pinktini 0 Report post Posted January 12, 2010 After reading through so many t-blogs, I've decided to set up my very own too. Feel free to leave comments for me! Now, bear with me as I write about how we managed to find our very first home. My hubby and I first decided to start looking around for resale flats in Jun 09, after being disappointed yet again by our balloting results. Even though I wished to stay around Ang Mo Kio/Bishan/Yishun, which is near my current place (so as to be near to my parents), we couldn't afford high COVs and the cost of the flats in the area. Especially since we're preparing for our wedding later this year, the expenses are really scary. So we decided to look for flats nearer to the hubby's current place. We started going through all the property websites, newspapers, making calls, some scared us off with their requests of COV of $40k, but we managed to shortlist a few viewings. On our first day of viewing, we were led to many 5yo flats in the Yew Tee area, but we didn't like the layout and size (110sqm). By a stroke of luck, one of the co-agents mentioned there's another unit across the road which is bigger (124sqm), the block of flats are about 11yo. So he made a call to see if the owner would allow us in for a viewing. So we went and it was on the 14th floor. We loved the size and location, it was a corner unit beside the lifts, with no left/right neighbours. They were asking for $20k COV. But being the first day, we thought we might fall in love with other units we view later on. So the process dragged on for another 1 - 2 weeks and after another 20 units or so, we were exhausted and found ourselves comparing every flat we viewed to the unit we liked. So we decided to make an offer for that unit. Sadly, the owner decided he no longer wanted to sell his flat. But luck was on our side when another agent brought us for a viewing in the same block, same corner, just one floor down (#13)! They were also asking for $20k COV, but their valuation was expired. We made an offer which amounted to $15K COV based on their valuation, which they accepted. YEA! Now, that's not the best part, the new valuation came back a week later and the price had gone up by $12K, effectively reducing our COV to $3K. DOUBLE YEA! That was the first week of July, the sellers wanted to drag the appointments, which we agreed to, and our first appointment was set for 16 Oct 09. During the whole process, there was some unhappiness with another agent who was working with mine, the usual commission thing and making decisions without consulting us, but that doesn't matter, we stood our ground, refused to pay an extra cent and managed to secure our 2nd appointment for 21 Dec 09. Could have been earlier (26 Nov), but the sellers still wanted more time, which we gave in again. We're trying to accumulate good karma, so that the reno will go well, hahahaha. Just kidding. FINALLY, we got our keys and now, we're on the lookout for ID/renovation firms. We've been to 3 so far and meeting 1 more this coming Sunday. Hopefully things will go fine. Seems like we'll need a major overhaul of the place and we don't exactly have a big budget. Here's the original floorplan, the balcony and yard no longer exist, it's been leveled and combined with the rest of the place. I'll post up some pics of the pre-renovated place soon! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sugardaddy 0 Report post Posted January 12, 2010 Congrats and welcome to RT! Nice layout .. am sure there are plently of ideas for you to play with .. Have fun Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Angel81 1 Report post Posted January 12, 2010 Congrates on ur new home! Hehe, Yew Tee is quite a nice place to stay with lots of new stuff coming up and with the nice big stadium. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pinktini 0 Report post Posted January 12, 2010 sugardaddy: yup, there're so many ideas going through my head these days! cos there're only going to be 2 of us, we've got lots of space to play with. angel81: there's a stadium?? hehe, obviously I don't know the area well. I'm just glad there's a 24hours McDonalds there, I'll never go hungry. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CJREDDEVIL 0 Report post Posted January 12, 2010 welcome welcome pink ! waaoh....big layout....looking forward to your pics & transformation! Cheers! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pinktini 0 Report post Posted January 12, 2010 welcome welcome pink ! waaoh....big layout....looking forward to your pics & transformation! Cheers! Thanks!! Just organizing the before-reno pics now, posting them soon! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Angel81 1 Report post Posted January 12, 2010 angel81: there's a stadium?? hehe, obviously I don't know the area well. I'm just glad there's a 24hours McDonalds there, I'll never go hungry. hehe, got got! Got nice big pool, a gym, badminton and tennis courts. The pool got those long slides too. The badminton courts are great and ventilation is good there, unlike some CCs' courts that are very stuffy. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Supersimon27 2 Report post Posted January 12, 2010 Welcome to RT-blog . Wow .... big house u got there . lucky to get for jus 3k COV for high floor wor .... So the final price u got is ? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bigeyedfish 0 Report post Posted January 12, 2010 angel81: there's a stadium?? hehe, obviously I don't know the area well. I'm just glad there's a 24hours McDonalds there, I'll never go hungry. Welcome to RT. Just like you, I've also just realised there's a 24hrs McDonalds near my new place too. Think you've got yourself a real good bargain. How to find 3k COV nowadays? Ours was at 15k COV =( Good luck in securing a good reno co. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pinktini 0 Report post Posted January 12, 2010 Angel81: Cool! I'll go check them out after I move in end of the year. But first, need to find the motivation to exercise, or else so many facilities also no use. Supersimon27: Got it for 375k. hehe. Big is good, but not so good when I heard the estimation for our reno quotes. Hopefully it ain't that bad, waiting for the quotations to come in. bigeyedfish: You also McDonalds kid? haha, I can survive on mac, but if I can get home in time, I prefer to cook. cook, but not wash the dishes. Ya, we were really lucky to get it at 3k COV, we wanted to faint when we hear people ask for 40 - 50k COV. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pinktini 0 Report post Posted January 12, 2010 Here are some of the pics of the place, we got the owners to clear out everything! But they left their altar and we found out later, some handbags and trash in the utilities cabinet. -_-" You'll notice they got a lot a lot of built in stuff which we'll have to remove. From the 'corridor' beside the master bedroom entrance The living room Where the balcony used to be, there's an odd pipe in the corner. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pinktini 0 Report post Posted January 12, 2010 The study The kitchen and the yard Common toilet More pics tml. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
coffee_o 1 Report post Posted January 12, 2010 Hi Pink welcome So based on the looks of the pre-reno pics i would guess that everything must go ?? Anyway i believe the pipe in your balcony might be a drainage for the balcony area bah if you hack the flooring you might see one drainage hole which the owner might have covered up Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bigeyedfish 0 Report post Posted January 12, 2010 Supersimon27: Got it for 375k. hehe. Big is good, but not so good when I heard the estimation for our reno quotes. Hopefully it ain't that bad, waiting for the quotations to come in. bigeyedfish: You also McDonalds kid? haha, I can survive on mac, but if I can get home in time, I prefer to cook. cook, but not wash the dishes. Ya, we were really lucky to get it at 3k COV, we wanted to faint when we hear people ask for 40 - 50k COV. The price is not so bad cos the floor's area quite big. Yeah, I can survive on Mac also but have been warned by the husband not to eat too much fast food. Haha. He can foresee me making trips down to Mac on my lazy days. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Angel81 1 Report post Posted January 12, 2010 Angel81: Cool! I'll go check them out after I move in end of the year. But first, need to find the motivation to exercise, or else so many facilities also no use. Hehe, true true. Sometimes after work so tired. Dun even feel like doing aniting. Get frens to play badminton together on wkends loh. That place's courts are great. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
