deancarney

Hi anthylau, I realised that your balcony platform is definitely more than 4 inches high. Because my ID told me that according to the HDB regulations, max allowable to raise up the balcony is only 4 inches, and that already include 2 inches which are slightly lower in the first place. So effectively, balcony platform is max 2inches high after levelling up with living room. You may want to check it out as i heard that some homeowners were told to take the platforms down after the renovations, or when they were selling their flats and the HDB officers came to inspect. This applies to the platforms in the bedrooms too, although i have seen quite a few blogs whereby the owners raised their platforms incredibly high. I guess it could be a matter of non-discosure by the IDs in order to please the owners, or it could be the case that these regulations are not as important as asthetics. Cheers.

I just pm-ed you. Looks like we are neighbours-to-be!

Hi, Block 149? 2nd floor?

Hi, All these for 15K? Seems to be a lot of work.

Hihi, Its the same case for me. Coincidentally, the agent is ALSO from HSR. (Hmm I wonder if we are talking about this same female agent who works in a couple huaband-wife team.) In short, the story goes likes this: I liked the place. The seller agent said the seller only paying them half comms so want us to pay a bit to them or they will not tell the seller our interest. Then they came back and said they received better offers and said that the only way is for us to pay them 1%. We were pressured into signing a comms agreement with them on top of my buyer agent commissions. After i saw your post, i think its quite a prevalent thing. I didnt check with seller on the truth per se, but nonetheless i am quite certain it is unethical for them to ask me to pay them a comms. Can anyone advise if i can actually not pay them even though we had signed a comms agreement? Note: they act for the sellers, why should i pay them?? But i am wary of the possible repercussions. These unethical agents know where i stay. This is my concern that they will do things to hamper my peace.

Hihi, My ID quoted me 2850 for the plastering.

Seems like you guys all managed within 3K for railings. What is happening for my EM is that there is a void space between the staircase railings and the living room. As such, i have to do up railings for BOTH sides of the staircase. I saw Prettibride's staircase pics and apparently one side of the wall has been "pushed" and merged towards the staircase (maybe plastering a board wall), thus only requiring railings on the other side of the staircase. Prettibride's final staircase and home looked really fantastic. But i have my concerns that this will block out light from the living room, making the stairwell very dark as my place is already not bright as it is. I am more or less resigned to the fact that i may have to fork out so much to do up both sides glass railings. So expensive. http://www.renotalk.com/forum/index.php?au...blogid=131&

Hi guys, Would like to seek some advice. One of the IDs is quoting me close to 6000 just to do up the staircase railings in glass. This excludes the hacking of old staircase railings and steps, as well as the new wood steps. What the ID is saying is that i will need 6 panels of glass and they will use "plugs" at the base to secure the glass panels to the stairs instead of creating a mould to fit the glass in. I am baffled. 6K for glass railings only??? Can someone who has done the same kindly advise me? Thanks!

Hi guys, Will some kind soul be able to PM me Ho Bee's contact? Thanks!

Dear all, I am new to the forum. Glad to see so many others who are proud owners of EMs. My EM is in Tampines and while i am waiting for the 2nd appointment, i am thinking of ideas for renovating my EM now, taking into account my budget. Basically the condition of the EM is quite run-down, so i did not pay a lot cash relative to the average asking COV in the region. It suited what me and my fiancee want because we wanted to design our own cosy environment. Well, i am looking at a major overhaul, but the good thing is, i am not a fan of cabinets and woodwork and will not be having a lot of these. Will be hacking two room to make it into a bigger room for a walk-in wardrobe and mini-study, as well as a raised platform to lay my mattress (no bed frame). The stairway railing we intend to use glass. Coupled with hacking of the current floor and then laying homogenous white tiles, and installing the kitchen cabinets and painting of the house, i think it will cost a fair bit. 60k - 70K is a bit north of my expectations. Is it really so expensive to renovate an EM?