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Thanks Reiki. We hope so too. The next big headache for us is the packing. I have lotsa things at my house now. I wonder where to contain them during the reno. Our contractor did suggested putting some at the centre area of the living and 1 bedroom. But i doubt the space is enough for all of them. Thanks merryman. You will find yours soon. When you planning to start yours? We are starting the reno next month end. I guess your place should be all nicely done up by then. *envy* So around 1month now for us to pack our stuff, apply for permit to hack 2 walls and erect a couple of wall as well as proceed with our recess area purchase. Hopefully we get all the approval for the stuff before the work starts.

Hi Poseidon_gal, Great to see your recent updates. Seems like your reno goes on pretty smoothly. Thats great. Ummm.. I read previously that some units experience poor water pressure during the initial testing of the rainshower as their water supply wasn't turn up at the main water valve (outside the house). Do check with your ID if the water is turned on to the right level already.

i am also terrify of lizard. They look scary. Your hubby is so brave. How did he managed to catch them? Lizards have no issue with dropping their tails, they'll be fine without them. My parents side used to tell me that lizards are good for the house as they will help to 'manage' those flying insects. And they are so-called lucky/auspicious creature in the house, brings luck and fortune. Only bad thing is their drops and slimy look. Sorry, I got no solutions for you as my side doesn't encourage catching of the lizards.

We finally confirmed our renovator yesterday. Really tiring to kept explaining the floorplan again and again to different people. Hee.. we wasn't those ultra-hardworking kind. Went to only 5-6 and think its enough. Didnt get any drawing from anyone too , think we too thin-skinned to ask for it. And like the rest, we kinda of made some changes after new inputs from each meetings. So it seems kinda of difficult to confirm the stuff we wanted to do. Weekends burned to meet the IDs/Contractors to discuss the plan and quotes. Really tiring. Phew, thank god that its over. And we sort of managed to keep to our tight budget. Hopefully everything will go smoothly from now onwards. PS. will share our experience with the different renovators in the next post.

I see. Hasn't thought of a towel holder. Nice nice.

Hi pbtgal, Yes, we are building the wall there and shifting the main door out. And you're right, quite an amount to do up the place. But it will still look different from the living area as it cant be level up to the living area floor level. I prefer your recess area as it come with a short distance of 'window' to the outside. Mine doesn't have any, so i think might be quite dark.

Hi Pbtgal, Congrats on your purchase. TP is a good place, very convenient to get around too. My recess area is also 2sqm (haven't purchase yet). Will you be keep the wrought iron gate? or Erecting a wall there?

Your toilet look nice and neat. Very . Just wondering if the bar above the w.c. is the toilet roll holder? Is there pipes left side of the w.c. that doesnt allow the placement there?

Hi Growler, Nice to see you back. And congrats on your reno completion. I just finish read your blog. Very detailed and frank reviews. If you don't mind, can pm me the contacts of 2nd lowest quote that you managed to get? Thanks.

Hi pinkiedreamy, I noticed that you have been asking around for plastering cost. what is the size of your place? 5-rm? The quotes that I got for my 5-rm is $1850, $1880, $2100 and $2200 from 4 different renovators. I understand that the renovator will need to paint a layer of sealer before the painting/plastering (forgot the details) to prevent the water/moisture or something. And some might quote this sealer painting separately, the quote i got for this area is around $200-300. Just to share some of my research with you.

errmm... i don't think so bah.. i haven't check microwave electrical needs. Does it also use those 15 amps points? So far, I only know that aircon, storage heater and induction cooker use those points.

Hi fondue, Thanks for the picture. Hee.. i quite like this burner. Actually I was quite upset initially that we are going to use gas. Like I mentioned earlier in my blog, we doesn't have government gas, so probably going for induction cooker. But recently after hubby checked the electrical load etc.. seems like my old flat cant go for induction as it might trips if aircon / storage heater are on at the same time. So decided to go for gas. I am so glad to find your blog about this burner. Thanks, babe and your helpful hb!!!

Hi rierie, Your TV console look good. Are you doing any feature wall behind?

Wow.. the kitchen look very bright and cheerful with the orange tiles.

Hi Merryman, What I did was.. i emailed 1) my floorplan, 2) an edited floorplan (that show the layout) and 3) the items list (by line with the dimension e.g. 4ft full height cabinet **** room, just like those quotation that we see) that I want to do. Afew who get back to me are pretty good at quoting me. Most of them told me that they roughly know what I wanted and they are able to quote the tiling and hacking based on the calculation using the floorplan. But to be real precise, they will come down to measure the place before they confirm the pricing but usually the prices are quite close. There are some who still insist on meeting up before giving a quote as they want to confirm some items on the layout or they want to give alternatives suggestions to some areas. The whole process is pretty tiring to keep meeting up with those renovators. Do keep your spirits high~! Jia you~!

