googocat 0 Report post Posted May 13, 2009 Hi All I have been visiting this forum and reading on the members' suggestions, feedbacks, experiences and recommendations. On some occassions i would also post some comments. But most of the time, i would just read and gather some information to help me with my current reno works. Me & hubby just bought our first reasale hdb flat at Sembawang. We collected the keys on 30 Mar 09. Our ID is recommended by my mother-in-law. We felt that the price quoted to us by the ID was fairly reasonable and after comparing a few quotations, decided to engage them. The reno works started on 6 Apr 09 and nearing 6 weeks now, is still uncomplete. One of the reason for the delay was that my hubby was outstation for 2 weeks and had to wait for his return to confirm on major items. The whole reno works is starting to stress me out and i hope that maybe by sharing my reno works here, i would be able to get some valuable feedback and information from you guys. I don want to write too long in case your get tired of reading. In short, my reasle unit is a 5A model, 123 sq m, 15th floor and facing north. I engaged my ID to do the following major works:- 1. hack and re-tile my MBR and common toilets 2. hack and re-do kitchen floors, walls and cabinets 3. tic-tac bomb shelter door 4. level out balcony and install bamboo flooring for balcony 5. hack the wall between MBR and bedroom 2 and make good wall to create a small walk-in wardrobe 6. install window panels to my balcony As at today, except for the tiling works, most of my other reno works are half complete...i am extremely upset cos since engaging my ID, me and hubby have spent all our weekends running around Singapore buying furniture, electrical applicances, lightings, toilet and kitchen accessories, switches and now even kitchen cabinet handles and hinges...we really feel that our ID has been very unhelpful and complacement. Just yesterday after voicing my problems with him 2 weeks ago, he came back with a quoted of $380 for applying hybrid netting to my dining area wall (to repair wall cracks), installing corner beats to my balcony wall frame and replastering them. This amount is on top of $280 already paid to him to plaster the walls (including balcony wall frame) where there is hacking work done. I hope someone can advise me whether my ID should have in the first place provided me the corner beats when he was initially plastering the balcony wall frames. I am still trying to figure out on how to upload pictures. Sorry about that. Will try to upload my layout asap... In the meantime, would really appreciate your valuable information. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
alan26 2 Report post Posted May 13, 2009 Hi All I have been visiting this forum and reading on the members' suggestions, feedbacks, experiences and recommendations. On some occassions i would also post some comments. But most of the time, i would just read and gather some information to help me with my current reno works. Me & hubby just bought our first reasale hdb flat at Sembawang. We collected the keys on 30 Mar 09. Our ID is recommended by my mother-in-law. We felt that the price quoted to us by the ID was fairly reasonable and after comparing a few quotations, decided to engage them. The reno works started on 6 Apr 09 and nearing 6 weeks now, is still uncomplete. One of the reason for the delay was that my hubby was outstation for 2 weeks and had to wait for his return to confirm on major items. The whole reno works is starting to stress me out and i hope that maybe by sharing my reno works here, i would be able to get some valuable feedback and information from you guys. I don want to write too long in case your get tired of reading. In short, my reasle unit is a 5A model, 123 sq m, 15th floor and facing north. I engaged my ID to do the following major works:- 1. hack and re-tile my MBR and common toilets 2. hack and re-do kitchen floors, walls and cabinets 3. tic-tac bomb shelter door 4. level out balcony and install bamboo flooring for balcony 5. hack the wall between MBR and bedroom 2 and make good wall to create a small walk-in wardrobe 6. install window panels to my balcony As at today, except for the tiling works, most of my other reno works are half complete...i am extremely upset cos since engaging my ID, me and hubby have spent all our weekends running around Singapore buying furniture, electrical applicances, lightings, toilet and kitchen accessories, switches and now even kitchen cabinet handles and hinges...we really feel that our ID has been very unhelpful and complacement. What? Even hinges..you are asking for blum system is it. Handle should also already been included in the kitchen cabinet cost. Just yesterday after voicing my problems with him 2 weeks ago, he came back with a quoted of $380 for applying hybrid netting to my dining area wall (to repair wall cracks), installing corner beats to my balcony wall frame and replastering them. This amount is on top of $280 already paid to him to plaster the walls (including balcony wall frame) where there is hacking work done. How come you are paying extra since you have already pay for plastering work. I hope someone can advise me whether my ID should have in the first place provided me the corner beats when he was initially plastering the balcony wall frames. As far as i know,the corner beats should be provided by the ID and already included in the plastering cost. I am still trying to figure out on how to upload pictures. Sorry about that. Will try to upload my layout asap... Try to post your reno pic in the t-blog. You could make your complain there. In the meantime, would really appreciate your valuable information. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
