fixed tempered glass panal at shower screen . 3.6 To provide labour to install all sanitary item & accessories . 3.7 To supply & install frosted tempered glass swing door at entrance 12mm . 4 Master Toilet 4.1 To dismantle & dispost existing all sanitary item & vanity cabinet . 4.2 To supply & overlaying ceramic wall tiles till ceiling ht 230sqf . 4.3 To Supply & lay single way incoming water pipe . 4.4 To supply & overlaying matt homogenious floor tiles . 4.5 To supply & install fixed tempered glass panal at shower screen . 4.6 To design & fabricate wall to wall 5ft suspended cabinet c/w solid surface top . 4.7 To provide labour to install all sanitary item & accessories . 4.8 To supply & install frosted tempered glass swing door at entrance 12mm . 5 Bedroom ( 3 ) 5.1 To sandown & re-vanish existing parqute flooring c/w skirting . 6 Bedroom ( 2 ) 6.1 To sandown & re-vanish existing parqute flooring c/w skirting . 7 Master Bedroom 7.1 To sandown & re-vanish existing parqute flooring c/w skirting . 7.2 To design & fabricate 2.5ft x full ht storage cabinet . 7.3 To design & fabricate 6ft x 4ft suspended feature wall . 7.4 To supply & install 6ft x full ht light weight partition wall at recess area . 8 Others 8.1 Whole house painting wall using nippon paint & ceiling using matex white. 8.2 Wholes house chemical wash upon completion . 8.3 To lay whole house floor protextion during work process . 8.4 To provide haulage service . 8.5 To supply labour for installation of Wallpaper. Est 10 Rolls 8.6 To supply labour for installation 5x Ceiling Fans inclusive of relocating for 2x Common Room 8.7 To supply labour for replacement of est. 20 nos downlight

Thanks again for the advise and recommendation given by Bros and Sis. Facing another problem here once I resolve the other problem All different contractors will list different description and miss out some items so they can charge you for additional cost. That's why some prices are really low. Think the best solution is to come out with a Template and ask them to revise. So I know I will be comparing Apple to Apple. I will post up the template when I finish. Hope that this template with some price can shine some light for future Resale owners as well. Resale owners note: we are actually facing more challenge in getting quotation as we are not able to stick to some offered packages for BTO flats.... And its real hard to compare unless the shortlisted contractors are using the same template. Just my 2 cent... I also just purchased about 80% of my household items from Taobao by following one of the link in this forum. You will really be so tempted by the price and design they have to offer on their site! My wife and I finally decide to go for it. Just buy and see how it goes.. Imagine a decent designer ceiling fan will cost $600+ locally, i got it at $250 including shipping at Taobao. And... Their items really chio chio. Very hard to resist. Do remember your shipping will cost higher then the item itself should it be a huge one. Do your calculation carefully, make sure there is a marginal saving if you decide to commit. At least about 40% saving is what I am aiming for before I will buy But do note most properly you got to forgo the warranty portion. Calculated risk. There is no way to ship back to China for the big items. too troublesome Need to cross finger that the fragile items will come in 1 piece.. Already request from Seller to have extra protection. They do charge extra though, normally about RMB20 to 40 depending on item. Here is the link for reference should you be interested. http://www.renotalk.com/forum/topic/64737-my-taobao-hme/

Sharing our Taobao lighting buys today. Fortunately for me, the hubby is into Taobao shopping and I just have to give him the link and he will do the rest. Including comparing the pricing of forwarders. He managed to find out that Peeka offers sea freight based on actual weight if you are using their forwarding service. This definitely saves us a lot of money because some of the lights are packed in bulky packaging for protection but aren't really heavy. Because of this, we saved about $60 for the shipping of our dining light. The hubby also prefers to order and send stuff in batches, he says, "don't put all your eggs in one basket." Dining area light http://item.taobao.com/item.htm?spm=a1z0k.7385961.1997985097.d4918997.Cclgvc&id=38577802511&_u=u1ervrhv7856 Kitchen lights http://item.taobao.com/item.htm?spm=a1z0k.7385961.1997985097.d4918997.Cclgvc&id=36000979631&_u=u1ervrhv1474 MBR Bedside lights http://item.taobao.com/item.htm?spm=a1z0k.7385961.1997985097.d4918997.Cclgvc&id=40483196292&_u=u1ervrhve94a Walkway light http://detail.tmall.com/item.htm?id=35433036649&spm=a1z0k.7385961.1997985097.d4918997.Cclgvc&_u=u1ervrhv6da8 Bedroom 2 Light http://detail.tmall.com/item.htm?id=35983309792&spm=a1z0k.7385961.1997985097.d4918997.Cclgvc&_u=u1ervrhv5723

i am renovating my unit in a few weeks time. Had bought lots of stuff on taobao and brought over via container shipping. Takes about 1 week to arrive. Here are some of the links: Bathroom fittings - http://item.taobao.com/item.htm?id=37089306602 Digital Lock - http://item.taobao.com/item.htm?id=37145123637 Downlights - http://trade.taobao.com/trade/detail/tradeSnap.htm?spm=a1z09.2.9.57.ZM91lw&tradeID=552977048358438 Toilet / Kitchen Lights - http://trade.taobao.com/trade/detail/tradeSnap.htm?spm=a1z09.2.9.79.ZM91lw&tradeID=552950887018438 Electrical switches (touch sensor) - http://trade.taobao.com/trade/detail/tradeSnap.htm?spm=a1z09.2.9.130.GYJgO2&tradeID=579673473068438 Bathroom vanity table set - http://trade.taobao.com/trade/detail/tradeSnap.htm?spm=a1z09.2.9.9.ZM91lw&tradeID=554405288068438 http://trade.taobao.com/trade/detail/tradeSnap.htm?spm=a1z09.2.9.26.ZM91lw&tradeID=554329298768438 Ceiling fan / light (retractable) - http://trade.taobao.com/trade/detail/tradeSnap.htm?spm=a1z09.2.9.310.GYJgO2&tradeID=555971232658438 Note that all lightings are in LED Most of the stuff have arrived and I am quite happy with their quality. Will have to wait to install before knowing how they well they work. But for the retractable ceiling fan/light, its working perfectly! current mum's house is using it.