csingeu

Actually, I see your floor plan. Not too much smaller also. Maybe instead of utility/study room, you got a smaller storeroom, and 2nd level layout also slightly different. d-a-m-n... I'm going to miss out on all the concessions... maybe i'll change my address to the new place after the elections? will it help getting more "goodies"?

Hi! Thanks! How's your renovation going? Got pics? Who did you engage? how much ah? btw, what's a 5M? Near to Paya Lebar MRT is gd... it's more accessible and it's closer to town and it's one of the regional centres, which URA is trying to develop, and conveniently linked to the Circle line. Noted your advice. Wanted the collapsible doors, as it will really give a very unblocked view of the balcony and beyond, and bring the breeze in. I wasn't aware of the "door slamming by wind" issue, but one of the IDs informed that some kind of U-bracket/track or so can be installed at top and bottom to stabilize the doors and make it easy to open/close. But he did mention, if the wind is too strong, the doors will still shake/vibrate and can be noisy. so I guess your advice on using the heavy duty doors to reduce noises with strong winds make sense. So in the end, you got sliding doors? What kind? We "chatted" before in another topic on "converting wash area to WC". The topic was quite informative. Yes. What's shown is only my tentative plan. Honestly, I did not have a gd look at the unit. I was sold by the location (near MRT, near parents, near amenities), the level (10... mid-high la.. ) and the relatively low COV (compared to some of the other units i've seen earlier). So I didn't not really take note of a lot of things (until after I've signed OTP, and started reading renotalk). I didn't go back to request to take pics too, coz don't want to impose on sellers (and anyway, 2nd appt in 12 days' time...) But i guess a lot of things (like the thick waste pipes you mentioned, and maybe some unhackable beams) will ultimately affect my space planning. Anyway, i'm also intending to change the door location of the wash area. Gd luck for your renovation too!

Thanks! Really tied between getting contractor or ID. Think it's hard to both save money and time. The only way to save money is either to do less (can't avoid, if it's essential items), use lower quality (totally not acceptable), or coordinate various subcons yourself, thereby removing the middleman costs. The only way to save time is to find someone who can help manage and monitor the renov progress, QC works and rectify defects; and this usually means more money. And like what you've mentioned, most impt is to find somebody who's responsible and responsive. Seriously, don't think i need a ID (for design ideas), but more like experienced contractor for practical advices. I feel no amt of research can guarantee that you have a stress-free and smooth renovation process. sometimes, it's really a combination of multiple factors (original condition of unit, material suppliers, workers, contractor, etc). Maybe when i'm getting tired of doing all these research (which is quite unlikely... it's tiring... but i guess most first-time homeowner would still go thru the "pain" or "joy")... i'll just resign my fate to choosing one of the IDs/contractors... and pray for the best... LOL... I suppose different people have different ways of shortlisting IDs/contractors; some pick lowest quote, some pick best design, some pick ability to communicate with ID, some pick the popular ones renotalk recommends some have very comprehensive decision matrix to evaluate each aspect of engagement... I'm likely to take a 2-step selection process. As I'm budget-stretched, i'll do the following: 1. Pick 3 lowest, most comprehensive and complete quotations (w/o GST) 2. Out of the 3, meet up with them for final revised quotations, and interact to see if ok with their attitude, service, communication style 3. Pick the 1 I'm most comfortable talking to and with gd service attitude and able to offer practical advice Let's see how it goes.

