Babysteps

After talking to many IDs and contractors, I decided to go with a Mr Ho, who was recommended to me by a friend who used him previously. He's not the lowest priced, but he seem to know his stuff, so we'll see how it goes. If after the reno I'm totally happy, I'll post his contact details to anyone who is interested. If not, then it's better I keep quiet about him. Hacking has completed within 2 days, and they are doing the wet works now. I have pics to post, but err, don't know how. Anyone? The last few days was really busy. Have bought the kitchen stuff such as basin, hob etc, and today got the WC and bathroom accessories. All these $$ is getting to be quite substantial. The government should start looking after singles who intends to buy HDBs. The income ceiling of $5K is really too low...

Hey Guys, Need your advise here. I'm quoted $2200 for 340sqft of toilet wall, and limited to tiles max $2.40. Will this give me a small range of tiles to choose from? I see on the forum so far others have been getting $2.80 or $3.00. Does anyone know how much is LG/ Corian kitchen countertop pfr?

Wow, your place actually looks brand new. The floor is beautiful, huge pity to hack. Too bad it doesn't fit your decor ideas. But the toilets really need to change. I just bought TBH too, and still "interviewing" contractors. Looking forward to see more pics from you. Good luck!

Just to be clear, it's 3 door frames. But I still find it expensive at $170 per door frame...

I only met 3 before this. Thought as long as the toilet bowl uses the same hole, it doesn't matter if it faces the same way or 90deg away. Wanted to save some space for the wash basin. Didn't know HDB regulate this. $510 isn't door price. It's door frame

Finally found an ID whom I feel comfortable with. He was the only one who told me I can't change my toilet bowl direction, and I need a fire rated door since my place is next to the lift. However, certain items he quoted I thought was on the high side, but I'm no expert. If anyone here has experience in the below items, please let me know: 6.5ft walk-in wardrobe: $1455 fire rated door: $1700 door frames for 2 x bedrooms and store room: $510 Also, if I have a L shape cabinet, and it's 8ft one side, 5 ft the other side, it should be counted as 12ft right? since there is an overlapped area. There are other items, but I don't like to bargain for everything. They are doing this for profit afterall. By the way, does anyone know to rewire a 3Rm HDB will cost how much? And if I don't rewire, but just add/ change switches, is it cheaper? Now I understand why some of my friends say "to get your dream home, you need to live through a nightmare"

Guess much would it cost to cement screed the floors of a 3rm HDB, excluding the bathroom? I'm not hacking the floors, just overlay. The highest I'm quoted is $3600! Supply and lay wall and floor tiles for 2 toilets? $4600...and for up to $2.50psf selection. Not sure if I still want to meet and listen to their idea............

Thanks everyone. I need all the help I can get

Hi, Before I got my flat, I google for a lot of information, and found very good sources, including Renotalk. I would like to rant and rave about how challenging it is for a single chinese above 35 yo (think subsidies, racial quotas, COVs, prices that increase faster than my paycheck) to buy a flat, but this blog is strictly to write down the reno journey so the next person can make an informed choice. Paying it forward lah. After months of viewing, I bought a 3 Rm HDB in Telok Blangah. Am now actively talking to contractors and IDs, as the 7th month is approaching, and Mom is very insistent reno start before or after it! Submitted my queries to Renotalk, and got endless phone calls, all wanting to meet up and find out more before sending in quotations. Unfortunately, it was a very busy month for me, weekends burnt, and it's really not practical for me to meet 10 companies right... Several still submitted, and I shortlist 4 to meet for further discussion. So far, I've met with 3 of them, and my first impressions are: - mostly very good customer service. gone are the days of the ah beng contractors (I know, cos my uncle was in this business ). However, it remains to be proven if this is still the case once deposit is paid and work starts. Enough horror stories heard. - they all give very diverse, sometimes impractical ideas on how to handle my reno challenges (piping block a toilet wall that I want to hack, kitchen too long and narrow for my island table etc etc). - cost varies, but some do charge A LOT MORE for certain works. I wonder if it's because they outsource it? - workmanship is something I worry most, and so far, none has been able to assure me of this. I don't expect anything to last 10 years, but also don't want to spend money and fix anything in the next 2 years. - even though it's my first time, I can tell who has not much experience in this line, from the way quotation/ space planning is done. My 4 years of tertiary education finally comes in handy. - some of them are too eager to sell granite countertop, it's beautiful yes, and costly, but I am quite partial to the ceramic tile Moroccan/ Spanish look leh. Meeting with the 4th guy end of the week, and after which I will decide on one, and share here who is the chosen one Hope there are no major hiccups and things will be smooth sailing. Obviously if they do a good job, I'll give a glowing report. Fingers crossed!