cruise

Hi I'd like to contribute some factors to consider when buying ceiling fans based on my experience few months ago. 1) Take note that installation of fan does not come with the price of the fan. It is about $35 per fan installation. Also, if you buy two fans at one go, electrician still going to charge $35 x 2 units = $70. 2) Remote control and light kit. Take note that these CAN be 3rd party brand ones. So, you may buy an Amasco brand ceiling fan. And you tell the shop you want remote control and/or light kit to come with it. The suppy of remote control and light kit is NOT Amasco brand. It is some other 3rd party brand. Now, what's the problem with that? The problem is when the remote control and light kit does not work properly after you instal the fan. Example: after a few days from installing everything, the fan speed become very slow! I had the remote control removed and it work back to normal speed. Then, when i want to return the remote control to shop, they refused to refund me the money!! What makes it worst is that every time something wrong with the fan, you need electrician to come and check and troubleshoot, they CHARGE you for every single time!! It's so bloody unfair to consumers but this is what the industry practice!! 3) Some shop provide some **** lousy light brand that does not work. Not only you are stuck with a crappy thing but waste $$ troubleshooting it. 4) Please do ask shop if there are refunds policy. No buy from a shop that says no refunds but give you credit note. It is useless! Why? you must buy items from them (no choice) with the credit note. They will quote you HIGHER price for same item somewhere else! so, no matter what u're still stuck with bloody deal and get fleeced! watch out for this light shop in Balestier....

Hi In the process of obtaining quotations for job to be done for my kitchen, I realised various contractors have different method of quoting. Which is the most equitable and fair method? Method 1 - For doing top and bottom cabinet, they calculate by adding the total length of the top + bottom x $ pfr eg. Top = 8 feet, Bottom = 8 feet. So, they add together = 16 feet x $100 pfr total = $1600 method 2 - top cabinet is $90 pfr; bottom cabinet is $100 pfr. so, 8 x $90 = $720 8 x # $100 = $800 Total = $1520 method 3 - top + bottom / 2 x higher rate pfr eg $220 pfr. 16/2 = 8 feet x $220 = $1760 So tricky.....can people here advise which method is the norm? thanks

me also considering installing double glazed windows. anyone can recommend brand and contractors? thank you.

I encounter the same annoyance and irritations over dogs that bark non-stop every day (even when owner come back home) and at anything. That's because their owner allows it and were NOT considerate of others!! I agree these are the ones that the authorities can step in to do something about it. And they do. I also seen some dog owners do not pick up or clean up after their dogs in public places. But that will not stop good owners from doing the right thing (i.e. pick up poos) to keep the environment clean for everyone to enjoy. My point is: Dont penalise good owners and good dogs just because a few bad ones spoil the good reputation of some considerate ones.

Yes, dogs are faithful and loyal to owners. Can one guarantee their children will be as loyal and faithful to take care of their parents when they are old???? Perhaps a teeny weeny proportion, the very rare breed of those who has filial piety. This virtue, am afraid, has become extinct in this generation. Why do you think most modern parents now do NOT expect their children to look after them when they are old???? And also, why the young generation now get married and CHOOSE NOT to have kids but dogs?? The kinda loyalty one gets from dogs can never be compared to SOME people (or children, for that matter!) Dogs are not just pets like tortoise, guinea pig or fish. Of course, it takes work and hassle and COMMITMENT to own one. If one does not have this basic element, then one is NOT suited to own a dog. And yes, please just go and get a goldfish!!

I can understand the fear one has about dogs, especially if they were chased or bitten by one before. But for someone who has owned dogs before to react so adversely (fly kick a dog, report to AVA etc etc) towards dogs, is rather contradictorily unfounded fear, isnt it? The bad publicity of some dogs biting people does not mean ALL dogs will bite. One should not condemn the whole dog populations just because a handful spoil their reputation. I dont hv to explain the wonderful aspects of dogs (some times better than children!!) to dog owners. We all can identify with that immediately. For those who fear dogs, let me say that dogs generally do NOT harm humans. They will not come to you if you ignore them or not talk to them. Neither will they attack you out of no reason. Just like humans.... we do not talk to people who are not friendly, right? We do not attack people out of the blue too, right? Same logic. many good owners have good relationships with their dogs. Their dogs are not just one of their 'pets'. Thus, many good well behaved dogs can walk unleased with their owners. There is really no need to react so negatively just because the law 'says so', right? Are we not humans with good reasoning capacity?? How often we find unruly children running around and playing like wild kids in restaurants, MRTs, shopping malls??? Shouldn't there be laws to 'lease them' too? Absolutely not!! It's not the children's fault....it's the parents!! Anyway, please do not just use the 'law' blindly. Laws are made for mankinds, but not mankinds for laws.

