My 3ng - Starting My Life Anew

[ossify 1]

I using mobile BB now, only 1MB bandwidth download... upload got problem leh....

where else can i upload my file? Currently i using photobucket.com...

imageshack.us

[Guest Goobii]

I using mobile BB now, only 1MB bandwidth download... upload got problem leh....

where else can i upload my file? Currently i using photobucket.com...

Facebook~!

[gantan88 0]

Facebook~!

Ok, i upload to facebook cos' already have an account. Tried several times before sucessful.

This is my w/m tap now.

The white portion is the new connector i bought. Replace the old connector which i took out. Then screw on to the tap directly.

Edited February 12, 2010 by gantan88

[ossify 1]

Ok, i upload to facebook cos' already have an account. Tried several times before sucessful.

This is my w/m tap now.

The white portion is the new connector i bought. Replace the old connector which i took out. Then screw on to the tap directly.

never change your tap? this looks ugly

[gantan88 0]

never change your tap? this looks ugly

Ha! Never mind la, my common toilet tap more ugly, cos that time the one i wanna buy no stock at Hoe Kee. W/m tap hidden, so chin chye...

Gong Xi Fa Cai!

Happy CNY to all too!

[ossify 1]

bro, recently i went to natural cool in mid Jan, the model that we bought, is now selling at 1499

[gantan88 0]

bro, recently i went to natural cool in mid Jan, the model that we bought, is now selling at 1499

Oh serious! I think i got it at $1299 from Gain City. Maybe that time year end sales....

I hope what i bought is not some QC failed batches ones.

[ossify 1]

Oh serious! I think i got it at $1299 from Gain City. Maybe that time year end sales....

I hope what i bought is not some QC failed batches ones.

i'm talking about system 3

[joseeng 0]

i'm talking about system 3

i heard there is a new model coming out, probably tats why the older models are selling cheaper now.

[gantan88 0]

i'm talking about system 3

Oops sorry

So... it is lower than the price at which you bought?

I think the new model is already out. What we bought is confirmed the old model - sys 2 or 3.

[gantan88 0]

This is the review for my Contractor. His scope of work – hacking, tiling, plumbering,ceiling, plastering, painting, doors installation and carpentry works and glass works. I will try to make it as simple and clearly as possible.

Before Sales Service

Is generally patient during the ‘seeking and revising quotation period’. Was told they work on a buddy system. So if I cannot get him, I can get another guy. Something likea backup. As usual, as part of the sales talk – they promise best material, worksmanship and quality ,and they have 2 branches and opening up the 3rd one.

After Sales Service

Working style:

I have come to realise that the person who attended to me is only the saleperson aka account manager (AM). Cos once work started, the reno project is passed to another site coordinator aka the project manager (PM). The AM still ‘hangs around’ but mostly entertain me on costing issue. When I asked him about site matters he said he is not sure and he needs to check with the PM.

So I found myself in a triangular arrangement. PM, AM and me.

When I asked the PM on the feasibility of doing certain things, he will say technically it can be done, but costing I need to talk to the AM.

When I asked the AM on the cost of doing certain things, he will tell me he have to consult the PM first on the extent of the work (for e.g. false ceiling length and width or box-up of certain pipings).

So ding dong here and there, things are moving very slow. Usually I have to wait a few days just to get a simple costing. Most of the times, the AM and PM seems to lack communication and I become the bridging person btw the 2 of them. Frustrating.

On the design of the house, they have an in-house designer who draw the 3d drawing. The designer NEVER meet customer. So I dun have the chance to have any discussion with the designer. All ideas and decisions are made on site/thru phone with the PM or AM on an ad-hoc manner.

Worksmanship/quality/materials:

Generally I would say average based on the tiling work. Average = as good as any other contractors out there. You will not get tiles that are obviously slanted. But the extension of my living room into the kitchen area – the flooring is not level, a bit sloped downwards, I can feel it when I step on it. And there are few areas where the tiles are not quite nicely cut to shape to fit the area where u need to put the tile.

Plumbering work – No complain.

Doors work – No complain.

Ceiling work no complain.

Plastering work – no complain.

Painting work - no complain.

Glass works – Cock up. I found their mistakes and highlight to them before they manage put up the glass door. End up also never do because CNY comes and all workers went back.

