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tapilia

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Posts posted by tapilia

  1. Posted

    i was told by a bank loan officer, that before they approve the loan, they will check-up about the company too.

    There are already few cases where some ppl will just keep on open new company, with fanciful names, giving good rates, took yr money and run.

    Some ppl are blacklisted in the bank system. However if they approach another friend to set up a new company, the banker has to be more vigilent to protect the consumer. So in short, there are already ppl who are conning innocent couples who saves up over the years to do a new flat.

    And the problem with PTE LTD company is - on one hand u feel safe bcas its like a big company, on the other hand, if they run away, u can't do much about it. U can't sue much if they decide to close down the company.

    So u make demands that u make payment bit by bit, cash by cash, else u are putting yrself at a risk too. Else, find another company. There are so many renovation firms.

    Or.... look for referral by friends or recommendation. Ask to view the existing owner's house, see a few, ask their opinion how they feel about the ID they engage. Read their hp message, they should have proof of communications over the past months while renovating.

    Don't go for just offers or sweet talkers.

    In yr situation, try to find out the full exact CORRECT name, then thru' yr friends who works in bank(if he has the a/c) or HDB sector, using his name, u will limit to few persons having same name, from there, narrow down to the estimated age by the IC number, then u are able to check the ID's home address (secretly). Make a scene at his house.

  2. Posted

    thanks SUYUN,

    was thinking of going off with the kids for a short 5 days holiday, thus leaving contractors to do up the house...

    By the way, how many rooms did you revarnish, how long it takes to complete the job and lastly how long it takes for the smelll to go away?

    Thanks for the PM?

    it only takes 1 day to complete. Basically its a like a huge vacuum cleaner. It grind and suck the dust at the same time. after that, varnish it like its brand new parquet. U can walk inside the house the following day. It is that simple.

    BUT.... the following is what the contractor DON'T tell u, esp those who are staying inside the house.

    The smell is unbearable. It even irritates my eyes to tears... that i have to quickly run out of the house to breath and to "relax" my eye. its like cutting onions.

    U can't open the window during the first day. Any dust that fly inside the house and makes the floor stuck with the dust as its still 'wet'.

    So u can only ventilate the room the following day. But bcas u are overseas, no one will ventilate the room for u.

  4. Posted

    It all depend on the company and the ID... He can give u FOC he want... if not he can charge u any amount he like.. There is no fix price... U will be a fool to pay for a 3D drawing... the product is likely different from end result..

    Dun waste ur money unless u are too rich...

    Can u show me yr free 3D and also yr actual home done by other ID? Else, its empty talk again. i am keen to view. If its FOC by that ID firm bcas u have signed THEIR contract, then dont bother. Bcas its common knowledge it comes free once u signed it.

  5. Posted

    Hi all,

    I'm looking for IDs to renovate my place. After seeing so many IDs, I have shortlisted one which the price is competitive.

    However, I can't really click with the ID that I asked for (specifically asked for this ID after reading the forum reviews here).

    I'm not saying the ID is no good... just that chemistry this kind of thing, is subjective.

    So I want to ask, is it alright if I ask for another ID within the same company to do the job for me?

    Would the first ID I approach be offended?

    Definitely. Bcas all these ppl are commissioned basis. meaning, no projects, no money. They dont earn by basic salary, or maybe little basic.

    Unless that ID dont want to earn yr money and find that u are a nuisance and pass to his colleague. LOL...

    Why u sign when u can't click? Dont believe totally what u read in this forums here. Always open to more ppl, more ideas. Drink coffee with them, see their present jobsite, talk to their present owners, see if they happy or not.

  8. Posted

    I went around shopping for an ID firm to renovate my apartment, and eventually engaged Jimmy's services from Square Room. I recommend Jimmy's service to anyone who values these attributes from your designer : someone who is responsible, flexible and have no problem going the extra mile for you. To quote an example, i bought a toilet bowl that eventually did not fit, and Jimmy had no problem hauling the toilet bowl back to the shop and returning with one that has the right fit. The toilet bowl is not at all light, and this is not something he needs to do, but he did. I thought by sharing my experience with this post may benefit home owners still shopping around for your ID firm.

    is the toilet bowl u brought from the shops he referred to? if it is, such service is provided by the toilet shop. My ID told me that when he brought me to buy. He said its not the cheapest in singapore, but for sure not expensive but competitive prices. In the event of buying wrong thing or wanna exchange, only need to inform the ID and he will liase with the toilet shop, without the charges.

    i change my items twice when the size abit too big at shower area. What if the ID is a lady, then how? then how to carry? LOL.... Also, to re-deliver is abt $40. He might choose to absorb yr cost.

  9. Posted

    Definitely visit an actual completed unit to check the workmanship. I visited 2 units by 2 different contractors, and I can really see the difference. If the ID tells you he cannot arrange for you, look for another ID.

    One advise is to break down the renovation into stages.

    This was what I did when I renovated my EA :

    My first quotation was only hacking and tiling of 4 bedrooms, 2 toilets, kitchen, painting, etc. The cost was about $20K+. Initial payment was only $2K+. I told the contractor that I have not decided on the kitchen yet. I thought that if I was not happy with the service, I could easily find someone else to do the kitchen cabinet and other works for me.

    After all the tiling works are done, I was satisfied with the work and service, so I decided to engage the same contractor to do the kitchen and other works for me. He gave me a second quotation.