YES! The steamed chicken with porridge for 2 + fried doughsticks ("you tiao") a few stalls down are the usual suspects for my sunday lunch with my fiancee. Very nice! I'm currently staying at st.42, just opposite blk 505 market / food centre. next month, i'll be getting my resale unit at st.41; it will be in between the food centre at blk 497 (~250m away!) and blk 505 (~400m away), then I'll have more food choices!! seldom go to Taman Jurong there to eat, cos I also find it quite troublesome to go there (despite me staying in Jurong), unless dad drives la. usually, we'll go to the food court beside Sheng Siong supermarket. been to Taman Jurong Food Centre a few times only. same reason: feels a little inaccessible. :|

Hi, Floor area bigger doesn't mean more usable space... LOL! there's "wasted" space like staircase, passageway/walkway on the 2nd level, which doesn't serve much purpose except to get to the rooms and WC. also the utility rm is too small (and with a very small window) to convert to a habitable room. At least your floorplan looks squarish and easily configurable, and the study room is of decent size and with windows, which can potentially convert to a guestroom cum study room, if you wish to. My EM is at blk 469-472 area. Still trying to confirm ID/contractor. condition of resale unit too chui... need major rehaul... very costly.

Woah! Congratz! That is a very big and spacious home you got.

Hey RimBlock! I'm still keen to visit your renovation-in-progress. Will there be anyone else visiting this weekend? Can I make a trip down this weekend? Thanks!

LOL.. the 3-in-1 kitchen holders lor... i bought 2... one for me... one for my sis... she's getting a new flat later half of this yr as her current unit is under the SERS scheme. but don't know she will use it or find it useful or not... she said "maybe my kitchen also no wall to mount it..." bleahz... managed to get my dad's car... and since fiancee going to somewhere ard there for gathering... so sent her down... then went over to dexufto's place for a visit and picked up the items for marshmallow & oink-oink also... (coz really quite bulky)... before visiting another friend's house warming party somewhere near east coast park area... landed house... very big and spacious... but didn't take any pics... (coz not very nice... maybe intrusion of their privacy)...

Woah! Just left Dexufto's place. Very crowded today as it's their house-warming! Lots of friends and relatives ard. Location - central, very easy to get to; exit PIE and you'll get there. Unblocked and breezy. Though can be a little noisy, as it's near a busy expressway. Dexufto - very nice and friendly guy. Looks very tanned and athletic. LOL. he showed me his new door plate with "home of ironman" inscribed. Think he prob does a lot of trialthon or marathons. Very nice of him to show me ard his place and shared some of his post-renovation thoughts/insights abt using biometric digital door lock (really very cool!), using excel slow-stopper for kitchen cabinet drawer, the eubiq electric strip for kitchen, his 5.1 Bose sound system, where to get cheap lights from JB, despite having so many other guests to entertain. Dexufto's fiancee - very pretty and lovely lady. Handsome guy and pretty girl! Congrats! Seeing the pics and seeing the real thing, brings abt a certain kind of realization. A bit like "eureka" moment. Moving on to next house-warming & rock band party for today! PS: marshmallow & oink-oink: your 3-in-1 kitchen holders are with me.

ok... steady.. i'll go down early at 12-1pm... to view your new place and to collect the stuff, before going down to my friend's house warming.

Can I ibank transfer to him? and collect from you, if you can help me collect?

I'm expecting mine to be ard 80-85K incl furniture and appliances too... or maybe i'm underestimating... how much COV you paid?

LOL... i used to teach part-time there for a while, before i started my part-time studies... we might have met b4... or i might have taught u b4. LOL... unless, both instructors are female la...

Woah! Very nice. cleong, think I have the exact same layout as yours. can pay a house visit or not?

WOAH... 4-rm with 106m²!! Looks really spacious... for a moment, I thought it's a 5-i.

Gd advice! The more advertising... the more one should be wary about... esp those who appears at expo every 2 months... think this industry pretty much is by word of mouth, and referrals... those with a lot of advertising/marketing... and so free to go set up stall @ expo every 2 months... probably too free le... the gd ones would already be swarmed with jobs... and would really plan their resources to work on the referral jobs than to actively solicit. my 2-cent.

