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dumb

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Posts posted by dumb

  3. Posted

    In order to brighten up my house that is lacking in natural sunlight due to the limited number of windows, I am thinking of having pure white walls coupled with white furnishing, including kitchen cabinet ... maybe a dark colour solid top for the kitchen ...

    Anyone with the same type of decor at home... does it last??? Or becomes dirty very easily...

    In my previous flat, my mbr was painted all white. Even toilet wall and flooring was close to while colour. Now I moved to a smaller flat and I painted my mbr light blue. I re-use the lightings from my previous flat. Though current mbr is smaller and without wardrobe, unlike previously, I find the room noticeably darker.

  4. Posted

    You could have specified the matter before renting out. Otherwise, as long as it doesn't affect him, why should tenant care about cleaning the toilet after use.

    Some tenants, like mine, could even use toilets without replacing the lights that have blown off.

  5. Posted

    The lightings shop where I bought some lamps recommended me a freelance contractor.

    Remove one lighting point in kitchen and in place install 2 lighting points with 2 switches.

    Remove one lighting point in living room and in place install 2 lighting points with 2 switches, one of which is 2-way.

    Install my new lights for all 4 points plus 1 in bedroom.

    Total charge came to $130. Paid him $140 cause I was satisfied with the job.

  7. Posted

    The entire ceiling of my HDB flat is gypsum boards supported by wooden cross beams. On top of my ceiling is a huge nest, about 1.2m looking straight at it. The nest is located at the end of the ceiling i.e. kitchen/toilet above.

    Town council and pest controller can't give confirmation of what nest is it looking from a distance somewhere in the middle of the flat which has an opening in my store room. They said it's a bird nest and not active and will revert next week to get rid of it.

    Anyone knows what nest can that be? It's huge and it's like for a colony of whatever birds or insects.

  9. Posted

    Need advise on this:

    1. Does the number of lights bright up every area sufficiently, especially the living area without any lights in the middle?

    2. Is the switch plan to control the lights feasible for the living area? Or more switches better?

    Thanks!

    04-204520257-CelingLightingPlan.jpg

    Lighting in LR definitely enough. I have got 3 on the balcony side and 2 on each of the other sides with 4 hologen lamps on the 4 corners. Each bulb is 10w PL. Usually I on 5 lights and it's bright enough. Seldom I need to on the other 4 and the hologen lights with dimmer is rarely used.

  10. Posted · Edited by dumb

    I just took possession of a 3rm resale flat on 15 Sep. There was not much reno done by the previous owner except for a kitchen cabinet and ceramic flooring in LR and laminate in BRs. No window grills.

    I only changed the toilet bowls $470 and painted the flat $700. Spent $140 removing 1 lighting point and installing 2 lighting points each in the kitchen and the living room. Purchased lightings $290. Last item is to replace the old water heaters and taps and lightings for the rooms.

    I am ready to move in anytime from my EA. But many things can't get into this 3rm flat and I am having problems my upright almost 6ft piano, 6ft sideboard and 6ft sofa set with 2 arm chairs and 2 side tables and a coffe table.

  11. Posted

    Recently bought a re-sale HDB flat. b4 valuation, ex-owner proposed to take away the build in oven, i agreed, but when valution report came to me, the oven is inside the valuation. Is this normal or should i ask to rebate the oven valuation? Appreciate ur valuable advices.

    You agreed to buy without valuation and without built-in oven. So what's your problem?

    A buyer doesn't a valuation if he is paying cash. You need the valuation only for purpose of loan or use of cpf.

  12. Posted

    Unless he pays the rent, be firm and tell him to pack up in 3 days and you will refund him his balance deposit. Even if he pays the rent, tell him to get lost by 13 Aug as there is no point retaining such tenant. Deposit is not meant for offsetting rent.

  13. Posted

    <!--quoteo(post=532021:date=May 17 2010, 09:15 AM:name=jtcp82)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (jtcp82 @ May 17 2010, 09:15 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=532021"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Hi All,

    Care to share how much do you think is enough if you are retiring at the age of 62? <img src="http://www.renotalk.com/forum/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":)" border="0" alt="smile.gif" /><!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    Must breakdown into many items first (eg, medical, tpt, angbao(give away), .....) & sum up these, reflect mre accurately. Those mentioned in newspaper can "read", can't believe. When I "more free", will do a sum up, ok?

    I'm back: aportion to monthly base

    1. Transport (car, fully paid)- $200(petrol), maint($100), insurance +roadtax($150)+ parking($120) = $570

    2. Daily expense (food + misc) - 30 x 15 = $450

    3*. Angbao = 0 (out=in)

    4. Special occassions(see movie, entertaiment) (say 2 in a month) - 2 x 50 = $100

    5. Normal sick, GP (1 in 2 month) - 50/2 = $25

    6*. Personal Insurance premium = 0

    7*. Hospitalisation = 0

    8. House loan (fully paid)=0

    9. Clothing(inc underwear, shoe, sock, etc) - $50

    Any more? 570+450+100+25+50 = $1195, round up to $1,200/per month (present money valve)

    Even if house loan = 0, there are many other expenses not listed above.

    SCC and property tax

    Utilities

    Tel and internet and newspapers

    Presents, donations etc

    Toiletries, no need hair cut?