    I have been reading this forum and found that many people easily spend $50K to $60K at one time. If you don't know whether the contractor is reliable or not, it is not safe to pay so much money at one go. I read about cases in this forum about people being cheated by IDs/contractors, so this is my strategy to minimize losses.

    What u never tell us is, in the end, do u actually pay more? Everyone knows that the lesser reno works is done, the more expensive it is. And also, the workers who do good at floor tiles, don't mean the carpenter will be good at their carpentry. So in the end, yr strategy might ended up u paying more. This kinda strategy don't 100% works, unless the designer wanna to take the risk. example, the hacking include clearing debris, as stated in my quotation. So after they hack and u not happy, the designer need to wait for u to finish complete project and keep on arrange workers to clear rubbish? So will u pay in full from the start? what if u refuse to pay the remainder at the end. The designer must be having a hard time to entertain u this kinda customer. I wonder when u eat at restaurant, start to find fault, and refuse to pay later bcas it doesn't suit yr taste. i work in service line previously, totally understand this kinda customers. Wanna reno, scared kena cheated. wanna eat fish, scared fish bone, wanna walk, scared fall down. .... speechless

  10. Posted

    Very funny. why is so many ppl looking for this ah wei and yet he is uncontactable and no one come forward so that we can really see his workmanship.

    If he is so good as mentioned, i guess all his schedule are fully packed then. And a fully packed projects, can he still deliver goods up to our expectations?

  11. Posted

    anyone got used ah wei carpentry before? can i view yr house to see how good it is? pls message me. thanks

    And also the prices he quoted per foot run. i have seen ppl selling $100 for kitchen cabinet, it will be great if ah wei really can afford tat. if not, its another empty talk again. i would love to redo my mum's house at this kinda price

  17. Posted

    i really wonder how can hacking be individually priced. My reno guy told me its by lumpsum. So surprised to see 1 item as $333, another is $342. Anyhow 'bong' the amount? Also, how come hack kitchen floor, the base don't just kena hacked at same time? why billed separately? Which renovation is this????

    It reminds of a reno firm that quote- hack toilet bowl, hack basin. Already got hacked wall tiles, don't all these automatically fall off from the wall? So can i say don't remove the basin & toilet bowl but only the tiles, so tat i do not need to pay installation fees? lol.

  19. Posted · Edited by tapilia

    its very cheap, i would say TOO CHEAP. Will the ID limit yr choice of laminates? i heard of very cheap carpentry, but they limit u ALOT of things. u want nicer, they ADD-ON...... Some laminate are REAL CHEAP. Anyway, best of luck.

    Quality, another question.

    One very important item missing- ELECTRICAL.

    u might be ripped off in this area.

    its called- pull long, patch short.

  21. Posted

    To easyeasy, from the left-view, the cabinet is in CORRECT aligment with the wall. if u want to do it flush, starting from the left, u will realise at the end, at the right hand side, the cabinet will be less deeper by 3 inches. when that happens, can u still put in yr hanger?

    The difference is 3 inches. if not, u can do the cabinet protuding out from the left-side wall, so that u can put yr hanger on all side.

    From what i read, all i feel is, if u dun pay for the cabinet, u will be ok.

    it means u can be 'bought' with money to accept this so-called defects.

    btw, yr friend who claim such quality carpentry is lousy, its VERY common ppl will say OTHERS ARE LOUSY, THEIRS ARE GOOD.

    if yr friend is good, why dun u use yr friend right from the start?

  24. Posted

    i dun see anything wrong with works being delayed. when i reno my house, it happens. when my parents reno the house, it also happen. my bro reno, also happens. it can be mild or major. i dun blame the contractor but the previous owner who create such a big mess for us to clear. Cracked wall, extreme rusty waste pipes which need HDB to rectify first, etc.... workers injured.

    we must be understanding at times. And i am not surprised many times u also delayed yr contractor's work by not having able to finalize what u want and keep on changing and still expect yr contractor to finish in times. I dunno who is this gerald, but i do know many customers themselves are **** irritating too, having been in services line for 10 yrs. u think so easy to do mehz?!

    My contractor explained to me right from the start, to ensure smooth delivery and i totally agree with him.

    Give u one example- u want yr cupboard to be sliding door. yr wife want casement door. both of u can't decide and say give u 2 days to decide. The carpentry ppl cannot possibly wait few days for u, and let the workers sit there to do nothing. So wat will they do? they will do another project by another customer which is ALREADY confirmed. So by the time u decide u want sliding door, its too late already. the carpentry guy will finish their other projects first b4 doing yrs. Who to blame? you lor. Remember something- dun think yr money is **** big.

  25. Posted

    I think $6k is about there based on your scope of works.

    Tiles have cheap ones at less than $3psf *tiles only. (lets say its about $2000-2500 for the entire area you plan to tile).

    Kitchen cabinet top and bottom if 4 feet each means a total of 8 feet. This is the most expensive item in your list. ($1500-$2500 including equipment)

    hacking and disposing of debris is about $300-500, but it should be a one time charge for your entire job scope.

    Sliding door shouldn't cost that much if its simple design and material. Maybe $300-400? A bifold PVC door for the toilet is about $180-$200 incl installation.

    Throw in some bargaining and expectation management, $6k is achievable.

    Pls do yr homework b4 advising. Tile prices at tiles shops does NOT include the labour cost.

    And with present smooth cement screeding flooring, how is it possible for the tiles to grip on it? put super glue?

    To thread starter, sorry to tell u that 6k basically can do nothing. If it can do so much, then there will be alot of idiots, including me to pay 20-30k and above to do our renovations. No offence.

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