yeah.. that sucks. I was hoping for piped gas... What was I thinking? there isn't piped gas at my current place now, I don't think my new place which is also in the same part of Jurong would have piped gas.. LOL.. will have to "waste" cabinet storage area for gas cylinder and the hassle to call the gas man to replace every now and then... zzz... I also agree that area is slightly on the low side. As for the EC, when HDB announced that the EC site is for sale to developers, my mum thought the EC project is selling units, and told me to go apply. LOL... and it turned out, no developer interested, as there were other more lucrative sites out there then... Was also considering EMs at that area, due to the lower valuation, but in the end, decided to get the more $$$ one (abt $100K more $$$ in valuation) near to lakeside MRT... hopefully, the resale value will be gd in the future... BUT... i don't think i'm moving anywhere for a long long time... the only reason i would be moving... would prob be because i'm getting a pte property or landed house, which I don't think it's possible in a very very long time. yeah... heard abt this too... yah.. not just jurong... but also quite a lot of places over SG, as mentioned... Yes.. and i'm still going to be staying there for quite some time... not that I super love it... I rather stay nearer to town (since i'm working in town), but at least it's relatively more affordable, and it's near to my parents' place...

I prefer to collect at marshmallow's place @ Chinese Garden... LOL... this weekend got another friend's house-warming in the East... if going to be delivered to dexufto's place (which I would like to visit too!, if i weren't going for another house warming), can marshmallow help me collect my 2 pieces? Then i get from marshmallow later?

Congratz! Welcome to renotalk! Actually I'm currently staying ard JW St 42 area. Your EM ard the blk 548 - 558 area? 400K Val & 25K COV is very gd deal! If it's well-maintained and requires little renovation, then really super gd deal le. Not easy to find such affordable EMs. . Got park and Sheng Siong supermarket, and blk 502 market nearby.

