Our Second Home - 4A Resale

[ladygeorgette 0]

Been reading from all the Shi-ges and Shi-jies in this t-Blog and boy did that give me a headstart with ID searching, but before that, a headache because there are so many details a renovation involves, to my shock and waking moment.

When we moved into our current first house, we were a penniless couple and had to take a 10K reno loan for a minimal renovation - there weren't much choices then, everything was so straightforward and simple!

To cut to the chase, our current status is:

- awaiting 1st appointment of our selling (week 2 of August) - completed

- awaiting 1st appointment of our buying (week 1 of September) - completed

- awaiting 2nd appointment of our selling (week 3 of September) - completed

- awaiting 2nd appointment of our buying (week 4 of October) - completed

- awaiting handover of keys for our new home (12 November) - completed

Floorplan

Theme?

We don't have a particular theme in mind, but I steer towards the wooden and white combi that gives the idea of space, cozyness and brightness.

Probably have to compromise the completeness of the wooden white theme for practicality because we have a 1-year old toddler and a baby otw, so childproofing is our utmost concern

Extent of Renovation

Basically the whole house has to be given an overhaul because it is a 27-year old flat. That alone, costs us a bomb and we decided to keep our capentry works to a minimum.

- Hack existing floor and wall tiles for kitchen and 2 toilets

- Overlay vinyl flooring for whole house

- Change all existing electrical wiring

- Plaster all walls and paint whole house

- Change all existing wooden door frames

- Construct L-Box and false ceiling for living room and MBR

- Construct TV feature wall and full height shoe cabinet

- Construct settee in living room

- Construct wardrobe for MBR

- Construct shower screen and vanity cabinet for MBR toilet

- Construct kitchen cabinet

- Install sliding kitchen glass door (no open concept for us because I am a cleanliness freak who has a thing against oil smell)

Can't wait to get the keys and start our reno soon!

Edited November 21, 2012 by ladygeorgette

[mikeyong500 4]

Welcome ladygeorgette~

Hope to see more pics soon.

Have a smoothsailing renovation!

,

Mike

[eekenji 3]

To cut to the chase, our current status is:

- awaiting 1st appointment of our selling (week 2 of August)

- awaiting 1st appointment of our buying (week 1 of September)

Hi ladygeorgette .. same as u, we also going to have our 2nd home. Buying and selling at the same time.

Noticed that your buying is later than selling .. during the reno period and after sold your place, where u going to stay? With your parents or PIL?

Enjoy your reno process ~

[casa 0]

Welcome to RT

Hope to c your reno pics soon

[ladygeorgette 0]

Welcome ladygeorgette~

Hope to see more pics soon.

Have a smoothsailing renovation!

,

Mike

Welcome to RT

Hope to c your reno pics soon

Thanks Mike and Casa! I have a lot to learn!

Hi ladygeorgette .. same as u, we also going to have our 2nd home. Buying and selling at the same time.

Noticed that your buying is later than selling .. during the reno period and after sold your place, where u going to stay? With your parents or PIL?

Enjoy your reno process ~

Staying with my in-law Thank God that I have a roof over my head

[ladygeorgette 0]

ID Selection - coming to a conclusion

Based on the reviews and recommendations from the forum, I went to a few to source for quotes.

SDS - went to superstar W****** and he was so busy I had to keep following up for a first meet-up. I gave him grace knowing that he had plenty of projects on hand. On day of appointment he referred his colleague D***** (D) to me instead and assured me that his colleague is just as good. Met up with D, D was ok and took a week to come back with a quote, but no follow-up on his part. Was disappointed that SDS was rather weak in their pre-sale approach - no sincerity felt.

InsideL***** - went to Superstar J***** at their showroom to go through the floorplan and what we wanted. She met us at our place a week later and went through the quote item by item. Hubby and I felt her sincere approach and think that stands out among the rest.

We shared with her our budget and she went back to revise the quote lower - throwing in some FOC items. I tested her further by asking to see her completed works and a viewing was arranged within the next week with an unit she had just finished, with the owner's permission of course. The workmanship was good we observed and the owner was satisfied with her. Hubby and I felt comfortable talking to her as she is quite accomodative - though we can't tell if her designs are wow till we see her drawings.

Looks like she's sealing the deal and we will be meeting her this coming week to discuss the final quote and ID drawings. Finally things are moving a lil!

N******* from a previously recommended ID firm - met on Mon and quoted me the next day! He smsed me over the next few days to inform me that I can view his completed works at his clients'. Impressed at his speed but I don't gel well to his personality, KIV

ID friend - lovely designs and concept but too bad he came after J and his quote was very slightly pricier.

Contractor friend - quoted me more expensive than the IDs!

Inner View @IMM - nice guy quoted me but reviews on the firm are

Basically all the "branded" ID firms quoted us about the same range for the works we planned to do, so it boils down to who we like and gel with.

We decided to go for an ID because I will be unconveniently doing my confinement when renovation is starting, and I wanted to find someone reliable to manage on-site stuff for me.

Edited August 28, 2012 by ladygeorgette

[eekenji 3]

Basically all the "branded" ID firms quoted us about the same range for the works we planned to do, so it now boils down to who we like and gel with.

We decided to go for an ID because I will be unconveniently doing my confinement when renovation is starting, and I wanted to find someone reliable to manage on-site stuff for me.

I just realized you also pregnant ~ me too (EDD 7 Jan). Our first appt of buying is 1 Sep and key collection shall be on 27 October .. can't wait ~

Wow, you also have met so many IDs .. We still haven't found the ID we want, now quite keen to meet InsideL***** after saw your review .. The quotes received from IDs we met was quite high .. sigh.