googocat 0 Report post Posted May 13, 2009 Hi alan26 I did tell my ID to help me buy the blum tandem box for the bottom kitchen cabinets. For the top kitchen cabinets, I thought he will confirm again with me on the brands of hinges to use (as he told me previously that there are different brands so not necessarily get blum). But he did not and went ahead to install the cabinets with normal hinges. Last weekend when i went to check, i realise that my top kitchen cabinet doors don't have soft closing. Then i asked him for quotation and its been 1 week and he still hasn't gotten back to me. I think he also make mistakes in the design and positioning of my chimney hood. I will take pictures and post here. As for the handles, it comes back to the same thing that he never really advise us and check back with us again before proceeding. Thats why i feel that he is rather complacement. I chase then he move. Anyway, thanks for letting me know that corner beats are usually included in plastering work. I will take pics of the reno and post here asap. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jaskel 2 Report post Posted May 13, 2009 (edited) Hi alan26 I did tell my ID to help me buy the blum tandem box for the bottom kitchen cabinets. For the top kitchen cabinets, I thought he will confirm again with me on the brands of hinges to use (as he told me previously that there are different brands so not necessarily get blum). But he did not and went ahead to install the cabinets with normal hinges. Last weekend when i went to check, i realise that my top kitchen cabinet doors don't have soft closing. Then i asked him for quotation and its been 1 week and he still hasn't gotten back to me. I think he also make mistakes in the design and positioning of my chimney hood. I will take pictures and post here. As for the handles, it comes back to the same thing that he never really advise us and check back with us again before proceeding. Thats why i feel that he is rather complacement. I chase then he move. Anyway, thanks for letting me know that corner beats are usually included in plastering work. I will take pics of the reno and post here asap. I'm feel sorry for u...just another irresponsible ID again...Like to ask what is your total cost quotation? Edited May 13, 2009 by jaskel Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
googocat 0 Report post Posted May 13, 2009 I'm feel sorry for u...just another irresponsible ID again...Like to ask what is your total cost quotation? Hi jaskel Ya...i feel sorry for myself too....i was quoted $23K.......!!!!!@#%&*** (pardon me) Btw, i like ur Blum kitchen system...i also have...but yours look nicer....i think i know your contractor. Spoke to her before. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jaskel 2 Report post Posted May 13, 2009 Hi jaskel Ya...i feel sorry for myself too....i was quoted $23K....... !! !!!@#%&*** (pardon me) Btw, i like ur Blum kitchen system...i also have...but yours look nicer....i think i know your contractor. Spoke to her before. Thanks, I specially requested for it. Saw it in Home & Decor, very impress with it. Oh really...on quotation? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
googocat 0 Report post Posted May 14, 2009 Thanks, I specially requested for it. Saw it in Home & Decor, very impress with it. Oh really...on quotation? Hi jaskel Yes. I spoke to her on quotation. I am very impress with her service and recocmmendations. But for first time home buyers like us, the quotation was slightly on the high side. But if i ever have the budget in the future, will engage her. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
googocat 0 Report post Posted May 14, 2009 Hi I am attaching my unit layout. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jaskel 2 Report post Posted May 14, 2009 Hi I am attaching my unit layout. Wow that is big...still got study room...old flat always got bigger floor area. Now the new HDB was so much smaller. Ya I know her quotation is slightly on the high side but no hidden cost. That what I like about it. Most importantly was her good after sale service, up to now she still asking me facing any problems not. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
googocat 0 Report post Posted May 14, 2009 Wow that is big...still got study room...old flat always got bigger floor area. Now the new HDB was so much smaller. Ya I know her quotation is slightly on the high side but no hidden cost. That what I like about it. Most importantly was her good after sale service, up to now she still asking me facing any problems not. Hi jaskel thats her style which i liked. I was very happy when i managed to purchase this flat. I totally agree with you that the new flats are getting smaller and smaller. I can't imagine next time how small the houses will be by the next generation. The study room is no longer there. The previous owner hacked the walls and now its my dining area. I am extremely pleased with the hugh living room and dining area space. I spoke to OUR lady contract just that day and she is very kind and has agreed to come down to my house this weekend to help me talk to my ID on improving my house. She also did mention the coconut husk feature wall for my dining area wall...but i don't dare to ask her for quote ...as you can see, its one piece of big wall i have there Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jaskel 2 Report post Posted May 14, 2009 U do conceal wiring? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
googocat 0 Report post Posted May 14, 2009 U do conceal wiring? I did not do it. It was done by the previous owner. Only certain areas did concealed wiring. But i must say that the previous owner must have spent a bomb on the reno cos the place was well planned and done-up. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jaskel 2 Report post Posted May 14, 2009 I did not do it. It was done by the previous owner. Only certain areas did concealed wiring. But i must say that the previous owner must have spent a bomb on the reno cos the place was well planned and done-up. Ya...even for the false ceiling. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jaskel 2 Report post Posted May 17, 2009 Hi jaskel thats her style which i liked. I was very happy when i managed to purchase this flat. I totally agree with you that the new flats are getting smaller and smaller. I can't imagine next time how small the houses will be by the next generation. The study room is no longer there. The previous owner hacked the walls and now its my dining area. I am extremely pleased with the hugh living room and dining area space. I spoke to OUR lady contract just that day and she is very kind and has agreed to come down to my house this weekend to help me talk to my ID on improving my house. She also did mention the coconut husk feature wall for my dining area wall...but i don't dare to ask her for quote ...as you can see, its one piece of big wall i have there Haha u do have a very big wall, although coconut husk feature wall is nice, it also costly So how is your reno progress coming? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites