appreciative

I finally told Patrick about it and he got his painter to immediately correct almost all the parts I wasn't happy, only the skirting part was he said due to the previous painter's painting job already like that. But all the patchy parts, untidy lines around frame and window, the painter went on to correct them, with no black face or watever, very professional. The whole renovation process was finally concluded yesterday. Of course, there were some ups and downs but overall, working with Patrick was smooth and he has initiative and also very responsible. Price a bit high on some parts but at least, peace of mind, and he doesn't strink his responsibilities. Very good.

It appears some of you have good experience with HB's painting job. For me, I was quite disappointed. The paintings looks hurriedly done and some sockets got paint, some paint on wardrobe, the lines between the wall and wardrobe got tiny holes and untidy, the paint along the skirting also not neat, some more dark skirting. The aircon around also got some paint. Paint the door frame shouldn't be too difficult but the painter managed the get some paint on the wall next to it and also not very neat between the frame and wall. And think I cannot see the pipes hidden, nevermind, just paint through only with all the mould still visible. Do any of you have such problems? My painting was done singlehandedly by a man full of tatoos. Maybe I'm expecting too much. Any suggestions of what I can ask HB to do? Do touch up? Give discount? The cost $1200 (ICI) paint whole house. Metal door frame, frame, piping $150 sealer on ceiling $300

Just do it, the pros outweight the cons. Our kind of weather with unpredicatable wind changes and confine space, I say just install the ceiling fans. My mistake... Bought 3 white crestar fans, 2 with 5 light bulbs, 1 with 1 round light. all 48", aluminum 5 blades. Total $890. Didn't get the remote control ones cos was told by salesman that it spoils easily and to repair, cost too much. Didn't move the ceiling fan to center of room cos I thought to spend extra $50 or so is too expensive to adjust from the source. Mistake: After installation, realised the fans are very low, I can reach and touch the lights and blades. Why? Because of platforms in the rooms. Now I have celing fans tat I find too low, ugly strings, and not center of the room. Who to blame but myself?!!! The only consolation that I have is that the fans are white, so it's not too obvious. Maybe on the other end, should have them black, so no one would raise their hands. Morale of story: Don't because want to save some $$$, end up doing stupid things like this. Initial idea was light box with fans (wo lightkit) but it's 4 times more ex to do light box. So I thought, be practical and cut cost, just get lights with fans, got light, got wind, not rocket science mah, end up like this.

What's wrong with me getting movers! Got 4 quotes, oni 2 bothered to came to see and gave quotations and when decided on Citimap, didn't deliver the boxes on the stated day.

I gave up on H** Y***. Almost 1 week already, boxes not in sight! Dun understand why so many good reviews about them! Anyway called Citimap and came next day for site survey. Price quoted $650, said something about need 2 trips and need to climb stairs, cannot use a 20ft truck etc. Price includes piano and super heavy king size bed. 80 boxes! Said I have too many things. No need deposit though but boxes need to return. $80 for diversion. Another quote me $800. Need to pay deposit for boxes and also to return them. $70 for diversion. I've tried Mr Mover, Jimmy (many times), both didn't bother to call back. Anyone tried Breakthrough? Their price is cheapest.

Prices has risen at Hua Yong but it's still reasonable, I think. Calling them to come and give quotation is really difficult. No calling back to cancel meeting. Only till the 5th call that I get a quotation via phone and the boxes will deliver next week. $300 for a truck load for 30 free boxes. Likewise, Jimmy movers. Called several times, left voice messages- nothing. so no quotation. Will feedback again on Hua Yong when we move.

Just to share, got a quote today from Ho Bee for installing exhaust fan: 1) Supply and install 2 toilets push out lovures windows $500 2) Labour fee to install exhaust fan $40 Price is comparatively higher than some but I'm doing very small job only. I think I have to supply the fans. I have also already applied for HDB permit. Too bad cannot put timer, no space as previous owner already put 2 powerpoint into inbuilt cabinet.

Fyi, my wife and i used Prestige Image (PI) for our kitchen and 2 toilets some 6 years ago. The ID was Adam, no longer with them. The branch is the one at Clementi Ave 3, unfortunately still there. btw I am living in the block opposite them. 6 years ago, the branch was called Horsanna or something then changed name during my reno to Prestige Image. I had a terrible time with Adam. Took forever and my wife was expecting our firstborn. Let's focus on the facts. The toilets leaked to our downstairs neigbours. The town council had PI come back to do rectification. It still leaked. Hack and rewaterproofed and retiled. Both toilets. One year later, it leaked again. By then they claimed warranty over and I took the recommendation from the town council officer to use the HDB contractor to do the job. No leak since. Turn out the town council many feed back about PI. It made me just to think of them. The inconvinence we had to go thru (wife, newborn) just becos of the scrimped on material and workmanship. Imagine I actually lived opposite them. Many time wanted to do evil to Adam's car that was parked below my place. Every time I see some people going there for quotations I wince and say a silent prayer for them. And there's a follow up story I am selling my current place at Blk 432, and turn out the lady boss of PI is acquainted with my mother in law and came over to see it. She wanted to buy it dunno for what and my wife gave her a piece of her mind on the reno that was done. Blamed it on the ID and beat a fast retreat. Offered to do my new place confirm happy. PCN! As some wise man once said on these boards: Good ID/Contractor is worth more than what you paid. Lousy ID/Contractor cost more than what you saved.

Hi, Has anybody engaged "Uncle" Eng Hock recommended by Gohkm before? I can't seem to locate where the thread which I read before somewhere. I have just seen him and he's really pleasant (not that old, so no need to call him uncle)and trying to cut cost and give practical ideas. Now waiting quote from him, hope it's not on the high side. Has anyone compared his quotation and workmanship with Ho Bee's or other contractor before? Thanks!

Thanks keltong and yokine9a for suggestions. Wah, re-skinning so ex. I think my wardrobe is about 4 feet, think it's still too ex to re-skin, if estimate to be 2/3 of $1300. I think i'm just going to paste pictures all over the dark wardrobe. Just change the wardrobe with mirror in the other room, at least can cut some cost.

We bought a resale flat recently. 1 bedroom with a Built in wardrobe is not suitable as it has mirror on the bottom door( too dangerous with active kids around). So to save money, we think just keep the structure inside and change the door, also from sliding to swinging (also safety reason as kid's little feet can get caught while sliding). However, we were advised by an ID whom we shortlisted that we can't save much, might as well tear down and redo. Is is true the price will not be too much of a different? We feel it's a bit wasteful, and also to pay to tear and pay to build. And for the wardrobe in kid's room, we just want to change colour (the doors are swinging type), the existing is dark walnet and the floor also dark walnet. A bit scary for kids, right? So we thought besides painting over it? Can re-laminate? or can put wallpaper over it? Any suggestions? Thanks in advance for any advice.

We just recently revalued our resale flat after signing and exercising OTP. The valuation report was mailed to us since we requested instead of to the owner. We got our agent who is the seller's agent to be there when the valuer was there. He did a good job so the valuer increased the valuation. The purpose of the revaluation is so we get pay less cash as we are using HDB loan. Even if the second valuation is lower than the first, we can always use back the first valuation from the seller as long as it is still valid (not expired). So there's is no loss to the buyer to just go and revalue the flat, but you must really like the flat a lot and have signed and exercised the OTP. We paid for the owner's valuation and our new one. Must do your homework, we did follow closly from the website and newspaper on the valuation.