New Adventure, Second Time Round

[newadventure 1]

Hello!

I've been stalking RT for months planning for the renovation of a resale unit we are buying.

The first time, we bought direct from HDB and a relative helped us with the simple reno after I doodled what I wanted. There was no hacking of walls or anything major. Just floor tiles, lights and cabinetry.

This time round, the relative is too busy to help and it is going to be a major overhaul (almost 30yr old flat).

Feeling a little overwhelmed.

Perhaps it's also cos this time I have to do it with whatever little time I have in between taking care of the needs of my two children. . No peace and quiet to slowly go and think!

I've met with a few IDs thinking maybe that is a better way. But realise they don't really know what I want or rather, we have different tastes and ideas so... Probably will end up going with a contractor.

Anyhoo... Hope to pick on the collective experience of you all here.

Thanks in advance!

[guojiawen 101]

Welcome and all the best for your reno!

Looking forward to sharing of ideas

[newadventure 1]

Not sure how to share floor plan... But it's here:

http://m.flickr.com/photos/116853857@N06/12384051394/lightbox/

Only manage to do two things today, see what "Blum" is and get quote from "hau hau parquet". Haha

really inefficient to do anything with one child needing naps and the other attending class.

Two things are better than none...

[Songz 132]

Any rough idea on how you want the layout to be ?

[newadventure 1]

Hi guojiawen,

Thanks for the welcome.

Hi Songz,

Since the access balcony has been bought, we'll enclose the space. Seen it done on two t-blogs.

Move the main door out to the front. Open up the wall between the kitchen and access balcony.

Cut up the kitchen so that there's a laundry room...

We'll make the study room and balcony a convertible guest room.

We're hoping to extend the master a bit (near the entrance) so that there's space for a small study area.

Since the place is quite old we'll have to rewire, repipe everything...

Something like that...

That's what we want to do. But I've been reading that all that need HDB approval. *sigh*

On my end, I've written to the branch office wrt the access balcony to see what needs to be done to enclose it.

Trying to finalized between us what exactly we want so that we have definite plans to talk to contractors with to get quotes.

[lemon 2]

Hi New Adventure,

I also just started looking around for ID. Hopefully I can get a good one. I got friends went to Haier Living and Spacious Planners. Both of them sign the contract on the third or forth meeting, and their reno journey were smooth and so far didn't hear any complain fro them. Let me know how's your meeting with contractors, cause I been warning a lot from people who have engaged contractors, end up either you don't get the thing right or it takes longer for completion.

[newadventure 1]

Hello hello...

It's been hard trying to get this tblog going. Mainly because I don't know what I want!

We'll be viewing the flat for the last time this Thursday before collecting the keys on Friday.

Since we cannot finalize design, except we know that we want to hack a lot and also claim the recess area, there'll be permits to submit. But...

Anyway, can I just ask, when do I sign up for water, gas and electric? ASAP?

I probably have to move the meters cos going to enclose recess area. Who do I ask (where to move to) and how do I apply for it to be moved?

Lastly, I want to change the letterbox lock. Any lobang?

Thank you!!

[newadventure 1]

Oh ya, the current owner ask (via my agent) if I can help to dispose of their bedframe for them cos it's too bulky. Since in hacking and have to do haulage... It's okay?

[claypot 46]

Oh ya, the current owner ask (via my agent) if I can help to dispose of their bedframe for them cos it's too bulky. Since in hacking and have to do haulage... It's okay?

Better ask the owner to do that. Your ID may charge you for additional item to dismantle and dispose.

[claypot 46]

Hello hello...

It's been hard trying to get this tblog going. Mainly because I don't know what I want!

We'll be viewing the flat for the last time this Thursday before collecting the keys on Friday.

Since we cannot finalize design, except we know that we want to hack a lot and also claim the recess area, there'll be permits to submit. But...

Anyway, can I just ask, when do I sign up for water, gas and electric? ASAP?

I probably have to move the meters cos going to enclose recess area. Who do I ask (where to move to) and how do I apply for it to be moved?

Lastly, I want to change the letterbox lock. Any lobang?

Thank you!!

Yes, you should quickly sign up for the SP services ASAP. They need lead time to take the last meter reading so that they can bill your usage accordingly and not based on the previous owner's usage.

[Songz 132]

Oh ya, the current owner ask (via my agent) if I can help to dispose of their bedframe for them cos it's too bulky. Since in hacking and have to do haulage... It's okay?

The best is that the previous owner will clear it as disposal means extra costing ...

[newadventure 1]

Okay, thank you for the advice!

I tried to register online for sp services... Unfortunately it seems i have to be the current owner first (cos I not tenant). Hmm... Shall call them up to check cos I just wanna make appt for after I become owner. Hahaha

[claypot 46]

Okay, thank you for the advice!

I tried to register online for sp services... Unfortunately it seems i have to be the current owner first (cos I not tenant). Hmm... Shall call them up to check cos I just wanna make appt for after I become owner. Hahaha

Call SP. I'm able to do the transfer before the 2nd HDB appointment.

[newadventure 1]

Claypot, thanks for the suggestion. I called SP and got my appt. yay!

[newadventure 1]

I have an electrical loading question...

Mine is an old flat where the electrical load is still not upgraded.

Can I use a system 4 aircon? Or only up to system 3?

And does that mean I cannot use induction hob?

Suppose to look for hob. Wanted to use standing cooker. But feedback was it's too difficult to clean the sides if anything spilled. Easier to build the hob into the counter top.