blossom0501

yeah, agree that the BIG GUY up there was helping us. We inked the deal before the HDB/URA annoucements came out, and thot we hit the high note Also have to thank my 2 kids as well as heard from the agent that the sellers like my kids very much, n decided to let us buy the unit. Question: When is a good time to bring FSM to see the place? Before 1st appt or after? I am thinking of doing it after the lunar 7th month, which is about 2 weeks before 1st appt, but dunno if sellers will be offended or not? As we need to move in as quickly as possible, and minimise 'down time' after completion, thinking of taking up angielim's suggestion of getting the in-principle approval before starting reno. Anyone brought FSM before 1st appt?

blk 716 hougang ave 2. that's just 4 blocks away from mine ... and saw the map on the street directory ... 2nd block from the main road. My block is facing SRJC ...

Hi, It may seem somewhat irrelevant, but follow your gut feeling. If you have many uncertainties about your purchase, it will not do u any good in the long run, as u will always have this sniggering feeling of 'what if' etc. Adopt the cup 'half full half empty' theory... 'half full' - all the plus points that u hv already listed 'half empty' - low floor, fear of defaulting on loan instalments etc ... as what karen77sg said, advice on the forum is just a guide. Once u made a decision, dun look back else life will be miserable.

Hi MaCe, Thanks for the feedback. Some more queries (sorry to be so lor-sor) 1. MBR and common toilets - one toilet is around $3k * this is just the wet-works or includes everything - the sink, toilet, door, shower screen, heater? 2. paint whole house including grills (using nippon medifresh) - www.nipponpaint.com.sg $1600 3. Redo sink n cooking hob area, change chute - price difference a lot from brand+layout. * looking at rinnai - seems to be a popular choice among forumers. 4. change lighting switches - depends from $3.50 a pcs. 5. change main door - from $380 to $1000 * is it a must to opt for fire rated doors?6. polish marble flooring - no idea 7. varnish parquet flooring - $100-$200 per room, staircase = $350 * faint liao - 3 bedrooms + 1 staircase = $950 8. Chemical wash balcony and kitchen flooring - around $120. the grouting in the kitchen is really black ... really hope that the chemical wash will help, as at this rate, definitely no money to re-do kitchen flooring. Did u start reno only after 2nd appt? I am thinking of getting the contractor into applying for the reno permit etc before 2nd appt, and contractor can start work immediately after completion papers are signed. Is this a good idea to go? My initial preference is to start hacking 1 week before completion, but advised to wait until completion. Aircon compressor - Did any EM owner place the compressor at the common corridor area (i.e. bracket is outside the common bedroom) or kitchen wall? I hv seen some EMs where ALL the compressors were installed outside the common bedrooms. rare to see such 'unity' among neighbours. HB n myself are extremely light sleepers - cannot imagine if the compressor is just outside the wall of MBR - think whole night we will be owls - hooting to the beat of the compressor

Dear all, Update: Executed my OTP, signed the loan docs, and agent has submitted for 1st appt - date is for Sep 19 (almost an 8-weeks wait). Pray Pray ... everything 'smooth smooth' no more hiccups ... already very sianz 8 weeks to 1st appt. Agent said that seller is agreeable to an early completion, so will strive and push the lawyers for it. Hopefully the bank officer refers an efficient lawyer to us. And so, if everything move swee swee, we shud be able to complete by end Oct and $$$ fly fly at the same time. Still getting mixed reactions on my purchase Some said good buy, some said we kena 'smoked and 'robbed' ... done deal liao - can only hope for the best. Have been reading the thread from page 1 (n still reading, now stopped at page 15). Seems that budget of doing minor works at 10k is Mission Impossible 1. MBR and common toilets 2. paint whole house including grills (using nippon medifresh) 3. Redo sink n cooking hob area, change chute 4. change lighting switches 5. change main door 6. polish marble flooring 7. varnish parquet flooring 8. Chemical wash balcony and kitchen flooring any feedback on this? company's web surfing - tons of firewall - block here block there ... cant even see pictures. have to go back to log on from home lappy.

thanks for the advice. grilles - bo pian .. no $$ liao. anyway, we are hardly home or rather, we are home only after office hours ... i.e. 9pm to 7am daily will keep on reminding the kids but the parapet is indeed high. recalled it was at least 1.2m high, wondering if this is the norm. will try out the photobucket thing tonight. see whether i am classified under computer idiot or not.

thanks for all the good wishes ... dun intend to do much as not much cash on hand. will be spending whatever cash we have on the upfront COV payment, agent comm etc. next few months really need to save as much $$ as possible for the reno and furnishings. no shopping for clothes n shoes, no restaurants, cut down on my tit-bits. layout - it's the rectangle layout i think, area 143sqm. i am still exploring how to upload the pictures. Saw an instruction posting on the Blog page. Need to digest and experiment first. fortunately, the hall, stairway and bedrooms flooring are in good condition - just need to find someone to polish, so we will save $$ and time in that area. the balcony parapet is in good condition, but the flooring is 'debatable'. If not to expensive to overlay, will probably do a simple job, else, will do a chemical wash and hopefully, the black grouting will lighten up. No grills on the balcony, as well as no blockage as over-seeing the school. Parapet is quite high, so worries for the kids in that aspect as well. Not planning in concrete until my FSM views the place, in avoid disappointment esp for the kids. Already asking to keep hamsters, turtles *faint* .... Kids are 9 (girl) and 5 (boy).