Carpentry works – Cock up. They did the kitchen cabinet without consulting me on the design. Dun think I need to elaborate anymore on this. But based on what they have done so far, not much complain. Just that I realised the bottom cabinet and top cabinet is not aligned nicely – there would be a problem if you are installing both hob and hood because once the cabinet doors are not aligned nicely for top and bottom, the hob/hood will go off-centre. Aesthetically not nice.

Pls note: When I say no complain, I am trying to be tolerant on those areas where there is some imperfection – like paint a bit smudge to the adjacent wall of a different colour etc.

The rest of the works like waterproofing of kitchen and toilet I dunno because I just moved in not long.

The Cons about this Contractor:

Working style – as described above. Because of the working style/arrangement, communication not smooth.

The AM is good at handling customer saying all the nice words to pacify u when something goes wrong. Think this is all that he can say because he is not actively involved in the site work monitoring so he knows nothing much. Eventually he still talks sense and made some concrete decisions after consulting the PM but I have to wait. But sometimes when things cock up big time, he trys to shift the blame to me saying that because I engage my own contractors for some other works (e,g windows and electrical works), I disrupt the work flows and causes the delay. For e.g. my kitchen cabinet issue.

The PM is good at boasting, a bit proud. When things cock up, he always says things are under control, there are manpower issue currently, ask me to hold on for a while , he wll reshuffle the manpower back to do my house etc.

The designer only draw 3D drawing. Never meet customer. The AM and PM become partime designer.

The pros about this Contractor:

I can’t think of any nice thing to say. Except that the AM is pretty patient before I put down my signature. As work progresses, it doesn’t look like he is trying to shun away from problems. But again,because of the working style, he needs time to understand the situation from the PM first before furthering any discussion with me or making any decision.

Conclusion:

This contractor/company trying to pass themselves off as an interior company when they are more like a Contractor.

If you engage a solid interior designer company, they take care of everything from designing to the actual works on site. Will be a breeze and enjoyable ride for customers.

If u engage a contractor, they will just do the work as instructed by you. You have to take care of the designing, colour matching etc yourself. More works to be done for yourself. But roles and responsibilities are clear cut. Easy to work.

My contractor is somewhere in between. Make things very messy. Not recommended.

For info:

My PM was asked to leave the company, just before CNY. The AM told me he screwed up big time. My guess is he screw up on the scheduling portions of the works.

There could also be manpower issue now for this company because they (indeed) just opened a 3rd branch at Tampines. I have been there and the persons they employed looked like all newbies. One of the newbie hearsay is a part time housing agent.

Other Contractors (not much complain):

Yick Hong - window, bifold doors, wrought iron gate and bifold doors

Floor Option – Laminated Flooring for bedroom

My own electrician - Electrical and lighting works

Edited March 16, 2010 by gantan88

[haman1 0]

Hi, you got this contractor thru referrals or ? Who's the AM and PM? Yours is at which branch? Vista?

[gantan88 0]

Hi, you got this contractor thru referrals or ? Who's the AM and PM? Yours is at which branch? Vista?

I got this contractor thru referral. PM me if u want to know their names. I think i have not reach the point where i need to broadcast their names here.

My AM is from vista. Actually from here u can guess who already cos there isn't many people in the company.

My PM i think he runs around but later he is transferred to the new 3rd branch to hold the fortress there and subsequently got dismissed.

U still looking around or already confirmed this company?

[samgalz 2]

This is the review for my Contractor. His scope of work – hacking, tiling, plumbering,ceiling, plastering, painting, doors installation and carpentry works and glass works. I will try to make it as simple and clearly as possible.

Before Sales Service

Is generally patient during the ‘seeking and revising quotation period’. Was told they work on a buddy system. So if I cannot get him, I can get another guy. Something likea backup. As usual, as part of the sales talk – they promise best material, worksmanship and quality ,and they have 2 branches and opening up the 3rd one.

After Sales Service

Working style:

I have come to realise that the person who attended to me is only the saleperson aka account manager (AM). Cos once work started, the reno project is passed to another site coordinator aka the project manager (PM). The AM still ‘hangs around’ but mostly entertain me on costing issue. When I asked him about site matters he said he is not sure and he needs to check with the PM.

So I found myself in a triangular arrangement. PM, AM and me.

When I asked the PM on the feasibility of doing certain things, he will say technically it can be done, but costing I need to talk to the AM.

