zirhk3355

Then the simplest way is to be frank and ASK; tell your friend that you do not believe such things and you want to go, but if she or her family minds, then you won't go. I am also like you, dun quite believe such things, but I will be sensitive to others' feelings lor. The only time I 'believe' and 'adhere' to such customs is when I really dowan to go to that wedding or funeral and use such customs as an excuse. Oops...

Yup, that's what I did! I got free online papers in office...

Our friendly newspaper man is Mano, 96370583. I usually get my papers at about sunrise (7-ish), but not sure if its because I am staying at #34; maybe they distribute from upper floors then downwards?

Sorry to say this but I think got to be fair in terms of damages also. Water dripping on the parquet will not cause it to rot immediately, much less attracting termites to come. It will take awhile before it happens, the immediate questions are when did you realise that water is dripping and why the delay? If I were the contractor, I will probably argue that you did not call me to rectify the water proofing immediately, in which case would have saved the parquet from damages. Thus, such delay is of no fault of mine and at most I will do up the water proofing only.

Which massage place is this?? How come the masseuse dun charge by timing? Usually they will just start on the dot and end on the dot. You come late, need to change, or in-between go toilet all not counted.

1. Chemical wash is simply to use stronger chemicals to wash your tiles. It can be done on your wall tiles as well, but depends on the quality of the tiles. Your contractor should be able to advise if chemical wash can be done on your wall tiles as well. Usually chemical wash is part of the reno process, but some may take it out as a separate payable item. 2. Are the piping hidden, eg inside false ceiling, behind cabinets, etc? If so, then maybe there will be significant costs involved to remove them. But if not, there is actually not much cost savings to keep the piping. Its always better to change them with new aircon, otherwise if the aircon becomes faulty, your aircon-man will definitely blame it on the old piping. 3. The market standard is whoever made the hole/paint-peel/etc, whoever got to patch it back. But give and take lah, while installing things, its inevitable that there will be holes and some paint will come out. So arrange for your painter to come after everything is installed. 4. No need 'licence', but if the existing IS a fire-proof door, you must replace with a fire-proof one. If its not, then no need. You do not need to inform HDB to change your door, but if anything happens...then u responsible. 5. Touch-up and plastering is a job by itself, but its not very expensive if its just a few holes and tiles. Maybe just some kopi money for the bathroom's installer to help you lor...

Did the TA really says you can do as you deem fit after 7 days?? Do read your rights carefully to prevent any further complications. Usually the landlord will have a right to charge interest after the tenant had failed to pay the rent beyond certain period, thereafter lock the doors, thereafter to sell/rent the belongings. If you throw out their belongings earlier than you are supposed to, then you will be liable for lawsuit as well. Also I hope you have more than one month's worth of security deposit; usually should be two months.

I think your approach is useful for aesthetic items such as nicer finishes, better materials, etc. which I would agree to because that's very personal. I will decide on finishes myself and its not up to the contractor to say what is better or not. No need to mention if you do not even like it. But like I mentioned for item 1, would you prefer the contractor to go by the quotation to make a 12ft cabinet and leave 2ft empty space? Technically they are not wrong, because having initiatives do not seem to pay, so might as well just follow the black and white blindly. You can't fault them, and in the end, guess who is going to pay to redo the cabinets to cover up to 14ft?? Surely not the contractors, because they followed black and white mah! The quotation said 12ft, but the quotation never say must do nice-nice cabinets to cover up the corners properly mah! Sometimes got to give and take, if the works are necessary, you like it, the price is not exorbitant, of course plus you still have some cash to spare, why not?

For item 1, I would put it this way: Do you want your contractor to do a 12ft cabinet with 2ft empty space instead?? Sure the measurement was wrong, that's their mistake, but its also their initiative not go along with the mistake to continue doing 12ft and leave you hanging there. In a way, this is not an 'extra thing' but necessary lor. I would pay for it as long as they can prove to me its 14ft. For item 2, then it is an 'extra thing', but similiarly, the question is do you want it? If you wan the grilles, then you got to pay for it. Its also not really fair to get the contractor to give you FOC just because its custom-built and you know they cannot use it for other houses. They are also earning a living mah. If its for specific reasons that you do not need the grilles at that window, then get them to remove it. If not, just accept and pay lor. Usually my rule of thumb here is that as long as work is done and I like it, I will pay; its not really a mistake lah. When you said 'pay for renovator's mistakes', I was thinking along the line of them making a wrong feature wall, paint wrong colours, use wrong laminates, etc and expect you to pay; for those mistakes of course I won't pay.

Dun care if black cat or white cat, as long as can catch mouse, that's a good cat!! To me, there is no need to 'choose' agent; just let out the news that you want to sell/buy properties, then see who get back to you faster. Sometimes the industry is based on luck - if a lousy agent happens to come across a good/cheap unit and recommends to you, do you meant to tell me that you will give it a pass because you dun like the agent?

Abit off-topic: This issue reminds me of another incident sometime ago, where news were abuzz on how we should not refill the mineral water bottles, esp with warm water because the plastic fumes are harmful to us. Then it went on to say even refill with cold water also cannot, because the plastic will 'auto' discharge harmful toxic after a period of time. Then, after reading more in-depth, I realised all these so-called 'research' and 'public education' campaigns were ran and sponsored by the mineral water companies themselves...duh~!

My general rule of thumb: 1. Items that will not be incurred if there are no one staying inside the property, to be paid by tenant. 2. Items that will be incurred regardless if there are anybody staying in the property, to be paid by landlord. Hence to answer your question: 1. Town Council - owner 2. House/fire insurance - owner 3. TV licence - tenant 4. SCV charges - tenant However, take note that sometimes you might want to pay for these charges so as to value-add to your property, ultimately attracting tenants and asking for higher rental.

The underlying purpose of ALL agencies' advertising is to make you call them. Period.

The everyday carbon monoxide, cigg's smoke, fumes from various solvents such as wet paint, glue, etc are wayyyy more toxic than what you had listed. He*k, scientists have also proven that inhaling too much oxygen is harmful to our body as well! Where do you draw the line?? To stay healthy and live longer, the primary rule of thumb is to eat well, sleep well and exercise! All these external factors not within our control, don't fret too much...

I was using starhub maxonline previously at my parents' flat at one of the older blocks in Tanglin Halt, the connection was **** slow during peak hours. Now I am using singnet broadband and its really much better. Yeah its not a very fair comparison because different blocks, but I still tend to have the belief that singnet is better because its a dedicated line, and I did experience better speed at my new flat.

Yes, businessmen will be businessmen; if there are no gains for them, why do you think they are pushing so hard for this 'clear your trays' campaign to go thru?? Obviously they are merely trying to cut costs - you think they are so free to help make us a gracious society? I dare to say, if a food court operator promises that s/he will not cut the number of cleaners after implementing the 'clear your trays' campaign, plus provide proper clearing stations for us to use, I will be one of the first to support.

Today ST Forum got a letter on this, which I thought in a way it is not totally wrong or ungracious. She complained that food courts do not provide proper areas for us to clear our food trays, unlike Ikea or schools where there is a proper line-up for you to put the utensils, plates, bowls, etc. For me, that is only part of the reason. The main part is the fact that operators are exploiting on this 'clear your own trays' campaign, to save costs and lay off their cleaners, had left a bad taste in my mouth. I have been to a few food courts like Suntec where the operators are pushing for this campaign and most of my cohorts would agree with me that there is a significant reduction in the number of cleaners. Otherwise, most of the cleaners would be stationed at the clearing area to sort out the trays and utensils, while the tables are simply left dirty. Correct me if I am wrong, but I believe the cleaners are still supposed to clean the tables, or has it also became our job?? This had became a touchy topic because the easy way out is to point a finger at the patrons and call them ungracious. Its quite beyond me that no matter what you have done elsewhere, just because you do not clear your food trays, you automatically become a part of this ungracious group of people. The forum letter as below: --- Aug 28, 2008 Here's why I don't return my food trays I HAVE become frustrated by articles and comments recently lamenting the ungraciousness of Singaporeans. My frustration does not take root in any disagreement on my part that Singaporeans should strive to be more gracious, but the fact that, although I have never considered myself lacking in social graces, I have apparently joined the ranks of the ungracious. I do not clear my tray at foodcourts. Before I came to Singapore nine years ago, I would never have dreamed of not clearing my own tray. But at my first meals after arrival, I learnt that was the norm in Singapore. I was actually scolded by cleaner aunties for trying to clear my trays. Leaving my trays has since become a habit. However, I have gone back to my old ways of clearing my own trays (as long as no cleaner is around to scold me) when I dine at fast-food restaurants and Ikea. Why do I show social grace at these places but not at foodcourts? It is for the simple reason that at fast-food restaurants and Ikea, there are places I can return my trays. At the school where I work (and return my trays), there is a wonderful assembly-line setup consisting of a trash can, tubs for dishes, silverware and cups, and a nice flat area to stack trays. All the foodcourts I have been to recently have no visible place I can return my trays. Before we become too frustrated and embarrassed by ungraciousness in society, can we provide the means to be gracious? I would be willing to change my ungracious habit at foodcourts immediately if this were done. Tina Simons (Mrs)

