zirhk3355

Thought I already posted that this company had its HDB licence suspended? Lazy to repeat...erm, pls do a search on the forum...hehe...

Erm usually quite hard to detect unless you force the contractor to show you all the documents for the showflat, eg receipts, reno permits, drawings, etc. But the thing is these uncles and aunties contractors always work with each other, so they can easily pass off the documents by saying its their sister company or group of companies, etc. Even those photo albums you see at the contractor's office can also be of another flat. Anyway don't worry lah, this doesn't happen very often. Usually they will help each other out by using other people's flat as showflat, so I was quite amused when he asked me directly. Maybe I look like a contractor or that he is really desperate lor.

Bro why not we live and let live lah. You know Singaporeans, if we know that this guy is a contractor coming in here to fish for business, we will not bother with his advice, less ask him any questions. Usually people fishing for business are the sales staff, high-comm and low-basic, don't think they got time to do long-shot sales pitch like that. Erm perhaps I am too optimistic, but maybe he is a sincere contractor wanting to give free advice for nothing in return??

Do you know that there are contractors/IDs bringing people to flats not done by them?? My flat is at a new estate with alot of uncles and aunties downstairs. One of them even had to cheek to make me that 'indecent proposal' for him to bring people to see my flat, promising me a small amount of payment. Anyway, 'fake' showflats aside, even if they bring you their best units also doesn't matter; as long as they can do up such unit then its good enough lor. Sometimes reno depends on the location, condition of the flat and other unforeseen circumstances.

ACRA one got to pay $5, its at www.acra.gov.sg. Go find 'bizfile' or something like that to get the company profile. It will show you when the company is registered, how many directors/shareholders, paid-up capital, etc.

Haha...nice eh?? But you haven't got the complete sarcasm yet; the point is to say "I don't want to screw up YOUR schedule" and see their mouth drop open as they realised their trick had backfired on them. However please, don't judge anyone with this lah; always the quality and service. Sales pitch everyone will make one, otherwise how to do business? Someone who make a lousy sales pitch (like this "show-customer-their-receipts" trick) doesn't mean their work is no good.

Yeah I guess the usual contractor-cum-ID that everyone is using here should suit you best lor; they are not very ex and also can give some design ideas. There are alot out there, just be careful to check if they got HDB licence and maybe run an ACRA check on their background also. Real ID can be very expensive because of their focus on design works, drawings and ideas - expect to fork out a few ten thousands just for their design only, no work done. Not recommendation unless you got really deep pockets...

Wow, your unit downstairs got people move it liao? But if they want to move in during this reno period, they expect serene environment like Botanic Garden meh?? Tell them to get real lor...

Bro a wall only cost a few hundred and the seller would have already moved out before any works begin; what inconvenience are you referring to? And to exchange for a higher price of few thousands (or whatever amount, just an example...) for that, don't know about you, but I will definitely do it! Aiyo, let's not argue for argument's sake. Of course if the buyer wants to do it then must be worthwhile for him. Yes you are right, this can only happen if buying below valuation lor, and who is to say now very hard to find? If I can find a flat selling below valuation now, how much you want to bet with me?? Stick to the point...sometimes no need to always have the last word, bro...

$1k is too tight lah. Toilet bowl alone is a few hundreds liao and painting of the whole flat is at least $300+ (freelance, unknown quality). For doors, remember that you cannot just change the doors, got to change the door frame also because its made-to-measure. Each set usually cost about $300 also. BTW, how about painting the flat yourself? Might be fun if you got some brothers to help you along...

Nowadays there is a thin line between contractors and IDs. Some contracting company just change their name, cook up some drawings and call themselves "ID". So if you are talking about saving real amount of money, you need to deal direct with every single contractor for every single works. However, if you are not technically-inclined, its very easy to screw up. Got to weigh if worth it or not...