When I asked the AM on the cost of doing certain things, he will tell me he have to consult the PM first on the extent of the work (for e.g. false ceiling length and width or box-up of certain pipings).

So ding dong here and there, things are moving very slow. Usually I have to wait a few days just to get a simple costing. Most of the times, the AM and PM seems to lack communication and I become the bridging person btw the 2 of them. Frustrating.

On the design of the house, they have an in-house designer who draw the 3d drawing. The designer NEVER meet customer. So I dun have the chance to have any discussion with the designer. All ideas and decisions are made on site/thru phone with the PM or AM on an ad-hoc manner.

Worksmanship/quality/materials:

Generally I would say average based on the tiling work. Average = as good as any other contractors out there. You will not get tiles that are obviously slanted. But the extension of my living room into the kitchen area – the flooring is not level, a bit sloped downwards, I can feel it when I step on it. And there are few areas where the tiles are not quite nicely cut to shape to fit the area where u need to put the tile.

Plumbering work – No complain.

Doors work – No complain.

Ceiling work no complain.

Plastering work – no complain.

Painting work - no complain.

Glass works – Cock up. I found their mistakes and highlight to them before they manage put up the glass door. End up also never do because CNY comes and all workers went back.

Carpentry works – Cock up. They did the kitchen cabinet without consulting me on the design. Dun think I need to elaborate anymore on this. But based on what they have done so far, not much complain. Just that I realised the bottom cabinet and top cabinet is not aligned nicely – there would be a problem if you are installing both hob and hood because once the cabinet doors are not aligned nicely for top and bottom, the hob/hood will go off-centre. Aesthetically not nice.

Pls note: When I say no complain, I am trying to be tolerant on those areas where there is some imperfection – like paint a bit smudge to the adjacent wall of a different colour etc.

The rest of the works like waterproofing of kitchen and toilet I dunno because I just moved in not long.

The Cons about this Contractor:

Working style – as described above. Because of the working style/arrangement, communication not smooth.

The AM is good at handling customer saying all the nice words to pacify u when something goes wrong. Think this is all that he can say because he is not actively involved in the site work monitoring so he knows nothing much. Eventually he still talks sense and made some concrete decisions after consulting the PM but I have to wait. But sometimes when things cock up big time, he trys to shift the blame to me saying that because I engage my own contractors for some other works (e,g windows and electrical works), I disrupt the work flows and causes the delay.

The PM is good at boasting, a bit proud. When things cock up, he always says things are under control, there are manpower issue currently, ask me to hold on for a while , he wll reshuffle the manpower back to do my house etc.

The designer only draw 3D drawing. Never meet customer. The AM and PM become partime designer.

The pros about this Contractor:

I can’t think of any nice thing to say. Except that the AM is pretty patient before I put down my signature. As work progresses, it doesn’t look like he is trying to shun away from problems. But again,because of the working style, he needs time to understand the situation from the PM first before furthering any discussion with me or making any decision.

Conclusion:

This contractor/company trying to pass themselves off as an interior company when they are more like a Contractor.

If you engage a solid interior designer company, they take care of everything from designing to the actual works on site. Will be a breeze and enjoyable ride for customers.

If u engage a contractor, they will just do the work as instructed by you. You have to take care of the designing, colour matching etc yourself. More works to be done for yourself. But roles and responsibilities are clear cut. Easy to work.

My contractor is somewhere in between. Make things very messy. Not recommended.

For info:

My PM got sacked recently, just before CNY. The AM told me he screwed up big time. My guess is he screw up on the scheduling portions of the works.

There could also be manpower issue now for this company because they (indeed) just opened a 3rd branch at Tampines. I have been there and the persons they employed looked like all newbies. One of the newbie hearsay is a part time housing agent.

Other Contractors (not much complain):

Yick Hong - window, bifold doors, wrought iron gate and bifold doors

Floor Option – Laminated Flooring for bedroom

My own electrician - Electrical and lighting works

Hi gantan88

Can give me contact for Yick Hong?

[gantan88 0]

Hi gantan88

Can give me contact for Yick Hong?

Hi,

U can contact Alex at 91008767 (hp).

From what he last told me, he may be closing his company/selling his company to his friend, thereafter he will join his brother's renovation company. Not sure if he is still doing windows/doors/gates business. But for now i think he is quite trustworthy because he has told me to call him in the future if there is anything wrong with the installed works by him. I guess he is still trying to hold on to his customer base.