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Next items on the shopping list: 1. Fan (Ceiling & Wall) 2. Lights Anyone? Any good shop recommendation? Rgds!

Hi Mae, He did not extend such level of service to me leh! I drove to showrooms (Whitehorse, Asia Excel ....). But at least he was there to give his opinion & etc ..... Yes, I totally agree with you that there is clear advantage to engage ID for major renovation. Rgds! Sunny

As I did not shop around to compare prices so no comments. As to discount, it depends on how many items or how much is the total bill cost. It can range from 5% to 15% ..... Do hope this is reasonable. Now talk about the sales person, she is patient and helpful during my shopping over at Asia Excel. I spent close to 3 hours in her shop. She proposed products within my budget and no hard selling. Note: I did visit their shop over at IMM but the sales persons ..... Overall: Pleasant shopping experience (although I travelled from Jurong to Balestier)

Oops, spent and to be (need to add) around $4.3K. With instant heaters but without sink cabinets, rain shower, kitchen sink ..... Not sure, whether with good discount.

Settled one/two items today: Toilet Fittings & Accessories (Mixed Brands, and 707 Instant Heater) Kitchen Fittings & Accessories (Rinnai Hob & Hood, and Fujioh Oven) Similar experience as Mae, visited Asia Excel with the ID, and taking recommendations (Sales: Ms Roselyn Tan) within my budget. Totally, forgot all the good advise (type of mixer & water pressure & water saving, etc .....) from this Forum.

Renovation permit was approved! Renovation work shall start on coming Monday. Hacking first .... Electrical works, not ID's regular electrician, but awarded to another contractor (you know, my in-law old old neighbour lor). Just hope, there is no coordination issue betw ID and this sub-contractor.

Hi Mae, Ha! Ha! At first, I also wanted floor tile with wood grain for all bedrooms .... same advice from him. So, changed my selection then. Rgds! Sunny

Why not? All of places are near Jurong Lake ! Feel free to come over, shall pm u the address. Pls note: Application of Permit was submitted on Monday, and pending approval thus no hacking works yet.

Only settled one item today: Air-conditioning: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Inverter Systsem 4 (32,000 btu) by Aircon Designs Pte Ltd (My ID's regular supplier) Visited Asia Excel @ IMM, looking for toilet & bathroom fittings & accessories, also hob, hood & oven ..... but too many choices and dont know what & how to select.

Hi Mae, Yes, I would try to take progress photographs to share here. You are always welcome to visit the place. Shall SMS the address to you shortly. Rgds!

Visited SBH showroom too. Agreed here is bigger & having more choices, reason: this is their main showroom & warehouse. Whitehorse @ Tradehub21 is only their "small" showroom. Their main showroom is at Sungei Kadut Way, another one at Changi Road. I did not visit these two places. Whitehorse has their own factories, and not too sure about SBH. Did not compare the price betw SBH & Whitehorse. Selection was guided by the ID, in consideration of theme, colour scheme, size of tile and unit price per sq ft. I must say the ID is flexible about the unit rate, eg stated $3.00psf in the agreement but he allowed selection up to $3.50psf w/o the need to top up $$$. BTW Can someone share what is the difference betw Porcelain Tiles and Polished Homogeneous Tiles, in term of durability & maintenance?

Progress update: 1. Extg alum window grilles were removed this morning. 2. All tiles were selected this afternoon. Supplier: White Horse @ TradeHub21, now pending the colour rendering by them ..... Windows were selected - sliding & casement, white powder coated alum frame with green glass (by ID's sub-contractor) Other outstanding items: - Main Door (Nyatoh, Fire-Rated) - Main Gate (Wrought Iron) - Bedroom Doors (Designer Door in veneer finish) - Alum Acrylic Bi-Fold Doors - Kitchen Accessories (Hob, Hood, Oven. Supplier: ???) - Toilets Accessories (WC, Basin, Supplier: Asia Excel at IMM) - Lights, Fans, Instant Heaters (Supplier: ???) - Curtain and Roller Blinds (Supplier: ???) - Kitchen Cabinet with Solid Top - Altar Air-Con - most likely Mit Electric System 3 Inverter (Supplier & Installer: ???) Electrical Sub-Contractor ??? Painting Sub-Contractor (using Nippon Supreme Package, ID's sub-contractor, colour scheme pending) Any missing items???

