Doris Chin

A quick question- for the taobao lights, did you ask them for any special specification to be used in Singapore or you just bought what was available for china market? I intend to buy lights from taobao but worried that they might not be compatible with Singapore.

Recently I went to china and many Chinese still buying from websites! Seems like other than TB, there is also jing dong. Similar to other websites, there is always the concern of fake reviews.

The purchase from taobao was really fast! My relative placed the order and it was shipped to my hotel the next morning!

Due to my recent china trip, I managed to buy lights and got them air freighted back free in my luggage, but not for my house, but for the office. Will have to get an electrician to put them up! After many checks on the Internet, believe they should work in SG!

Update: the purchase process stalled due to my bank not sending the approval for the purchase of recess area. Took them like 22 days to respond. Finally received yesterday.. Guess the process is still ongoing...... By the way, HDB suddenly asked whether I will use their lawyer but I had already appointed my own (due to bank loan).. If anyone else does this, might want to consider this point as maybe able to save some money.

You can check the blog under 'back to the west' lots of tips there

Hi, welcome to Bkt gombak! U sure seem familiar with JB stuff, any chance u are previously from JB? I live in Bkt gombak and also have just bought another unit there, Reno should start soon in another 1-2 mths

Sorry, double post

From what I read in other blogs, you can engage separate ID and contractor. Not sure whether ID will do the work unless you engage them. Maybe an alternative if you do not want to engage ID isto investigate what you want for the design and then get your contractor to execute.

Thanks to those who have sent me contacts! Am waiting for the house keys, can't access the house to get a good feel yet..

Hi and welcome! Nice summary.. i'm going to start looking for contractors and really have no idea where to start at all.. to be frank, contractors freak me out. Any tips on how to select?

Yep, that's what I was asking, thanks!

What's the shade on the left?

Am starting to prepare for the reno, guess 1st step is to start by getting list of contractors/ID's who are good. Any suggestions are welcome!

Thanks! Sounds like a really good tip, going to flood the bathroom and check downstairs whether any problems.. maybe ask upstairs to also do same thing! Hope my neighbours dun think i am crazy!

Thanks for the welcome! Yep, i am around 3XX area! For the recess area, need to submit application to HDB and once they evaluate and approve, they will let you know the amount (there is no negotiation possible). There is a certain calculation but they did not see the need to update me how they did it (to be frank, i was afraid to ask them just in case it causes futher delay). For my area which is 6sqm, it costs $9660.40 (not sure whether this calculation is the same for all HDB's) The above does not include legal fees and it does not matter when you purchase together with the house or separately (still need to pay!). In addition, if you have electrical meters/water meter/town council light within the recess area, you might want to move them outside the recess area, which will then cost even more. For the town council light, it was mandatory. For the electrical meter/water meter, i understand it was not mandatory but it means you need to open the door to allow the utility person (normally every 2 months) to read the meters. Town council light was pretty cheap (paid $50 by my great electrical contractor) but the electricity meter was quoted at $800-$2000. According to the everyone i spoke to, they said it's really not worth it unless there is a big recess area, but i guess it's really up to individual how much they really want the area.

Yes, it's possible to buy recess after completion but it means that need to submit separate application; which means there might be a problem with Design and delay of Reno. So I prefer to do everything at one shot

I am now thinking of the reno and considering how to proceed? Have a pretty good idea of what i want for the house reno, so should i: - go directly with a contractor? - go with a ID cum contractor? - go with separate ID and contractor? questions, questions in my head... inputs are welcome!

Thanks for the warm welcome, managed to find this em after 8 months of searching, luckily i currently have a hdb and was not rushed for time, will try to record my reno journey! Just wanted to provide a tip for the buying the recess area (if not part of the house) concurrently for other users, since i had a lot of problems with it:- do get the seller to agree and sign in writing when executing OTP for the house. If not they can back out half way and cause lots of problems. Concurrent purchase of recess area will extend the completion time (2nd appointment) very significantly. In my case, its another 8 weeks, so sellers might not want to agree to it. So when negotiating the purchase, do ensure that the seller has agreed in writing, so no disputes later on. Unfortunately HDB OTP clause does not include this, so might be better to sign a simple document stating the seller agreed to allow the buyer to concurrently purchase recess area.

It's near the MRT but not Block 5xx.. By the way, the house will undergo HIPS soon, so i will have to manage the reno with the HIPS together.. the HIPS though will help to save quite a bit of reno costs as it will take care of all the toilets.

Hi Renotalk users, I have been reading up and getting tips, so i thought i would also start something. Just bought a corner EM at Bukit Gombak and am waiting for final apointment to get the house keys. Had been having a hassle with HDB/seller to purchase recess area together with the resale transaction but that is now hopefully finally settled! Here's the original floor plan:

Loved your renovation story and the results.. the way you described the contractor and his working methods really suits me, could you please send me the contacts of contractor and ID? thanks a bunch!

My old HDB Flat has tiles falling off the toilet wall and also the tiles in the entire flat is starting to "pop up". As we are currently staying in the house with a child, what is the best way to solve the problem? It will be a real headache to replace the tiles!!

Please let me know the contact for the contractor from Dan!! Thanks!