phoenix

Your place looks really nicely done up for 20K! Can share with me who's the ID? I'm having major headache trying to shortlist IDs. Heeeellllllpppppppppppp!!!!!!!!

Very interesting concept you have there. Can't wait to see your final result.. shd be very nice! Looks like a lot of hacking and shifting of walls... so creative. May I know who's your ID? I'd love to be more creative with my new home. Unfortunately my hubby rather conservative type. I asked him if I could try drawing and painting the walls in the masterbedroom myself. He told him "dear.. I let you draw and paint the storeroom lah okie?" grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr............

hi chrispy, no problem.. u're welcome to join my 'problem'... haha.. i dun really have any solutions, perhaps when my FS master has seen my plc, i will know what i can do. hmm... like that can neutralise? thats not too bad, i think i can do that. raincole, me no pics yet ...have not taken any as i have not gotten keys yet. perhaps chrispy has one can share? sgbee, is it facing directly? i think if not directly is ok. correct me if i'm wrong. hi assassin, i heard that side by side is better then opposite too. but how big must the gap be? i think must be quite big rite?

Hi Mr Chong, Ok, thank for all the advise.

hi jimbean, can u post a picture of what the finishings for the carpentry looked like? can't really imagine thru your description. am also thinking of engaging them. whats ABS trimmings by the way? i'm a total newbie to reno terms. looking forward to see some pictures of your place!

Ya, I know kitchen shd be one of the important areas. Anyways will see what the fengshui master says lor... should be getting him/her to see before reno starts. All the units I viewed in this area all place their kitchen stove and sink placed this way lor... some is opposite (meaning their stove and sink change place). The kitchen is small so there is limited variation. But hor... come to think of it..my previous house stove also face toilet and sink under window. But also like ok... hehe... didn't engage one last time.

You place looks really huge and spacious! Which part of woodlands is this?

Hi Homeowner, Really envy your nice and big kitchen!! doubt I'd have the space to make such a kitchen...haiz...my kitchen bery small. Do you mind PM me your contractors contact? Thanks in advance.

Actually I only asked for initial quotation...nothing too specific on desgin yet...not asking for perspectives or anything like that yet. If the IDs schedule for reno workers is packed I can understand, naturally may have to wait maybe 2 mths before works can begin. coz now mkt boom mah. But to type out quotation shd be pretty standard thingy and price difference only in materials used. Sales people spend so much time talking and trying to get the sale by convincing customers to put down "deposits", in that amt of time, I'm sure they can come up with more then 10 quotations.

Oh dear... another one. You got to go read the T&C of your contract..every ID different. But high chance is you won't get back any deposits. If deposits can be refunded juz like that then it serves no purpose liao.

Hi Mr Chong, Thank you for your reply. I noticed that the 2 blks you mentioned are in the middle, surrounded by other blks. Can you share why you have chosen so? Thanks.

wah so bad ah... lol... then probably 99% of the ppl who stay in this building never strike 4D or are working 2 jobs yet still not enough $$$? Coz i believe layout all the same. cannot be bah.....

Hi Lakmy, Do you mind sharing your final quotation with me? Thanks in advance.

I don't have a picture.. will have to draw it out..eh..may take a while...So hard to imagine thru my description meh? hehe... no leh.. hdb, but u know newer type of hdb the kitchens are bery small one mah..like those condo same same. hmm... but stove face half the window and half the toilet (but its facing part of the toilet wall not door), like that can or not? so stove face window is worst than face door?? actually will be asking fengshui master to come see, but just would like to do some thinking myself first abt how my layout will look lor.

ok.. so heres my problem.. the kitchen is super small... very most only a small inverted L shape cabinet can fit. currently sink is at the shorter part of the "L" and it is facing the kitchen door and the stove is at the longer part of the "L". problem: stove face directly towards the windows! this is bad for fengshui is it? but stove cannot change place with sink, if not will face kitchen door wor.... thats even worst isn't it? if i place the stove somewhat halfway facing the windows, like that can or not? but that would mean it will face part of the toilet. would this be better? headache! pls advise..

but even if the ID agrees to do juz this 4K job, they have nothing much to earn. and would most likely do a sloppy job. 20%?! for forfeit? *faint*.. but I think every ID T&C is different. thats why must read bery properly before committing!

when u place a deposit, did you know what is the final amt you're looking at for your whole reno? any ID that press you too hard for deposit before giving detailed quotation and some perspectives for client to see are somewhat dubious. looks like you're stuck. u got to move forward or forgo the $4K in total u've paid. even if u complain to case also no use liao. like raincole said, deposit is deposit and its not refundable. but how come from $500 deposit you end up paying almost $4K? dun mind PM which ID is this?

Seriously, how long did you guys had to wait before getting a quotation ah?? 1 ID I spoke to even told me I will get my quote in 3wks time! Wow!! I'm really stunned ... I know mkt is good lor and biz is **** good now. But 3 wks to get a quote out??? Makes me wonder how long will reno take.

I think as long as owner sign some permit papers can liao. Aiya, hdb always like this one... I've also encountered different answers from different officers before. But if you do major hacking.. in less then 2mths can complete?

hi raincole, thanks...i've got it figured out already.

For the amount u spent, your place really looks like a million dollars! Bery nice indeed... good taste Mind sharing your contractor contact? I'm also looking for one who can do some minor works and not charge me cut-throat prices! Going giddy looking for ID and contractors already

This is painted? I thought was wallpaper at first... wow, is it very straightly painted? Actually the colour combo dun match, kinda reminds me of popcorn. hehe... maybe its a colour mismatched. hehe...but the strips look fine actually. Hows the contractor you're using? He also do painting for you? Mind sharing the info if you find good? Can PM me if not convenient to write here. Thanks a lot!!

Don't have an agent yet.

Can someone advise me how to calculate the various fees, such as stamp duties, lawyers fees or legal fees? What other fees are there? Is there a difference if I'm taking hdb loan compared to bank loan? Quite confused. Thanks.

MaCe, Whats wrong with kitchen at front part of the house leh?