    Equipment that need replacement after 3 yrs, 5 yrs, 10 yrs. Your bed, mattress, tv, computer, fridge and washing machine etc will not last forever.

  14. Posted · Edited by dumb

    hmm not really, i don't agree look only at psf.

    u have to look at whether u need the space or not, for e.g., only 2 people staying in the house, no need to buy 5room. Though on a psf basis, price is higher for studio, the absolute price for 5rm is very much higher.

    Hence, for old people who cannot take on too much loan (on absolute amount), they have to settle for a smaller space.

    Im just curious as to why there is an increase in BTO for studio especially in matured estates. There should be a demand out there, and if so, are those people actually downgrading to cash in on their current houses?

    Personally, the old people i know (my parents and in-laws)are unlikely to shift as they are really used to the environment and people.

    When i am old, i might consider getting studio. As it is now, the housework to do in a 3 room flat is tiring enough..

    I am not saying 2 old folks need to buy 5 rooms, but doesn't mean they have to ignore other factors. What I am trying to highlight is that SA is very very expensive and HDB is squeezing the most out of old folks by making them think that SA is "affordable and good value for money" and "perfect answer to your need" - words used by HDB.

    Let's look at the pricing of Golden Lily at Tampines based on the lowest prices -

    SA $76,000 (37sm) or $2,054 psm or cost per year psm $64.47.

    SA $96,000 (47sm) or $2,021 psm or cost per year psm $67.38.

    2rm $120,000 (47sm) or $2,553 psm or cost per yr psm $25.79.

    3rm $194,000 (68sm) or $2,853 psm or cost per yr psm $28.82.

    4rm $294,000 (93sq) or $3,162 psm or cost per yr psm $31.93.

    5rm $362,000 (113sm) or $3,204 psm or cost per yr psm $32.36.

    But the SA is only for 30 years and cannot be sold in the market. It need to be returned to the lessor based cost less unexpired lease.

    To sell SA at those prices is crazy just because the buyer cannot afford a proper 2rm. The difference between SA and 2rm (highlighted in red) for same size is world apart. The 2rm is slightly more by $24k but got full 99 years and can grow in value or sell in the market compared to SA that has no value.

    Value for money is 2rm.

  16. Posted

    Hi,

    I'm looking for movers specialised in moving (upright) piano.

    Anyone has recommendation? Thanks!

    Btw if the piano cannot fit into the lift, that means the workers have to carry it up via stairs.

    I stay in #24 wor.. I suppose the mover will quote more depending how high the unit is?

    *haiz.. pity the workers if they really have to carry the piano via stairs.. :(

    3 years ago I paid $200 to move my piano to my new flat. They had to carry it down 4 levels.

  20. Posted

    Hi everyone... Need some advice

    I'm an owner of a ground floor EM at Woodlands, about 5 minutes walk to Admiralty MRT. Got the house almost 3 years ago, at around 370k, excluding 8k cov. At that time, did a full reno that costs me around 60k.

    There are only 3 of us staying in the house... Me, wife n 9yrs old daughter.. Now the house seems a little too big for us... The thought of shifting n selling the house suddenly plays in my mind. Before this EM, we were staying at a 5rm flat at Bt Panjang. So I thought of moving back to a 5rm flat or the older 4rm flat, with ard 110-125sqm, at woodlands area too. At the moment, I roughly estimate the valuation of my house to be +-500k, excluding cov.

    Is it wise for me to sell now? Or should I just hold onto it? Its not about the monthly installment, cos we can certainly afford this EM.

    Any opinions or suggestions??

    Thanks in advance.

    HDB as well as many condo now rarely build large flats. If you have no other reason than it's too large, I stick to the EM. I am also a family with a child. We lived in a 163sm hudc apartment. But when we moved to an EA of 143sm, I find it small. I miss the size of my master bedroom, the size of the 2 toilets + 1, the living room, the dining room, the balcony, the kitchen and wash area as well as the storeroom and the back door. The 20sm makes a world of difference in all the areas mentioned. Even the main door is wider.

  21. Posted

    If I remember correctly, during the first HDB appointment, the buyer, seller and HDB will fix the second appointment on the earliest date possible.

    If seller wants more time then both agree on a later date for second appointment. I think HDB will agree to a max of xxx weeks only. Buyer should not agree with seller on any other date than the agreed second appointment date as the completion date. HDB will make an inspection before the second appointment and a final inspection just before second appointment. If seller fail to make the second appointment there will be daily penalty.

  22. Posted

    The question should be who decide (or control) the COV rather than what is a reasonable COV as there no such thing as reasonable COV. Affordable - may be?

    Valuation amount is the fair value assigned to a property on a willing buy willing seller and for what it is basis and usually COV should be the extra that the buyer is willing to pay due to personal reason that valuer cant and wont quantify.

  24. Posted

    That is HDB record which I believe is record after 1st appoint or may be 2nd appointment. Confirm sale.

    While those under ERA and other property company, their record is record down once OTP exercise.

    There is a gap of 3-5 mth

    The resale price which includes COV in HDB website should be after the second appointment when the deal is done. Second appointment is usually within 12 weeks from date of submission of OTP.

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