The qualifying income criteria for HDB rental flats (rent direct from HDB or EM Services) is $1500/mth. Though there's another criteria for family or married couple only, its possible to appeal if there is real hardship. If you are saying that your friend does not wish to rent, then maybe its his mindset that needs to change. We cannot compare to those days where our parents earning $1200 can afford to buy a flat; those days a bowl of noodles only $0.50. With inflation, we either need to work hard to increase our income, or live within our means. There are always needs and wants; we got to decide what's important. And not meeting your friend's "wants" does not mean the govt is outcasting him or there's no inclusive society. Next, increasing supply of new flats also does not mean prices will come down; in this current situation of high properties' prices, we STILL have alot of new flats not occupied and we STILL have people buying resale flats at $700K. So the equation of more new flats = lower prices is actually incorrect. Ok, let's just assume that increasing ALOT of new flats, MAYBE can really curb price rise, but it still rings hollow towards the ultimate objective of national development. Price too high, people cannot afford. Price too low, existing owners suffer. Either way, there will be hardship; existing owners with bank loans may even go bankrupt and have their flats foreclosed! So where do you draw the line? How many new flats to be built? How low do you want the price to go? IMO, in terms of "helping", the govt should use taxpayer's money for those cases in real hardship. Anything else, the market should decide for itself and not nanny us like 3-yr-old kids. So for your friend, advise him to go see his MP if he is keen to take rental flat; I think the MP should be able to help.

Starbucks leh! I think at most is Nescafe hor... You had posted quite a few threads peppered with singular questions, which I believed are linked? Why don't you just post your whole story and let the 'experts' try and tackle your situation? Getting answers in bits and pieces is going to make you more confused...

TYM is right; you can't buy a flat while keeping your booking for the BTO; you got to give up your booking first. The resale market is now still flooded with owners asking for high COV, even small 3-rm flats at wulu locations also want to have at least $10K COV. If you do not even have enough for 10% downpayment, how can you even afford the COV? There is always a flat for rent at any (reasonable) budget, but if you are so much in hardship, then you could try applying to HDB for their rental flats. Then again, if you can afford to book a 4-rm flat, dun think you will qualify...

Its not so much whether you are or not irritated by it, but just a matter of time to get used to it. I stayed near the railway tracks previously, every morning can hear the KTM 'choo-choo' train at 6am sharp. After awhile, you don't even notice it. Today, the mrt tracks run just next to my block; although I am on #34, the noise is still very clear. But same thing, I got used to it and don't even realise the noise...

HDB already mentioned they are pegging the HDB prices to market prices; so it has nothing to do with construction costs anymore. About prices going up or down, I think the fact speaks for itself: Compare the prices of the same flat from 20 years to now, you can see a 4-rm flat rising from $60K to $300K, or 400% increase. But for private properties, you probably see something like a 3-bdrm unit rising from $400K to $800K, just a 100% increase. And we still have not consider price stability: A $700K private property today can fall back to $400K-500K in bad times, but would you think its possible for today's $300K 4-rm flat to fall back to $60K-70K?? Like yoongf said correctly, its always the last thing on any owners' mind to sell their flats in bad times, not forgetting all the levies and penalties for downgrading. Till now I have yet to see anyone selling their flat at a huge loss, but only see people buying flats at huge prices. IMO, HDB prices will either remain stable or go up, it will seldom come down very significantly. Correct; its only after a few months and we realised that the prices are never going back up, then we will know ahh, THAT was the peak...

You only pay agent's commission when the agent is doing work for you. If you are confident in executing your part as a seller, then insist on not paying the commission. Do take note of the commission agreement that the agent might push you to sign; once you sign, you pay. Period.

I agree with this part. In valuation, furnishings and fixtures depreciate over a mere 5 years to $0. If your decor is really superb, maybe a few thousand more only. The cornerstone of property valuation in Singapore is still the transacted prices of similiar properties in a similiar environment. Which is why when the HLE is introduced and the issue of COV came about, owners/agents are arm-bending the buyers to pay more and more COV.

Hi guys Just to let you all know we had just disabled ben_ma for his unsolicited advertising of an interior showroom for rent at TradeHub21. Coincidentially, this ben_ma person is highly recommending Le Sense (as below), and coincidentially Le Sense is also located at TradeHub21. So...hmmz...erm...?? I am just listings the facts for you all to see, but decisions are still made by your hands and wallets. Caveat emptor...