Exman

Hi IPineapple Is your unit at HG Ave 6 #07-xxxxx......

This elderly couple is in Hougang.

Hi ashiesthm My inital quote was $42K and now clImbing as new decision came up to include 1) Blum system for the kitchen cabinets. 2) frameless balcony glass siding doors 3) added false ceiling works to the common toilets. 4) extended false ceiling and cove lights structures 5) add more water points to the water circuit. my recommendation is best gauge by apple to apple method as to observe the best ID or contractor offer in the said items by dollar and cents. However you have to know what you intent to Reno in terms of specs and type. For example, I am firm with 1.2m x 0.6m homo tiles that has gather all 7 different quote for the same specs which can be quite a surprise. Best is to visit the Balestier tiles suppliers to see and feel the types of tiles that you wanted and also look out for the said pricing in terms of $ per sq ft. If you to deal to buy directly from the tiles suppliers which you further enjoy a 10% discount...... Current ID which has this designer was very slack and have since ask for a replacement. He talks a lot but no action ..... Looks like every time I has t be at site to get things right until just last Sunday call up the boss and telling him that he should be paying me for his designer job.... The boss replace a female designer just this week and she was very effective as now can see the movement of the Reno process......

Hi ashiesthm During my scouting for EM, have came across one EM unit that suspected to be involving "ah long" harassment. The tell tale sign was outside both the unit pillar wall has a faint "OPP$" wordings as was clean up which can hardly notice if you aren't alert. However Outside this EM unit has about 3 CCTV cameras pointing at different directions. Discreetly ask the owner on the outside camera installation that he mentioned that nowadays CCTV is cheap and also for his children security purpose. And the best part of it that his COV was not low and asking for $60K...not necessary has to be a low COV to be problem free..... There was one EM, full major reno require if you buy this EM as every thing original as off 25 years ago items, the location is also no good as nearest MRT has to take 4 bus stops away and the elderly couple is asking for minimum of $60K....... Maybe for level of comfort that you could ask around your block if there is any harassment going on previously or lately...... As nowadays neighbors directly or indirectly also affected by AH LONG imitation and harassment actions....

Hi Have been considering LED lights but it seem to be very costly to change. My contractor said that electricity bill for the whole house is not just having LED lights shall have a tremendous saving. Actually the fact that lighting bill is a small fraction and usually the main electricity consuming items are the Aircon, fans, water heater, iron, boiler and computers. After much consideration that PL downlighting is quite a saving as the light tubes are about $3 compare to $50 LED replacement. Mine comparison shall be 10 nos of PL lights versus 10 nos of LED lights. Current if to replace 10 x $3 = $30 versus 10 x $50 = $500. I've used PL lights and it does seem to last a while of 3 years. If calculate 10 bos of PL lights electricity billed at $10 per month and LED lights consumed 40% less shall have a savings of approx $4 per month. $4 x 12 months = $48 x 5 years = $$240 which is not sufficient to recover the inital start up cost $500 I shall wait till another lighting technology to come up thus shall push down the LED pricing. Currently LCD TV is the less expensive after LED TV came aboard and now LED TV price has got down ever since 3D and Smart TV was developed.

Hi Have been considering LED lights but it seem to be very costly to change. My contractor said that electricity bill for the whole house is not just having LED lights shall have a tremendous saving. Actually the fact that lighting bill is a small fraction and usually the main electricity consuming items are the Aircon, fans, water heater, iron, boiler and computers. After much consideration that PL downlighting is quite a saving as the light tubes are about $3 compare to $50 LED replacement. Mine comparison shall be 10 nos of PL lights versus 10 nos of LED lights. Current if to replace 10 x $3 = $30 versus 10 x $50 = $500. I've used PL lights and it does seem to last a while of 3 years. If calculate 10 bos of PL lights electricity billed at $10 per month and LED lights consumed 40% less shall have a savings of approx $4 per month. $4 x 12 months = $48 x 5 years = $$240 which is not sufficient to recover the inital start up cost $500 I shall wait till another lighting technology to come up thus shall push down the LED pricing. Currently LCD TV is the less expensive after LED TV came aboard and now LED TV price has got down ever since 3D and Smart TV was developed.

Hi AxelC Is my pleasure to share knowledge in this forum for now and future EM owners as not to kena chop carrots by contractors or ID. My email address is vincenttay007@hotmail.com and drop me your personal queries any time.

