spikedoll 2 Report post Posted November 19, 2012 Hehe, really ah? Always wondered if my blog has influenced anyone (whether in a big or small way) to buy an EM. So nice to finally 'meet' someone! I was also inspired by other EM owners, so it's nice to be able to spread the 'love'. Btw it takes a while to get used to the stairs hor. Think it took me abt 3 months to go up/down-stairs without mentally grumbling.nowadays I go thru your blog again for tips lor.. like a EM encyclopedia ..esp for lazy people like me ..lol Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ken Wong 0 Report post Posted November 19, 2012 (edited) Ah, I understand. Don't worry the pain goes away after a while. And it really does wonders to your mood when you back to a gorgeous home. Does seem like reno costs have gone up quite a bit over the past year? Looking back my reno is relatively cheap compared to the recent ones by you, summersann, etc. But at the time I did mine, I was actually quite embarrassed to mention the cost. Yes Reno cost have gone up so much due to inflation. Salary didn't go up....Last time when I hear ppl Reno their house around $100k I was Compare to now........ U cant really do much if u set a low budget. Everything is so expensive now Edited November 19, 2012 by popcornm3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ken Wong 0 Report post Posted November 19, 2012 nowadays I go thru your blog again for tips lor.. like a EM encyclopedia ..esp for lazy people like me ..lolTo me.. Her blog is a EM Reno handbook... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
HappyAng 0 Report post Posted November 19, 2012 10 big 120 small... Laughing to the bank... Gd luck bro! Huat ah! Yes Reno cost have gone up so much due to inflation. Salary didn't go up....Last time when I hear ppl Reno their house around $100k I was Compare to now........ U cant really do much if u set a low budget. Everything is so expensive nowMaybe also too many owners renovating (resale, BTO, SOBF and others), ID / contractors also very busy with many jobs. I encounter a few Ai Lai Mai Swah attitude ID. During our selection of ID / contractor, when they know that your's is an EM, they say must prepare min $60K - $70K to SIMPLE renovate an EM nia.. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
summersann 6 Report post Posted November 20, 2012 (edited) Maybe also too many owners renovating (resale, BTO, SOBF and others), ID / contractors also very busy with many jobs. I encounter a few Ai Lai Mai Swah attitude ID. During our selection of ID / contractor, when they know that your's is an EM, they say must prepare min $60K - $70K to SIMPLE renovate an EM nia.. Agreed We met 11 IDs, and our quotations all came up to be about the same (~80k, not inclusive of electrical rewiring). And the price jumped fast whenever we decided to change anything. In the end, we gave up! We just picked the one who could design the best, give us the best ideas, and was the most willing to work with our budget without going too over it still in the midst of bringing our budget down, but looks like it's not going to go anywhere lower than 90 Edited November 20, 2012 by summersann Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
spikedoll 2 Report post Posted November 20, 2012 wah..tao hin...so much money..ask my ah lao sell backside also not enough Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ken Wong 0 Report post Posted November 20, 2012 (edited) wah..tao hin...so much money..ask my ah lao sell backside also not enoughIf u don't mind he can join me @ changi point. I can help him to chop a place if I go early Edited November 20, 2012 by popcornm3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
spikedoll 2 Report post Posted November 20, 2012 If u don't mind he can join me @ changi point. I can help him to chop a place if I go earlykum sia for the offer..prob is chop early cannot sell also jialat Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ken Wong 0 Report post Posted November 20, 2012 (edited) Gd luck bro! Huat ah! Maybe also too many owners renovating (resale, BTO, SOBF and others), ID / contractors also very busy with many jobs. I encounter a few Ai Lai Mai Swah attitude ID. During our selection of ID / contractor, when they know that your's is an EM, they say must prepare min $60K - $70K to SIMPLE renovate an EM nia.. Huat Ahhhh.......same same bro we can set a budget to the ID or contractor and tell them dont exceed if not we can also Ai Lai Mai Swah Edited November 20, 2012 by popcornm3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ken Wong 0 Report post Posted November 20, 2012 Agreed We met 11 IDs, and our quotations all came up to be about the same (~80k, not inclusive of electrical rewiring). And the price jumped fast whenever we decided to change anything. In the end, we gave up! We just picked the one who could design the best, give us the best ideas, and was the most willing to work with our budget without going too over it still in the midst of bringing our budget down, but looks like it's not going to go anywhere lower than 90 especially year end before CNY project. all contract and ID sure mark up price Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
