The Home We've Been Looking Forward To

[pinkpetter 0]

yay updated with the electrical plans... mm

Blue points on the walls include the TV points/telephone points/sockets.

Light green points are switches and green dots are lights. Except the green one in the centre which I think I'm going to have a ceiling fan there. prolly need a bigger one.

Parents dun approve of ceiling fans that come with lights. Something about the light shaking

That aside, I went to see the workmanship of the would-be contractor today and relatively satisfied. Parents seem ok with the person also. Contractor will send the final quote to me tonight... and if all goes well, we'll choose tiles before Friday!

[Cloudy 0]

mmm I'm also looking forward to it however I dun think it'll be as beautiful as yours though. Budget la heh.

I have a small question for you guys. When you bargained with your IDs/Contractors... how much did you manage to reduce?

Not too sure if you know this, but my experiene with all the quotations from IDs are that you can bargain away the GST amount. usually what they do is, the register u as a client under another firm which is a subsidary of their exisitng firm . Hence, as that smaller firm has not reached the target to be required to pay GST, they can so called 'waive' it off your final sum.

Hence, if you see GST, ask ur ID to waive it. Will save u thousands...on top of that, calculate ur floor size *Length x Breath* and get the per sq ft size. Use the amount quoted by ur ID for you to see how much he is charging you for the tiling per sq ft. Some can go up to as high as 10 bucks per sq ft. Use that to bargain it lower. Usually the cost that you get is tile cost + worksmanship. Hence, e.g.

If you find that your per sq ft is $10 and the ID only offers u a selection of $3 tiles, that means he is charging a whooping $7 bucks for worksmanship per sq ft, which IMO is a lot. keep it within a total of 7-8 to be within market rate.

[pinkpetter 0]

whoa ok ok. thanks for that tip Cloudy!

With the current contractor we're negotiating with.. I did the math as you advised.

He's quoting me $6/sqft for total and up to $3 tiles. So seems pretty good really. As for GST I haven't seen any yet. I do hope there isn't. heh

THANKS!!

[Cloudy 0]

whoa ok ok. thanks for that tip Cloudy!

With the current contractor we're negotiating with.. I did the math as you advised.

He's quoting me $6/sqft for total and up to $3 tiles. So seems pretty good really. As for GST I haven't seen any yet. I do hope there isn't. heh

THANKS!!

One more thing you need to bear in mind when choosing tiles. I made this mistake so now I get a sudden extra sum of $800+ for my tiles

The price you see listed at the tile shop is NOT the price for 1 tile. It is the cost per square feet. Meaning, if you choose a tile that is $4 but your ID give you till $3, it does not mean that you merely top up $1 per tile. You have to measure the square feet of your area and multiply by the extra amount!!!

E.g,

Tile you choose = $4

Tile ID gives you is $3

Your floor Area = 400sqft

This means you have to top up 400 x (4-3) = $400!!!!

faints.....

[pinkpetter 0]

Yup these are like little "hidden" extra costs. My area is 1050 sqft so.. no joke wor every dollar. haha

But we went to look at tiles before and we had our eyes on tiles which were less than $3. so should be quite safe.

Thanks for that reminder!!!

[mmycheng 0]

Hi pinkpetter... saw your lighting points layout...well thought out! For electrical sockets, always plan for more than what you think you will need. Install double or triple gangway sockets instead of single ones... this is a decision which i didn't make for some of my sockets which in hindset I thought I should have done.

[pinkpetter 0]

Thanks mmycheng!!! I was worried that I might not have enough!! Now I feel more relieved.

Yup I tot about that socket thing also. Better to always have a few extra. anyway contractor put single or double one he also charge one fee. hehe Thanks for that reminder!

[pinkpetter 0]

MmmM I just gave the verbal nod to the contractor.

Suddenly I feel a load being lifted and another burden put down at the same time. urgh.

[ace_mav 0]

MmmM I just gave the verbal nod to the contractor.

Suddenly I feel a load being lifted and another burden put down at the same time. urgh.

all the best in your reno! in tampines or pasir ris??

[pinkpetter 0]

all the best in your reno! in tampines or pasir ris??

Simei! Thanks!!

[pinkpetter 0]

Making a list here so that I can keep track. haha what a lot of you have on your must buy list I place them in my "might buy" list... cos I have all of those already so will slowly change them. No choice... way overbudget now.

Must Buys

Two Bathroom sinks

Two Toilet bowls

Instant Heaters

Kitchen sink

Lights - 14 (estm)

Ceiling Fans

Electrical stuff (Sockets/switches, etc)

Microwave

Washing Machine

Hob

Shelves

Dish drying rack

Might Buys (Slowly Buys)

Wardrobes

L-Shaped Sofa

Coffee Table

TV console

Dining Set

Balcony Set

Bookcase

Study tables

Fridge

Clothes hanging system

Recess Area

Edited November 19, 2008 by pinkpetter

[CutePinkElephant 0]

wahhh early in the morning arrr......

eh very nice ler move in date on xmas?

[bubble-ling 0]

u are getting ur keys in 2 days time...so when u plan to start work since u intend to shift in during xmas time?

[77suns 0]

If you take down the L-shape kitchen wall you will have a big front open kitchen! and it will look like those loft design

[pinkpetter 0]

wahhh early in the morning arrr......

eh very nice ler move in date on xmas?

haha the contractor promised this completion date.. I'd expect some small things to still be undone at that point but ye should move in right after Xmas.

At first when I expected contractors to do reno within 4 weeks I was so worried. then I was talking to my colleague today.. hers was done in 2 weeks! and she hacked the whole house too... so I know it's possible... and hope the Uncle really deliver. *sweat*

u are getting ur keys in 2 days time...so when u plan to start work since u intend to shift in during xmas time?

NEXT WEEK!! start next week! Friday straight away apply Power/water first.

If you take down the L-shape kitchen wall you will have a big front open kitchen! and it will look like those loft design

hahahha Mom wanted to but we're not that ambitious. Just that first wall taken down will do