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cleong

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Posts posted by cleong

  2. Posted

    Hi Cleong,

    I am new member here because of your post. I realised I have gotten an EM with the same layout as yours and I really need advise from you as the resale flat I gotten needs a full reno. Are you able to roughly guide me on the process as to what is to be done first. Like hacking of current build in, change of electrical wires..... etc...

    Hope to hear from you. And thanks in advance.

    Apologies as I have not been checking this page after so long. What do you need to know? It all depends on the condition of your apartment and how much you can tolerate to retain, and how much your budget is. I would highly recommend changing the electrical cables. Everything else - is up to your choice. Built in furniture costs, but the rooms are spacious so you can get away with buying standard furniture if you aren't fussy. Give the home a new coat of paint and polish up the floors, you would be surprised how much of a difference that makes.

  3. Posted

    You have a second-generation EM (square balcony/service yard) with no bomb shelter and in-unit rubbish chute.

    Depending on your usage patterns, it might be feasible to buy items from JB if you travel there regularly for cheap petrol and groceries anyway. Many electrical items these days have only a one year warranty but if you don't use it often, it might not accumulate wear and tear to take advantage of warranty coverage. Take for example the KDK ceiling fan I got from an authorized distributor in JB - it was Malaysia warranty only, different in model number, exactly the same specifications, and half the price. If I was so inclined, I could bring it back to JB for warranty repair, or buy a second one and still be cheaper than an authorized fan in Singapore. And guess what, it has been in use for 5 years without a hiccup. The current exchange rates are just icing on the cake. Scout the prices there and see if the savings are worth the trouble, but don't make one huge purchase that attracts Customs attention or you might get hit by GST...

    I highly recommend changing piping and electrical wiring, but the costs can be staggering, it could run you $3,000-5,000 (IIRC) depending on the amount of re-routing and in particular lighting points you want to have. Keep in mind that an ID that connects well with clients is only half the equation, he/she has to exercise good project management skills to realize the design within your budget.

  5. Posted

    Hi all...

    I am currently looking out for a flat for my family of 4 (coming 5!)...

    Would like to check if it's possible to have a complete makeover of an EM within 60K?

    Expected works including hacking away of (really) old flooring & kitchen, and just doing bare minimum of relaying whole flooring + kitchen + 3 toilets + (maybe) built-in wardrobe for Master.

    :)

    Unlikely. 5 years ago I did it for just over 40k and did not do the flooring (except for kitchen and bathrooms). I repolished the marble and relacquered the parquet. I also redid the staircase and windows. If it is the first owner you are buying from (I suspect it is, since the extensive makeover) then you must allocate money to redo the 20-year old electrical wiring for safety's sake. We need much more powerpoints now than 20 years ago and extension plugs and cords are just a fire waiting to happen.

  6. Posted

    Normally you can do that, but when I applied to transfer my season parking over via the online portal, the request could not go through because the carpark allotment for season parking was full. Therefore I need to go to the Branch office and show some paperwork (cannot remember which), proof I was staying there. HDB staff said priority is given to the first car of each unit in such full situations.

  8. Posted

    i think mine is gen 2. balcony behind the kitchen and i have my own refuse chute.

    i like the open balcony but unfortunately i will have some laminated cabinets at the balcony so i have to block it against rain.

    Rather than protect from the rain and elements, may be a better idea to opt for outdoor furniture and cabinetry. Costs more but looks better and will be more durable. Even if you protect laminated cabinets from direct rain, the high moisture levels and heat due to exposure will cause the laminates to peel pretty fast.

  9. Posted

    Any hardware store should be able to supply those rubber pieces, ask the uncle behind the counter and he will show you. I buy mine from the neighbourhood hardware store. Its nothing more complicated than a rubber wiper blade, or nylon bristle-like brush.

    I'm aware that Toh Guan near IMM have one of the last batches of EM - you might find them in Choa Chu Kang North as well. I think HDB stopped building it pretty much around the same time that Walk-In Selection of flats ended.

  12. Posted

    Parquet flooring is standard for the era and in my opinion pretty timeless and comfortable to step upon especially when you wake up in the morning. Today's flooring try to replicate that kind of feel with laminate or bamboo, but they are cheaper substitutes in a cost-cutting effort.

    There are pros and cons between Gen 1 and Gen 2 with regard to the balcony position - Gen 1 has a larger balcony while Gen 2 provides better connectivity because the balcony can be accessed via the kitchen or the living room.

    I would caution against glassing in your balcony. If you get any sun it would turn into a greenhouse. Plus, it would be exceedingly hard to clean the glass panels beyond 2 metres, and the external glass surfaces would probably be impossible to be cleaned (by you).