HappyAng 0 Report post Posted November 20, 2012 Agreed We met 11 IDs, and our quotations all came up to be about the same (~80k, not inclusive of electrical rewiring). And the price jumped fast whenever we decided to change anything. In the end, we gave up! We just picked the one who could design the best, give us the best ideas, and was the most willing to work with our budget without going too over it still in the midst of bringing our budget down, but looks like it's not going to go anywhere lower than 90 summersann, agreed that some ID / contractor quote much higher once the design change. So bopian have to talk to ID / contractor, see if there are ways to bring down the damage.Example (1): if you have glass or mirror, try keep it within the length that can goes into the lift. If the length is too long, workers have to go up via stairs, ID / contractor will mark-up higher incase they break it and extra labour cost. Example (2): material wastage. Raw material is normally 4" x 8" (approx 1220mm x 2440mm), if the length exceeds the raw material length, price will be much higher.Huat Ahhhh.......same same bro we can set a budget to the ID or contractor and tell them dont exceed if not we can also Ai Lai Mai SwahBro, we must change the ID or contractor mindset.Not all EM owner are as rich as they thought lor.. Dun bring out their knife once they see our floor plan is EM leh.. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ken Wong 0 Report post Posted November 20, 2012 (edited) summersann, agreed that some ID / contractor quote much higher once the design change. So bopian have to talk to ID / contractor, see if there are ways to bring down the damage.Example (1): if you have glass or mirror, try keep it within the length that can goes into the lift. If the length is too long, workers have to go up via stairs, ID / contractor will mark-up higher incase they break it and extra labour cost. Example (2): material wastage. Raw material is normally 4" x 8" (approx 1220mm x 2440mm), if the length exceeds the raw material length, price will be much higher.Bro, we must change the ID or contractor mindset.Not all EM owner are as rich as they thought lor.. Dun bring out their knife once they see our floor plan is EM leh.. ID also sales man I mean very good sales man. How ever there are some really good ID aroundAs for my ID her knife is very sharp, sharper than her boss.Off course every thing there is a price to pay. The pay off is she delivery her promise, to me that's the most important thingsFrom what I know in the forum. There are ID and contractor over promise under deliver end up the house become lemon houseI have found quote much cheaper but cheap thing don't come good and fastEnd of the day I don't want my family to sleep at road side if the ID can't handover the house8 weeks to over haul an EM seems impossible. But she did it Just my 2 baht worth Edited November 20, 2012 by popcornm3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
adidaem 6 Report post Posted November 20, 2012 nowadays I go thru your blog again for tips lor.. like a EM encyclopedia ..esp for lazy people like me ..lolTo me.. Her blog is a EM Reno handbook... Woah, thanks. I wish I am as knowledgeable as you make me sound. Am still learning lots from the folks on the forum and am definitely not as hands on as those who engaged contractors. Like the other day was reading Jumbopanther's guide to cutting tiles. (http://www.renotalk.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=49834&view=findpost&p=758071) Would never have thought of such things lor... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ken Wong 0 Report post Posted November 20, 2012 (edited) Some pic to share from last Friday progress. Been busy with work over the week end as sales has benn very slow ver the last 2 monthsFurther more my boss is a very result oriented person plus 出了名难搞, so I must on the ballTV features wall (on the right is a door to access to the balcony)Shoes cabinet ( on the left is a door access to the study room, we have actually convert the study room into 2 section with partition. Maid room and store room)Wife just told me maid that she has been promoted to store room supervisor Edited November 20, 2012 by popcornm3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
HappyAng 0 Report post Posted November 20, 2012 ID also sales man I mean very good sales man. How ever there are some really good ID aroundAs for my ID her knife is very sharp, sharper than her boss.Off course every thing there is a price to pay. The pay off is she delivery her promise, to me that's the most important thingsFrom what I know in the forum. There are ID and contractor over promise under deliver end up the house become lemon houseI have found quote much cheaper but cheap thing don't come good and fastEnd of the day I don't want my family to sleep at road side if the ID can't handover the house8 weeks to over haul an EM seems impossible. But she did it Just my 2 baht worth Bro, I totally agreed. If we want horse to run, we must feed horse with grass. If we dun feed horse with grass, ask horse how to run? Everyone needs to earn a living, a cost is a cost. If ID or contractor needs to earn their margin, we have to give them reasonable profit margin. We dun shortchange people, neither we want people to take advantage of us. If we pay a bit more and get want we want or meet our timeline, then everyone is happy. But some ID / contractor mark up too high, then we have to find others who can do the same job at a much competitive price. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