!! just wanna share that i will be executing the OTP tomorrow evening. after all the delays with the banks on the loan thingy ... nearly freaked out. loan approval was only obtained yesterday afternoon! what a relief! agent was helpful, help us to negotiate and extend the OTP to tomorrow. at least i dun feel i m being ripped off by paying the 1% buyer commission agent said that HDB 1st appt are now queued all the way to late september liao ... can only pray for the best and earliest date possible. any one can advise what happens during 1st appt? 1. how long is the process? 2. do we get the keys? 3. can start reno, or apply to HDB for reno approval first before completion e.g. aircon instalment, toilets hacking etc? 4. anyone did a overlay on the kitchen and balcony flooring? hope to be able to move in before Christmas, and start 2008 anew i am just so happy ...

Am facing some problems in getting the necessary bank approval to execute the OTP. Any idea if it is possible to extend and any re-percussions of doing so?

Thanks for the tips. Same applies for me. We din do a thorough check before giving out the offer cheque. Overall looks okay except for the pukey toilets. The kids love it, esp the staircase. My boy - after countless house hunting and viewing with us, opened his golden mouth n said 'BUY'. It was the only place that he likes. The other places we went, usually he will walk around but no comments. I have not exercised my OTP yet (deadline is next week) .... hubby is out of town, have to wait for him to return first. Can only pray that the owners maintain the house, else we will even more.

we were looking around since start of year, but hubby could not decide whether to go for HDB or private. prices have gone up so much within this 1st half of year, esp for the last 3 months or so. really feel like him We were keen for Bishan and Sin Ming area too, as it will be nearer to my boy's primary school when he enrols in 2009, but the asking COV are all 50k and above. When we made calls to view the places, it's either last offer 40k but owner din accept, or offer made, owner considering etc.... how do a layman judge whether the agent is 'smoking' or not? Btw, is yrs a EM too, and how much did u spend on reno? Reno down time? Mine is at HG ave 2. According to homeowner here, it is within walking distance to MRT. I think its between 10-20 mins, depending on how fast one walks and what type of shoes being worn

What do you guys think? Was 45k COV overboard? Marble flooring at the hall is in okay condition - just need to find someone to do a major polish. stairway and rooms - parquet - looks okay for a 12 years+ parquet flooring - unless i strike 4D or Toto, then will do a varnish ... else will have to live with it. Kitchen Cabinets looked ok - old fashion though; but we did not open up the cabinets to look at the interior as think it is quite rude and offensive, and so, we have no idea whether the shelvings are okay etc .... I am also comtemplating to move the sink and to open up the trash area, as the current layout is a sink cum brickwall covering the rubbish chute. **** difficult to throw rubbish down and also hope to change the chute to those with anti pest prevention .... i dun get along well with cockcroaches and lizards Can only pray for the best to come out of this

380k ... toilets are in bad shape and have this pukey stench .... wondering if this is common for all old flats. thinking of hacking and re-doing the toilet entirely, but hubby prefers to do an overlay. any suggestions? also, is it true that we can only install up to System 4 for EM ?

EM is located at HG Ave 2. EM in Toa Payoh - only 20k COV Now and more ... convinced that we were smoked by agent into offering 45k COV ... There goes my Mitsubishi Folio fridge and Daikin inverter aircon

bought my EM in Hougang. We were convinced by the amount of space and my kids love the place (we have seen anything from 4A to 5A, 5I to EAs ... conditions were really terrible). as the last transacted price was logged at 378k, it was tough to offer anything below. our first offer was 30k which was not accepted. anyway, going to exercise my option next week. cest la vie Done Deal already. will hv to compromise on my reno and postpone whatever works that can be done at a later stage. Let my experience be a reference to future EM buyers, especially at current market conditions.

the last transaction was in Jun, 2k less than my purchase price, but it was on a higher floor. i asked another independent agent, and the reply was a 'fair' purchase price. really freaked when i saw the news and tis morning's article ... and the fact remains that i paid 45k COV, which compromised on my renovation budget.

we just bought EM last week and saw the news last night abt the HDB transacted prices and COV thingy. beginning to feel that we were smoked by agent and ended up offering a much higher COV than our initial budget. is 45k COV on the high side?