Wow.. newnyew... your tile selection very special and unique. Really look forward to your flat transformation...

Hi, I just saw this thread. Wow.. 10pages and some 'heaty' exchanges. I am also looking for a renovator to do up my place. So just want to share my thoughts. Initially after reading all the raves in some T-blogs about Uncle Soon, I was pretty set to engage him though I have never meet him or get afew quotes. I am pretty sold with all the ravings about the cheap and good reno, with all the freebies. Of course, I also read about his aeroplane style and like the fews here, I also think its alright to be more proactive to balance off the 'goodies' from it. However, recently.. i read quite a few t-blogs where the owners feel much anguish about the delays in HO, no works done in their houses for days as well as poor workmanship (hollow tiles, scratched laminated, dented console, wrong placement of tiles directions etc).. until a point where the house owners just give up on their retifications, though they have fully paid up. I really feel upset to read those t-blogs and I don't know why all these reminds me to Lawry's blog. It give me the feeling like there's nothing you can do except to stay with the 'defects', since they just cant be bother to do the things proper. The only difference is... at least Lawry still managed to keep the last 10% (or is it 5%) for the retifications. Sorry, I don't mean to cause Uncle to lose his business. But I think he should really buck up and finish off all the defects for those owners. I think there are quite a few here who really know this Uncle well, it will be good that you guys help to push him for it. Otherwise, I don't think its good to recommend him on the forum (though there is some disclaimer that uncle is very busy man). Not everyone read all the t-blog, I happen to be free during this period and quite constantly followup with some. I think for those who just read a few of those highly raved blog, they might just commited without knowing the full picture. PS. this is not directed at anyone, hope you guys don't feel offended.

Hi bodo, Read about your woes. Not sure why no one come in to support. I support you! I think uncle soon team seriously have problem with handover dates. Guess you really got to chase for it. If its really their fault, do perserve and fight for your rights. I read some blog and find that most owners are faced with situations that they just don't want to fight anymore as they see no hope/ lights and just want to end the whole thing. But the thing is.. the renovator just leave after the reno, its you and family that are the ones having to face those day in and day out after you shift in. Jia You~!!! And wish you best of luck too~~

Hi Marissa, Welcome!! And congrats on your new place. I think you need to roughly plan your layout first and look for the contractor /IDs. Then your reno will slowly fall into places. At least yours is new place, so save $ on the hacking already. Hee..

Hi merryman, Same same with us, also trying to keep to the budget with the wedding stuff coming. We most likely doing those false ceiling, mainly due to scare got problem with the wiring in future, and also can save cost. I just pm you the cost of the repair for the upstair toilet leaking.

Hi merryman, My mbr toilet also have leaking from the upside unit just few months ago. We called the HDB officer in and he went upstair to assess the unit. My hb was the one around and he followed the hdb officer upside. The result was the upstair unit's waterproofing gone due to wear and tear, so they need to redo their waterproofing. Yes, its 50%-50%. And if you want to claim further, you can go to the MP for this unit (recommended by the HDB officer). They have a fund (i think its call goodwill fund or something) which can help you pay another 50% from your share. On the whole, its quite hassle-free except for the part where we have to wait to see the MP. I cant remember the exact cost, think less than 200. The documents are at home. I can check with HB for you. My personal preference is.. its better for the HDB to look for your neighbour, rather than you go upside yourself.

Umm.. those rainshower that I saw in the hotel rooms all usually very high also. So as to create the rainfall feel and the user won't see the rainshower thingy. I think the height is ok. I guess those metal things are water pipes to share the storage heater? Just a guess.

I just saw this thread about Wellmax. We also just signed up with Wellmax for our windows and grills. We liaise with Eric as well. And I agree that he is quite helpful and knowledge. Sharing alot with us, including his encounter with his customer etc... etc.... etc.... we don't know how to stop him also. He came up to our flat to measure and bought all the samples and catalogs for our browsing. Pricewise: We saved around 1k compared to all the quotes from the different contractors/IDs. Infact, they are able to customise the grill design if you can provide the drawing (if they can do for you if they are able to). We have not install the windows yet. I'll come back to share the experience on the installation after I installed them. Hopeful they are good.

Hee.. i got a number of beams at my house too, have been thinking about them recently.

'seal up the other room'.. i mean after you hacked the wall between the mbr and the other bedrm, you build back the wall. I think so long as you are already prepared to have a longish bedrm then its ok. Because I personally think that its very hard to play with a longish room e.g. the placement of the single bed, if in the middle, will it block the passway, if at the corner will it affect the door etc.. its just me.. Another thing that you might want to take note is the beams in the house. Do check if there will be a beam after hacking the wall between the mbr and the other room. Because your baby might be sleeping under the beam (based on your layout).