I empathise with the agony and frustrations Spaceboy had to deal with this seller. I have no doubt that seller could use her bankruptcy status to scam buyers with deposits etc.... However, I do not understand how come HDB does not intervene in such a case and also where is the agent's role? I had thought HDB had made it compulsory that agents must do a thorough check on both buyer and seller on their eligibility to buy / sell? Putting in place all these "checklist" items that both sellers / buyers must go through, I would have thought that HDB would step in to haul in such irresponsible seller. Anyway, I hope you continue to fight and win this case over such bad seller. Appreciate you, spaceboy, for sharing in this forum. Wish more people could be warn....maybe newspaper should publish such bad sellers in the market.

hi moderators how come when click on this topic I am unable to read anything? Has the postings been removed?

I haven't reached the stage of legal process yet but thought best to find out this aspect as well. I also didn't know that banks will "insist" on using their lawyers.....can they do that and why? Thanks for your recommendation of Katherine, aiaiyo. She sounds efficient.

Hi Would anyone recommend lawyers they had used in transacting their private properties who are efficient and thorough in ensuring transactions go smoothly? Thank you.

It's really best to view unit during day time to have a good sense of how the afternoon sun is affecting the unit. My unit faced North-South, it does not get any afternoon sun at all, except towards end of the year at an angle into the room. Also, it depends on the layout of the unit to know how the sun affects which room / living room etc....

Final inspection for new or resale flat? For new HDB flat isn't there one year defect warranty period?

Since there are many HDB valuers (companies) out there. Can we appoint one or it is randomly appointed by HDB?

thanks for the link. has anyone used this DIYHDB website's services before? they do charge a fee to use their website though...any comments on how useful or workable thru' this site?

however, like one of the presenter said, he himself transacted thru' agents when he bought his house, 'cos some agents wanted to deal with agents only intead of direct buyers to earn comm. (co-broke), this will limit the availabilty of seller to DIY buyer. after few mths of searching, most DIY buyers will give up and go thru' agents instead. happy searching for house! is there any local property website listing properties for and by DIY sellers and buyers? It would be another great source of alternative. Anyone, any idea to provide the link? thanks

My advice is: With overwhelming complaints, it's better to be safe than sorry. Unless u're prepared: 1) to deal with them rectifying the problem such as delivery of poor quality and poor workmanship items. 2) to go to CASE or Small tribunal claims to complaint. Please be careful that what they finally deliver to you may not be as good as what you see in their showroom. What I dont like also is their high deposit of 50% and non-refundable. Their unfavourable terms and conditions (other furniture shops also like that) are stated at the back of their order bill, which they will not tell you to read but get you to sign quickly on the dotted line. Lastly, I dislike their sales tactics of showing you orders placed by other customers, which, probably are faked orders, who really knows, right? It's their way of quickly persuading you to place order to fool you that u're paying less than what their other customers ordered, like u've entered into a good deal somewhat. Learn from my mistakes, people. Finally, some items they display at showroom are not 'manufactured' by them but taken from another supplier, but which they will claim it's their product. Think of the complications when items delivered defective and is from a 3rd supplier........

Not only lousy services, but HORRIBLE attitude! Deliverd not only a poor quality item but with defects yet delivery guy claimed as "It's like that one. Usually we deliver worst than this"! Geez! I wonder if they are doing business in CHINA or Singapore! What kind of attitude is this??? Salesman very NICE in showroom BEFORE one commit into the transaction. When got problem, one will start to see the sarcasm and rude attitude surfacing! BEWARE all potential buyers / shoppers! better go Ikea, their quality may not be superior but they are not too expensive. At least you wont get this kind of rotten attitude from the delivery guy and salesperson.