My hectic schedule has begun. Before I share on the topic for tonight, let me "grumble" a little about my non-renov stuff. As some may know, I'm currently working full-time, as an IT professional, and concurrently doing a part-time Master in Software Engineering. I'm coming to my last semester (my course is abt 2.5 to 3 yrs for part-time) and kind of feeling burnt-out and losing steam. And this last stretch is made more challenging, with resale flat purchase end-2010 and handover in 19 days' time and hunting for ID/contractor and furniture. Not to mention ongoing projects at work and my ROM in end-Feb. A random note: I'm currently taking the following modules and I realize that quite a few of the classes are actually taught by adjunct professors who have full-time job as CIO of some companies. I wonder what's their motivation for teaching, coz I believe as a CIO, they prob have quite a lot of responsibility, prob married with kids, and earning quite a bit => Very stressful work and very little free time; would prob want to spend free time with family instead; already earning too much to care abt whatever reimbursement they are getting from the schools. "Information Security Policies" class is taught by CIO of MDA "Integration of IS & Biz" class is taught by CIO of Starhub "Software Entrepreneurship" taught by a very senior and experienced lecturer who used to be working in IT field for defense and healthcare industry in UK. With such a hectic schedule, I really hope to find a responsible and trustworthy ID/contractor to help manage the renov process for me, and at the same time, is also affordable to hire (my budget is already stretched). And this leads me to the topic for tonight.... My view of IDs/contractor and comments about some of the few whom I've interacted with (Part 1) I've initially wanted to reserve my comments, until I have confirmed my ID/contractor, but with so many things going on (and the fact that I've started hunting sometimes back in Nov 2010), a lot of details are fading, and I want to document my "encounters" before I forget everything. No offense to anyone (IDs, contractors, etc). The following are my personal opinions from my observation and interactions with some of the IDs/contractors. Feel free to disagree, and i will not argue with you, coz it's personal opinions (which might be misguided), so take it with a pinch of salt. you have been told. I know some of the IDs may be watching this forum too, but really, no hard feelings. Just as I have my opinions abt you and I'm sure you have your opinions abt me as a prospective client (maybe i was wasting your time fishing for quotation when my requirements are too stringent and budget/schedule unrealistic...) ID or Contractor or Coordinator? What is the difference? 1. Contractor Just the title already gives people the perception that he's not very design-savvy and maybe more like a supervisor/foreman kind. I think during my parents' era, there's prob just contractors; IDs are probably left for the atas landed home owners and commercial/retail/office building owners. Very few of this category left (or maybe I'm wrong) 2. Coordinator First time heard about this, from cleong. Apparently, it's someone who helps to coordinate the subcontractors for door/windows, electrical, aircon, tiling, etc... but not providing design input. Sounds like a main contractor eh? No? I also don't know. 3. ID This is the interesting breed. personally, I'm not design-trained, so I have no idea what exactly an ID does or value-adds in, except maybe: 1. space planning 2. color scheme coordination 3. balancing design and practicality 4. accessorizing 5. lighting scheme For me, I think a person claiming to be a ID has more creditability, if he/she has taken formal training, either at diploma or degree level in architecture or interior design. Having said that, I'm sure most would also agree that not all who have formal training are gd at ID; in fact, maybe some contractors or those without formal training may do better, due to yrs of experience. Nevertheless, as some may have already mentioned, the industry is pretty much an unregulated one, hence anyone can call themselves a ID or designer. And they usually charge 10-20% more than contractors (which I believe, the contractors prob already marked up their quotation for some profits). Which leads to a few observations: 1. Traditional contractors calling themselves IDs so that they appear more "design-savvy" and appeal to the younger crowd and able to charge a higher premium. 2. Young chaps who have some eye for design, and after reading much ID books, magazines, websites (and thru sheer self-study) believe that they are then IDs; but may not have the practical experience to manage a renov project or execute the design concept well 3. And most IDs who have pride in their profession and work will charge design fees for their expertise in space planning. etc. no doubts. - but for me, i have limited budget and want to minimize hacking to save cost, hence space planning is not really required, as I'm likely to stick to what I've already had in mind and it's just minimal hacking and more of placement of furniture, and no fancy feature wall or carpentry required. - hence the project may be deemed "boring" or "non-challenging" for them, as there won't be a great transformation at the end of it - might be my fault too; as I've told them that the place is for a newly-wedded couple; hence their space planning usually involve major hacking of bedrooms to combine into a huge MBR with attached study, WIW (which I already mentioned I did not want), etc. - sometimes, I wonder if they assume that we will actually be upgrading to another property with more rooms or space, when we intend to have kids, or they think we are yuppies, and never going to have kids... - for the same reason, i'm not inclined to pay "designer fees". And they have pride in their work that they won't "recycle" design and will design to suit individual client's unique requirements. - but sometimes, I really like what I've seen on what other IDs' works and just want to "replicate" the same result, without having to go thru the whole design thinking process 4. And they may sometimes, subtly or subconsciously or consciously influence you to their style of design and preferences - eg. i prefer modern resort theme (woody and stuff), but ID actually prefers raw industrial look, and his/her suggestions tend towards cement screed, concrete slab, etc 5. sometimes, they assume they know everything and design based on their assumptions and did not seek clarifications - or at least, i find the thinking process behind the design concept "strange" - eg. one of the IDs actually suggested that I put my hood and hob infront of the kitchen window. - I was stunned. I've grown up in a household, without a balcony and laundry is hung out of the kitchen window on bamboo poles to sun-dry. with the stove and hood in front of the window, how the xxxx do I hang my clothes out? - pausing and thinking thru, I suppose he/she might have made the following assumptions: - I will be using a dryer (which I've already informed that there will be no dryer) - I will be hanging my clothes at the balcony (which I don't intend to, as i intend to keep it a cosy but outdoor area; but she didn't clarify) - I will just be hanging up inside the kitchen to air-dry - giving her the benefit of the doubt, I also assumed that maybe most of her past clients either stayed in condo (whereby hanging clothes out is no-no, or there is service yard available), or stayed in landed properties whereby they have a big front/back yard to dry their laundry, or simply have no qualms air-drying or using a dryer. 6. sometimes, they forget or ignore requirements - eg. I specifically mentioned that I would like to convert the level 1 wash area into a WC, but some, in their design proposal, actually suggested for me to remove the wash area and have a bigger kitchen. - eg. I mentioned that I would like to have my MBR in a certain layout so that me & WTB can both watch TV, if she chooses to lie in bed and read book and watch tv, while I'm sitting at the study table, using my laptop and watching tv... - but ended up, they proposed something else, maybe due to the fact that, becoz of FS, most people would not place their bed in the centre of the room like my preferred layout and would suggest to place the bed against a solid wall instead. - if i mind the FS part, i wouldn't have even show him/her my preferred layout that way. Conclusion I think i'll be better off hiring an experienced contractor who can give practical advice and some design inputs - since "space planning" will be done by myself - budget is stretched - ID or contractor, they also ask you to choose the tiles, colours yourself - i need advice on lighting scheme, electrical and plumbing issues - someone to manage the renov process and coordinate the subcontractors Getting late... I'm tired. Will continue with part 2 tomorrow, which include my evaluation of my interaction with the various IDs/contractors i've contacted. hopefully, i can confirm someone within the next 1-2 week, but think CNY coming, they prob too busy to be bothered with me. ohh well... better start late, than to rush and live a lifetime (or a long time) of regrets... (though starting late, not necessarily mean worry-free too) ... sigh