    Saving on electricity and water bill? Do the standard stuff - buy low-consumption appliances, dual mode efficient toilet flushes. Forget bathtubs and rainshowers. Skip installing mulitple downlights that you have to use - opt for energy saver bulbs placed in function-over-form positions to provide optimal lighting coverage in the main activity areas. Install rubber/plastic gaskets under doors of air conditioned rooms to maintain minimal cool air loss.

    Intelligent usage patterns help too. I set my aircon to cool my bedroom when I go to bed, but have it turned off two hours before I wake up in the morning. I have my stand fan set on a timer so it takes over room air circulation in those two hours. By the time I wake up, the room has warmed up to near ambient temperatures and I don't get out of bed from under my covers feeling cold, or let all the cold air in the room "go to waste" when I open the door.

  14. Posted

    Mine was a Gen 1 EM and does not require A/C application because it was mounted in the void at the balcony. However, the depth of the apartment proves to be a problem because of the distance between the compressor unit, blowers and drain pipes. Gen 1 EMs often encounter electrical systems that do not support more than a single System 4 (and only below a certain power limit). I'm not sure if more choices are available now, but back then I could only choose between Mitsubishi Starmex and Daikin.

    I had my own A/C contractor which I had to coordinate with the renovation contractor but it was not that difficult though it requires at least two visits - one to lay the trunking during construction and another time to install the blowers after your flat has been painted. You will want to inspect the insulation and piping before they seal it up - especially if you bought "upgraded" stuff. But more important, make sure the drainage pipes have a gradient so that condensation water can flow unimpeded from each blower.

  15. Posted

    Unfortunately, EMs are generally asking for exorbitant prices now. The fact that none are being built makes the supply limited and keeps the prices high, so I reckon buyers and sellers are probably holding off until someone blinks. I have owned my EM for 5 years now and asking prices have increased by about 30-40% from what I paid.

  17. Posted

    This unit is now available - minor changes though. MBR is locked as we have moved our belongings in there as is the maid's room downstairs.

    Prospective tenants get the rest of the unit.

    Locals, or Malaysians preferred. It is furnished and in great condition as pictures suggest. We have no kids hence it is in good shape.

    Immediate move-in, looking at around $2,800, negotiable for the right tenants.

    Please PM to arrange for a viewing.

  20. Posted

    No it is not. As mentioned, it is 3 bus stops away if you walk to the main road (Yio Chu Kang Road), it approximately 2.5km away to Nex. It is a similar distance to Lorong Chuan MRT.

    Slated to be available from October onward.

    Several schools nearby, Child care downstairs, five to six coffeeshops within walking distance, two supermarkets, soccer field downstairs and community park at the next block.

    Click on my sig for pictures.

  21. Posted

    No idea what's going on with the PM, here is a baseline for a fully furnished unit in my area:

    http://www.propertyguru.com.sg/listing/hdb-for-rent-123-serangoon-north-avenue-1-14691060

    It is not walking distance to MRT - nearest is Serangoon MRT station which is about 2-3 bus stops away.

    Currently two of the bedrooms are empty, one has a built in wardrobe, MBR is furnished.

    May I ask if you are intending to rent for yourself?

  24. Posted

    hi all,

    thanks for the input.

    My ID says that if the other units in the estate have 2 compressors, then I should be able to have 2 compressors too :) Not sure if its a situation of it being officially allowed or the HDB closing one eye.

    I'm going to go for the biggest BTU's possible as we do entertain.

    Thanks guys.

    Cheers

    DQ

    I would be wary of making that assumption. HDB has the final say and you would not want to be caught in the situation of having to remove one of your compressors for whatever reason.

    Its not hard at all - just key in your post code here:

    https://www.hdb.gov.sg/bn25/isos119p.nsf/Search?OpenForm

    This one "wu pah keh". What your ID say, "boh pah keh".

  25. Posted

    hey guys, really good stuff here :) My fiancé and I also just exercised our option on an EM in clementi and we are now working out our renovations.

    One big question i am trying to work out is: Did you guys install air-conditioning throughout the whole unit? We have a fairly large ground floor with the stair well in the middle of the floor in between the dining and living area, which is impossible to block off from leakage to the second floor. I am wondering if its possible to overcome the leakage with a very high powered, high BTU air con system? Or should we just give it up and use fans instead?

    thanks in advance!

    Cheers

    dq

    You will first want to confirm you can legally install more than one aircon compressor for your unit, some of the older EMs have a load limit as their electrical infrastructure hasn't be upgraded.

    Otherwise your maximum is a System 4 and even then there are limited models that come under the limit.

    I have one aircon blower in each of the rooms plus one in the living room and no I do not "seal" the downstairs living room. I have a glass door to separate the kitchen from the living and dining rooms and when the living room air con is on, the cool air will eventually circulate to the rest of the area. As cool air is denser, it will remain on the lower level. In fact, on some particularly hot days, after I have the aircon running for an hour or two, going upstairs, I can feel the temperature difference!

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