chronograph

You should post at DIY section to get faster response. You contractor trying to pull a quick one on you. Galvanizing is commonly used on WI if your product comes into contact with water always, say lamp post. For WI banister in house, how often does it comes into contact with water? Unless you have sweaty palm then no choice. To DYI, use sand paper to remove rust, then buy WI paint(rust resistant type), apply double coat better.

should be same.

From what i know, HDB ceiling high is 8.4 ft.

no lah, just sharing info, i also got a budget so must make every cent count.

It is a torment, past few weeks so many numbers in my mind .... no choice have to do my home work for the best deal.

roughly: -customise cupboard for the area under staircase = 600 to 800 -levelling the balcony flooring,false ceiling for balcony area(extending living room area) = 1.3k to 1.4k -laminate 2nd floor if got budget,be parqueting = 5k? -customise wardrobe for 2 rooms = 2 x 8ft x 220pfr = 3520 (220 ave only) -either buy off the shelf shoe cupboard or customise for recess area. -maybe change bedroom doors = 200 to 400 per door -painting maybe i DIY.. = 1.8k to 2.2k + others like haulage, laying protection sheet etc i think should be enough.

if it is 3 toilets: 1) hack all 2) lay floor and wall tiles 3) copper/stainless steel pipping 4) install basin, wc, 7 piece shower spray etc 5) shower screen 6) basin + vanity top + cabinet 7) wall mirror 8) shower kerb 9) Central heater 10) wiring Should be around 13k to 15k.

I will be going for my first appointment both for selling and buying and till today my agent has never asked me to sign any exclusive papers other than the OTPs. Agent also got good and bad ones.

if u r really considering doing your reno by phases, i suggest you completed all masonry work and window grills (very important if u have kids) first. Carpentry and others can come later.

yes really heng, parquet 2nd floor, marble 1st floor. But the cost of varnishing and polishing at 2k.

I'm looking forward to your pics.

Really? it is a case where u have got HDB unit to choose from but opted not to because at low floor, like that won't be penalized?

Wait and see other quotations, maybe u can list out what they quote you for?

my em at 471 jurong west st 41, val 375k, cov 40k. my wife, si mi ma ai, guess at the end of the day sure burst my budget.

I will overhaul my kitchen also cos really cannot make it, 80 style. I'm ok with 80's style but wife said kitchen is hers....u know what i mean, Save the $$$. What you need is to varnish your parquet and it will look as new.

Same here, i will be doing all toilets and the current owner also put washing machine in level 1 washroom. I will be converting the washroom level 1 to toilet. The washing machine will probably locate else where in the kitchen, that the ID will propose, i will not worry about it. FYI, for all 3 bathrooms overhaul, i'm getting quote form 10k to 13k.

We are all working, takes a while for a reply, it will come just be patient. You have to pay the COV during 1st appointment, either full or partial depending on whether COV has exceeded a certain % of your val. As for reno, if possible, take a reno loan and get it done once and for all. Try to include the "must have" stuff in your reno list and try to salvage as much as possible on the existing reno to save cost. However, if yours is really run down then a full overhaul is inevitable but try to save by using cheaper material, like laminate flooring on 2nd floor instead of parquet. Wow, you are saying the parquet on the stair alone cost 3k? What about making the whole 2nd floor parquet, 10k at least? I have not inquire about parquet costing as my EM already comes with 2nd floor full parquet from stair up.

Welcome, i'm at 471. When did u buy? Before or after the Jurong Lake development?

It is never too early. I started sourcing even before my first appt with HDB, i think it was somewhere in march 08. Thus far, gotten > 10 quotations, the negative side is mobile bill up, petrol up plus the time spent meeting them. I'm meeting one more this Sunday. Why do u have to crack your brain for the design? If u have, you can discuss with the contractor/Id. Otherwise, tell them you theme and let them work for the $$$. Most will discuss with you their ideas and some might give u 2/3 d visual to better enhance their chances of getting the deal. But the last decision lies in u. OK, this is how it goes. Approach any contractor/id (source yourself, recommendation), give them your floor plan(they need it to give u a quotation), tell them what you want/your theme/your design/your budget and duration. Bargaining is the part of the process, u must BARGAIN. Once you have the key to your EM, get those shortlisted contractor/Id to inspect the site(actual measurement should be taken) to give a more accurate quote. You need to inspect their work as well, workmanships very important. A lot of work coming yo...

Welcome. U have got quite a few major stuffs in your list and 50k might be tight for your case. I'm getting an ave 25k+/- for item 3, 5, 6, 7. Try to get more quotations for comparison.

i think about 10% for down payment. When appealing for longer grace period, u need to provide evidence that you are marketing your house but market is slow and there is no buyer. Evidence like, ST classified adv etc. How long depends on HDB, i'm not too sure. The last scenario will be HDB offered to buy back your unit usually pricing not very high lor.

Usually,CPF if you have enough otherwise the balance top up with cash. Yes, u have 6 months max(can appeal) to sell you current unit after you have buy another unit. However, after completion of your buying, you must have some holding ability cos u have not sell your current one. That's you will be financing 2 units. Try to buy and sell concurrently.

Is that your first quote? You might want to get some more from other IDs and also contractors. IMO, contractor quotation is always cheaper than ID for the same things. To date, i have gotten > 10 quotes and am still comparing their pricing but at least i have obtained a common figure(+/-) for the things i wanted to do. Thus, those quotes that exceed way above that figure go straight to rubbish bin. Any pics to show? I'll be renovating my EM too in a few months time.

20k to 50k is ok, when i starts my hunt on 2007 Dec, it was 50 - 100k they were asking. I viewed many units and made a few offers but was rejected cos the COV i'm willing to pay <50k. In the end got my EM at JW 471 just before the Jurong Lake development announcement, but still need to pay 40k as that was what the seller asked for. We decided to pay this much because of the view from balcony, highest floor and NS facing plus to close the deal quickly before any competitor. I saw one in 469 value at 380k and COV 30k on the net listed somewhere in March. PM me if u r interested i sent u the link. Is the seller doing bridging or contra? For 1) u can push your agent to submit faster. Your agent must have kept something from u. I'm doing bridging that's why i opt for max 45 days, so that i can sell my unit. But i sold my before 45 days time frame.

Expensive meh??? No, No, a "director" can well afford 8k.