Mae, Thank you for the recommendation! Tomorr 2pm, we are selecting the tiles at TradeHub21. Hi, The price is competitive - although it is 3rd lowest. The price gap is within 10-15%, reasonable. Also wish you: a smooth renovation journey. Rgds! Sunny

Started from seven companies, shortlisted to three companies, and Finally, with the recommendation of one Project Manager (strongly recommended thru member of RenoTalk Forum), we have signed the agreement with one small ID Firm: Designer: Mr Sam Tan Company: NID Design & Decor During the five sessions (discussion & site measurement), very positive attitude and willing to accept reduced scope (due to my limited budget), and willing to accommodate price adjustment. Contract Sum: $45K Signing Date: 18 Mar 2011 Duration: 6-8 weeks Scope: exclude electrical (lighting) & air-conditioning Scope: include floor & wall tiling, plumbing, painting & ceiling (combination of False Ceiling + L-Box + Cornice) works and windows, doors/frames for whole unit. Minimum carpentry works (14+14 ft Kitchen Cabinet, and 4 ft Altar only)

Existing Condition: Bedrooms

I approached Alex also. He is friendly and helpful, and his quotation is competitive. Almost award to him, reason being: my id/contractor take window under his package as a whole. Note: Another ID/Contractor quoted at least 10%-15% higher than Alex's quote. Another one is double Alex's quote, may be better material & quality!?

Existing Condition: Kitchen / Dining / Living

Hi ne0mesis, I really dont mind and welcome any suggestions! However, we are more or less decided to go for the proposed layout (yes, 25 Feb 11). With creation of a maid room in the kitchen area, also will retain the store room. We agreed with your point 2 to widen the 1.2 m passage further. But not as much as suggested, may be, just to 1.5m width is more than sufficient. Unfortunately, due to limited budget, we have to minimise the carpentry work for the time being first. Rgds!

Not stated using China tiles in the quotations. Instead, quotations stated the material (tile) cost, size, & polished or unpolished, say at $3.00 or $3.50 psf. I think it they shld not stop you to choose Italian tiles, you only need to top up the $$ difference.

Hi Aron, Pls quote me: latest Mitshibishi System 3 & 4 inverter air-con, installation with new piping/trunking For bedrooms only. Prefer make in Japan. include removal of the existing air-con system. Rgds! Sunny

Hi Bro, Pls pm me the contacts of KDK. Thank you in advance! Rgds! Sunny

Finally, signed everything and collected the keys this afternoon. Except I have agreed to let the seller to move their things out, latest by this Fri 11 Mar 11. I must thank the property agents for using their commission (almost all) to pay seller's outstanding bills with Town Council and Property Tax Dept. If you have friends looking for property agents, I would more than happy to introduce them to you and your friends. BTW they are from OrangeTee. Back to the renovation, after the preliminary round, I have shortlisted 3 IDs/Contractors for site visit & measurement. Shld be busy meeting them during the next one/two weeks for final selection.

Yes. But please do take note that this is only one of items quoted by a small timer contractor. Quantity (floor area) is another pricing factor to be considered. During evaluation, we must see the quotation as a whole rather than single out just one item only.

Agreed. Higher rate - they claimed using W1 chemical added to the cement/mortar, and $3.50 psf tiles and rounded top edge for the tile skirting..... Lower rate - they might not using W1, and $2.50 psf tiles and timber skirting ..... As the range is far apart, it makes my evaluation more difficult, sigh !

I hv received a few quotations from both IDs/Contractors: 600x600 Polished Homogenous Tiles c/w skirting Supply & Lay ranging from $5.50 psf to $8.50 psf, (Tile ranging from $2.50 to $3.50 psf)