Hey! Thanks! Oh! You can go to HDB website, think there's somewhere you can subscribe for it. And also you can go to MyECitizen and subscribe to their email and sms alerts. Very useful and convenient + it's free! Can get updates & info from HDB, CPF, IRAS, etc... but you'll need to apply for SingPass first and it's free too!! and quite fast. just sign up online and 1-2 days later they will mail you your password. thanks thanks... mixed feelings abt it... happy & excited coz going to get the keys soon... at the same time, stressed also... coz haven't confirmed ID/contractor... and yah, I won't broadcast my hp number "publicly" la... so ermmm... the rest of the details... are ok... since it's already in my signature... unless someone wants to bump into me at HDB Hub la... which I don't think got anyone so eng to go down there for fun... hehehe... maybe i should add the number to my contact and name it "HDB Alerts"

Oh! I've received SMS notification from HDB regarding my 2nd appt on 31 Jan, 3.30pm. I think some of the forummers here are also going for their 2nd appt on the same day, same time. 19 more days! excited! headache thing is ... haven't confirmed ID... should I up my budget or lower/remove some of my requirements? sigh.

Seems like it's mixed reviews on the effectiveness of bathroom ventilation fan. I would think it's useful la. but have to depend on the "power' of the ventilation fan too and how long it's being turned on, after a shower, etc. Yes. I also read from the website that I've posted abt KDK ventilation fan that the power usage can be quite low (as they have claimed) for continuous usage. Anyone has real-life experience or can verify this fact? Agreed. Depending on how the fan is mounted; might not block too much la. Coz usually it will be mounted on an acrylic panel or so, but the panel likely to be fixed in position. If the fan is mounted (like what I saw in my school toilet) on plywood or so, then likely will block out the natural light. One of the IDs informed me, top hung windows must be wire-mesh type (safety + HDB ruling), but he said if don't want to use wire-mesh, there's another choice, which is to use the kind of glass panel with a "sticky" film in the middle of it. so in the event that something smashes on the window pane, the "sticky" film will "stick" the pieces together, and it will not shattered into bits.

Yeah. more like the question of "Want to have rain shower or not"... LOL... seems like if want to have rain shower, definitely need to install storage heater (due to the water pressure issue - that's what i've gathered so far). BUT... mine is old resale unit. No service yard to put the storage tank. put in MBR or common toilet will make the already not so big place, look even more cramped. one of the IDs suggested installing it underneath the vanity counter and hidden by the cabinet doors. BUT... that will effectively make that space useless to store bathroom accessories, cleaning stuffs (like spare toilet rolls, etc). headache...

OK! striking off "bathroom ventilation fan" as one of the "nice-to-have" things on my wishlist... so usually, people do the louver windows (with wire-mesh) for the bathroom or top-hung windows? I heard from one of the IDs, the top-hung bathroom windows need to use a certain type which has some film in the centre to prevent it from shattering if kana hit by something. true or not ah?