[ladygeorgette 0]

I just realized you also pregnant ~ me too (EDD 7 Jan). Our first appt of buying is 1 Sep and key collection shall be on 27 October .. can't wait ~

Wow, you also have met so many IDs .. We still haven't found the ID we want, now quite keen to meet InsideL***** after saw your review .. The quotes received from IDs we met was quite high .. sigh.

My EDD is 21 Nov. My key collection will only be in late Oct or 1st week of Nov, because we agreed to giving the seller extended stay. Technically my renovation will clash with my confinement which I highly dread since I am the niao one with dreamy ideas and concepts, and my hubby the runner

[eekenji 3]

My EDD is 21 Nov. My key collection will only be in late Oct or 1st week of Nov, because we agreed to giving the seller extended stay. Technically my renovation will clash with my confinement which I highly dread since I am the niao one with dreamy ideas and concepts, and my hubby the runner

Hi ladygeorgette, wow .. your EDD is coming soon.

Have you attended your first appointment?

I hope I can move in to new place before my delivery ... yeah, my husband also will be the runner too, as I cannot go to view the reno progress during pregnancy period.

[ladygeorgette 0]

Hi There... suprize.. i actually also got exactly the same layout as yours mine is at bukit panjang. now renovation is ongoing. just started last month 3rd.

my sentiments on this layout is the mbr is beside the kitchen which suckss big time and the wall inbetween the kitchen and living cant be hack.. fully prefab house so can hack or seal. want to open concept the kitchen also cannot. haiz.. in the end suck thumb and just reno lo...

up to date i should say only 70% complete.

you have any idea of doing yours???? care to share???

Exact sentiments!! Wanted to shift the MBR door next to the other 2 rooms but HDB confirmed that these kind of old format houses are fully prefab - no hacking. So suck thumb like you and make do with a sliding glass door to kitchen. I will be leaving the other 2 rooms untouched because my kids are very young and I wanted to plan their rooms when they are bigger - for now 1 room will be their nursery/playroom cum sleeping area and 1 room will be our study (but we are not planning for any capentry works there).

Our renovation bulk will be concentrated on the living room, kitchen, and MBR. Spaciousness is our concept and we are keeping our living room uncluttered to accommodate group gatherings, so fixed capentry is minimum too!

What about yours? Care to share pictures of the progress so far?

Edited September 17, 2012 by ladygeorgette

[ladygeorgette 0]

Hi ladygeorgette, wow .. your EDD is coming soon.

Have you attended your first appointment?

I hope I can move in to new place before my delivery ... yeah, my husband also will be the runner too, as I cannot go to view the reno progress during pregnancy period.

I'm left with a month to shifting out of our current place, so it's packing, packing, packing! Tiring on a 8-mth preggy body I must say.

Yeah 1st appt was done but things weren't that simple because the current sellers were delayed by their buying side and can't move out early, and needed an extension from us.

[Lina Lee 0]

I'm left with a month to shifting out of our current place, so it's packing, packing, packing! Tiring on a 8-mth preggy body I must say.

Yeah 1st appt was done but things weren't that simple because the current sellers were delayed by their buying side and can't move out early, and needed an extension from us.

Hihi! Haa.. So here's ur tblog.. Hee..

Ur sellers r asking for an extension upon completion of second appt? Or r they postponing e second appt? So ya key collection will still be bef deepavali?

I actually wanted another unit but they req for 4wks extension after second appt which hub dun wan to.. Current unit we bot is supposedly going to push fwd e second appt so tt we can collect e keys earlier (hopefully its not a hoax to get us to buy it *cross fingers*)

[eekenji 3]

I'm left with a month to shifting out of our current place, so it's packing, packing, packing! Tiring on a 8-mth preggy body I must say.

Yeah 1st appt was done but things weren't that simple because the current sellers were delayed by their buying side and can't move out early, and needed an extension from us.

Hi ladygeorgette, I also have done our 1st appt and our 2nd appt will be end of October as well .. so fast you start packing your stuffs, I still haven't started any as every wknd was busy buying things. Where u going to move to? Have some place to settle before your new place get ready?

Btw, I was in my 6th mth preg now ... feel that time passed really slow.

[ladygeorgette 0]

Hihi! Haa.. So here's ur tblog.. Hee..

Ur sellers r asking for an extension upon completion of second appt? Or r they postponing e second appt? So ya key collection will still be bef deepavali?

I actually wanted another unit but they req for 4wks extension after second appt which hub dun wan to.. Current unit we bot is supposedly going to push fwd e second appt so tt we can collect e keys earlier (hopefully its not a hoax to get us to buy it *cross fingers*)

Hihi! Yup my sellers asked for extension upon completion of 2nd appt, but key collection is fixed on 1 day before Deepavali. I might have gone deliver le!

Hi ladygeorgette, I also have done our 1st appt and our 2nd appt will be end of October as well .. so fast you start packing your stuffs, I still haven't started any as every wknd was busy buying things. Where u going to move to? Have some place to settle before your new place get ready?

Btw, I was in my 6th mth preg now ... feel that time passed really slow.

It's good to start packing early because when you get to your 3rd tri, you will start to feel tired and inconvenient to pack. My time flies because I have an active 15-mth toddler in tow! Moving to my MIL's place and doing confinement there.

[ladygeorgette 0]

What's in My Shopping Bag?

Have made our very first purchase - a 3m L-shaped sofa but the actual one will be in black

Can't wait to populate this blog!