Hi AxelC Maybe this method shall save you all the trouble from using the computer to draw. You can purchase the floor plan via HDB website at $5. This floor plan is to scale 1cm : 1m. 1) HDB shall sent you a soft copy. 2) keep the soft copy in your hard disk 3) print out a hard copy 4) blanko out the areas that you have in mind to do up 5) using the scale ratio 1cm : 1m plot your layout with a pencil. 6) do write down a list of specific details items that you like to do before meeting any contractor or ID. With this apple to apple method you can gauge roughly whom is more reasonable. 7) basically and usually, the ID or contractor questions are A. how many people staying in the unit?. B. Any older folks? C. Open concept kitchen? D. Need more storage? E. Replace flooring to all areas? F. What are the areas to replace cabinetry? G. Budget? FYI The big ticket items are 1. The hacking works 2. The type of flooring tiles eg marble or granite 3. The complete staircase works 4. The cabinetry works. 5. The wall tiling work to the toilets 6. To built a roof at the balcony area or recess area. Earlier before embarking on my renovation, went to simei xpo interior decor fair and approach a xxx ID firm and their designers came down to my EM and commented to suggest all areas and items has to replace. They subsequently brought me to see an ongoing EM project in Bedok which the owner paid a $150K reno bill when I asked him on the total cost. I look at the whole EM and could not figure out how was the 150k spent as the complete lower level flooring was using cement screet. His decor concept was loft and industrial look with all the wires and cable exposed in cable trunking overhead and around the house. Looks kind of messy. These xxx ID designers even mentioned that their charges are higher because they have a team of in house contractors and their designs are exclusive. Anyway their loft decor does not suit me. Their quotes for my homo tiles flooring is already double in pricing when comparing with other quotes. They quoted close to 80K for about the same amount of reno items now being carried out. Since then I start to realize that does mean to spent more $$$ shall have your house look nice. Designer can come up with designs that you have to bear for the years which you be living in and in the worst case scenario if the design does not fit you. The current ID company which i engaged seem to be just doing ok. Their pricing so far in my opinion do seem reasonable as I'm using the apple to apple comparison formula. Have yet to see the final completion work..... Better not to recommend you before I test them out.....

I decided on the final 20 items to renovate and written in detail and description as template for the 7 ID and contractors to quote. With this standard template method is the apple to apple comparison and there would be no such thing as usually contractors or ID would said "my tile is bigger or the other quoted is smaller tile or per sq ft is more expensive tile used" etc etc. Lowest quoted is 39K to as high as 50K for the same 20 said items.

Hi. Newbie here and just join the Reno talk forum. Brought a EM along Hougang ave 6 and took over in Jsnuary 2012. The valued $570K and paid a COV of $60k. About 10 mins walk to Hougang MRT and Hougang Mall. Just began the renovation process 1. Hack the lower floor complete flooring 2. Hack kitchen wall and rebuilt to extend the wall 3. Hack the 2nd level common toilet wall and floor tiles. 4. Re-instate back the balcony area. 5. Re-instate back by re-built the untitly room 6. Re-built back the store room under the stairs. 7.. Homo tiles 1.2m by 0.6m to untitly room, dining, living and kitchen flooring. 8. Over lay floor tiles to 1st level toilet and MBR toilet. 9. Change new wall tiles and floor tiles of 600 by 300 mm In the 2nd level common toilet 10. False ceiling and cove lights panel in the 3 bedrooms, common toilet, dining room, living room and the common areas outside the bedrooms. 11. New frameless glass panel doors at the balcony. 12. New tiles in wood texture at the balcony. 13. Replace the kitchen windows new. 14. Ex-owner has erected the roof at the balcony which we have decided to stay and just to remove the windows. 15. New stainless steel pipings. 16. New kitchen cabinetry. 17. Full height cabinets of 5 ft width to house shoes and other items that is multi purpose storage. 18. Common toilet mirror cabinet and vanity top 19. Common toilet stand shower glass door. The above mentioned items was quoted at 42K. Other expenses 1. Bosch domino gas hob single burner for wok $1299 2. Bosch domino gas hob double burner $1199 3. Bosch oven $999 4. Bosch hood 90cm $1499 5. Grohe rain shower 2 sets each @$750 6. 3 WC @268, 280 and 480 each. 7. MBR basin with ready made cabinet 600mn width $480 8. Common toilet basin $200 9. PD door which we confirm by ourselves at close to 2K for 4 doors @ 3 toilets and kitchen. 10. Storage water heater $280 11. Instant water heater with rain shower $350 12. Electrical works done by my cousin about $500 for the materials. The list shall goes on ............