blueocean

Hmm .. thats a hard question to answer. Its like asking to have aesthetic surgery but paying polyclinic fees ...

Best is those HNW clients who buy lots of properties for investment. Expat working for banks are better but a number are being employed on local terms though. Expats working for academic or research institutes are more price sensitive in rents ....

I have seen those induction hobs when I was living overseas ... it looks quite clean and neat. But i still havent made the jump to using induction hobs ... maybe too used to having a real cooking flame !

Definitely need more people like Jaskel in the industry I'm still so impressed with his 3D work on Google Sketch. Im so hopeless in doing CAD drawings ... Hey .. Fencer ... when are you shifting your furniture in ?

I remembered when i was evaluating a development, there were many URA forms that required an architect to sign off. Similarly, when my friend rebuild his landed property, his dad drew out the plans (as he was in the construction industry) but still needed an architect. If the GFA has increased by so much, have you checked that it has no exceeded the allowable area ? There are so many things to check ... Are you going to completely demolish the present place ?

Hmm ... those are corridor windows rite ? I suppose the owners wouldnt want to open it so often ?

hmm ... how different is cooking with induction ? Still get the same amount of heat when frying stuff ?

Except that a lot of "ID" are actually pseudo-ID and dont have the necessary experience or training. And also a lot of ID firms are actually pseudo-ID firms - they are actually general contractors with a retail storefront. So, even with you pay more $$, you may not necessary get quality work as the firms want to extract as much $ from you with the least amount of effort they put in. The cost of just getting a well known interior designer to design things for you (excluding build) will cost a few thousand dollars or more - and i doubt most consumers want that too

Have a look at http://www.ezziliving.com/. There is also another brand - cant remember alreadie ...

You should get different quotes and see what you come back with. Hmm ... if you add electrical works, curtains, furnishings, it could be another $10K on top of this quote. In the quotes, you should also convert it to units ... pfr to compare. But looking at it quickly ... $920 for wrought iron gate looks like it is some designer condo gates (which are also usually wider). Wallpaper for master headboard area at $850 - you could consider non-Goodrich ones as this looks pricey.

That means you are currently using LPG cylinders instead ? I always wondered what are the advantages of using those delivered LPG cylinders vs piped gas ?

For the electrical re-wiring, you can claim against the electrician directly because of the way you pay. It is very clear. Unless you had instructed the electrician specifically that it should be done in a certain way and despite his advice, you wanted it done that way, then it is not unreasonable to make a claim. As a consumer, you had relied on the reasonable expertise and skills of the electrician to do the works that is fit for use and conforms to HDB regulation. Anyway, the Small Claims Tribunal offers the man on the street easy access to the judicial system. It is only $10 or $20 administrative fee depending on contract amount. No need to hire lawyers. They now offer night sessions too. The only downside is giving up time to go to Chinatown area and URA parking there is hard to find ! It is a bit like a polyclinic there ... got waiting area and wait for you number to be flashed and you just sit with the counter-party at the registrar's table. A work (to complete the rectification works) or money (to pay) order will then be ordered. If the other party does not comply, then can proceed to a Writ of Seizure & Sale (more troublesome and some things to note before proceeding). I'm not sure if the HDB officer will see so closely - that one you got to check on that. Cos during the inspection when you sell the flat, if they happen to see it, then you may have to make good the defect lor .... Most of the buyers i know do not attend the HDB inspection. They would have open their eyes big big during viewing before putting down deposit and signing OTP form. It is not a compulsory procedure as any property purchase whether private or HDB is purchased on a caveat emptor basis. For those that can afford it, they would get a professional to inspect the place before completing the 2nd appt but this is not a necessity. Although you can get an agent to write down all the list of defects before completion of the 2nd appointment, and the seller does not act on it and the 2nd appointment is completed already, the seller is not obliged to make good the defects. Also, most buyers and sellers do not want to drag the appointment dates cos it affects both upstream and downstream their plans. If the seller is going to make rectification works, then completion date is dragged on too ... Why need to pay for a general contractor to do work har ? So that they can make money lor ... if they can make $$ easier by doing less work ... of course they will mah

My experience with sub-contractors is that they dont read plans and will install it their way ....

hi jeffcraze ... wah ... i dont think any other firms would offer this additional photography service ! its nice to see the house being transformed day by day ... from dreams to reality !

Wah ... that's early ! I guess you could probably come up with a ceiling works, lighting and SSO points plan. Then can already start scouting around for the downlights etc you want to buy alreadie ... If your flat is a brand new unit, may need to have some time allowance for HDB defects rectification work ? I remember my mum's place had some leaking walls after the flat was completed by HDB, and they needed to rectify first before renovation starts .... Have you got all your quotations alreadie ?

this is so interesting to see the renovation unfold day by day ... never quite seen a blog from the other side .. usually from owner's side ....

My floor plan had a services plan diagram indicating the path of the various services. My gas was never turned on before in my unit so when I called City Gas, they told me that someone had to come down and the fee was $35.

Hmm .. But you have alreadie signed the contract with them alreadie ? You can do a ACRA search on the company and see who are the business owners and compare it with the other company ... Did you ask for project references ?

Oh yeah hor ... 7th month is coming ... Time flies back so quickly. For your LED lights, how easy is it to replace the bulbs if required ? On 2nd thoughts, when i did my house up, i should have used LED instead of the halogen lights. Can LED be put on a dimmer switch ?

Hmm ... hacking requires so many days since 7 May ? I wonder how common is it for owners to go down to site everyday to supervise the workers ? Heard from a colleague from China that it is not unusual in China that relatives or family members sit down and watch the workers from the start to end of renovation ....

after completion, then got the massive cleaning up to do backache hor ....

cant place it above the floor at the tub ? cos sometimes if floor is slippery and just slide and may hit/break the glass ...

Hmm ... disk rack will be a side-way pull out ? Would that reduce the amount of ventilation to try the plates ? Why not just have it above the sink ? Are you keep the store room in your apartment or knocking it down ? Else it is always a good idea to have more cabinets To visualise whether there are too many cabinets which may make it look more cramp, it is usually easier to do a 3D mock-up of the kitchen with software packages. If you are quite IT savvy, you can try using Intericad Lite, they have a 14 day trial (although you cant save the work) where you can put cabinets in with different dimensions to try. When i was doing the planning before the renovations, i spent a lot of time doing 3D mock-ups as you can see the room from different angles and try different dimensions to see whether it looks nice.

You can look at HDB website to see what were the recent transactions and it also shows the previous quarter average COV pricing for the estate.

Hi Jaskel, I'm impressed with your work ! And also your flair with using 3D sketchup ! Have you tried using Intericad software ? It is easy to use and allows you to do space planning and 3D rendering.