It depends on how you look at it. Yes, "as is" condition, but if I am the highest price, the 2nd price is like few thousands lesser and this is my condition of sale, would you do it? Also, handing over of keys is usually at 2nd appt, so the owners would have already moved out by then. They can easily adjust the date of the 2nd appt for the original owner to move out and do up the wall. Matter of timing only, as long as there is an agreement in black & white. But then I won't do it this way: I rather spend money to do it myself because the owner can just any-old-how make a lousy wall. The disadvantage is that I have to pay for it in cold, hard cash lah...

I beg to differ; this is one of the more creative web designs I had ever seen and liked it alot. There is nothing on that submenus that you had selected - it was just trying to show you the types of product they have; maybe when they got new pics they will allow us to click on the submenus... Sorry what is their payment terms like? I haven't been to their shops yet, and there is no payment info on their website...

Price can range very widely, you sure as long as its cheap, you will accept any quality?? No right, surely some form of 'basic' quality mah. And there lies the problem: Everyone's definition of basic quality is different. Thus I suggest that you put your budget for us to see and maybe we can advise if its reasonable, and/or give further suggestions. BTW don't bother too much about what poorman or richman lah; everyone here is on a budget as well.

Aiyo, then so troublesome, might as well just put in black and white that the wall must be erected before the 2nd appt. Don't get involved in such indemnity issues or having to apply anything on behalf. Will invite more trouble only...

Next time someone try to pull this trick on you again, straightaway tell him: "Oh, you got so many customers on hands now?? Hmmz, then I think I better not come in lor, otherwise you so busy, later screw up your schedule also not good..."

What about installing it illegally? Oops...hehe... Anyway, for those instant heater that is connected to a single shower head, isn't it the same that you gotta let the water flow awhile first then it will come to the desired temperature? I am using that at my current flat and usually the water will be very hot for the first few seconds. I am sure there is a hybrid water heater out there, running on both electric and gas. But sighz, again our conservative HDB sure won't allow it...this one cannot, that one cannot...

Its supposed to be an instant water heater, operate on gas. However accordingly it is supposed to be as good as electric storage heater, supplying hot water to every tap in the flat...

Hi the gas water heater really is as fast as the instant heater? What happens if you got two persons bathing at the two toilets at the same time? Will the heater be able to maintain the temp of the water? Anyway the temp of the water cannot be too high lah, imagine you have water at 100degC coming out from the tap, that's really dangerous!

Storage heater is different from instant heater, where the former is used for all hot water taps and the latter is connected to the shower-head directly and used solely for that purpose. Thus usually storage heaters and gas heaters are fixed in the kitchen and not in any of the toilets. Even more so for the gas heater, because it uses gas to ignite a flame that heats up the water, it would be safer to place the gas heater in an open place. In Tanglin Halt we were lucky that we were given concealed hot/cold water pipings that goes to all the taps in the house. Thus just install one storage/gas heater in the kitchen, we can have hot water in the kitchen and both toilet. Pic as below: Notice the red/blue strip stickers? They are the located of the concealed hot/cold water pipes respectively. Also, notice the 'U'-shaped pipe on the wall? Its actually connecting the hot/cold water pipes together so that both pipes supply cold water for now. My contractor is supposed to cut off the U-shaped pipes, and onnect the gas heater to the respective openings (red for hot water, blue for cold water).

OIC, thanks for your kind explanation. BTW most of the DVDs in JB are now copied directly from master disc. Film-in-theatre versions are usually early stand-ins to cater to people who wants to watch the latest movies fast. After maybe 1 week, they would get their hands on the master discs and dub the movie from there. You can even exchange the film-in-theatre version for the better version. As for the MDA's role, I am not surprised. However, they are also not wrong. Intellectural property rights (IPR) has always remain a private issue, where the bigger concern for the govt is censorship and media content. Like the eg you gave in the last para, the company will have to take up civil suits for IPR and that happens in all countries, I think.

I think this thread has no hope of returning to topic, thanks to this 'buay-pai-say' threadstarter! Com'on, its only 4 bucks, why need to degrade yourself and be ridicule by everyone here like this??

Speaking of those China imported CDs/DVDs, I am quite skeptical. If they had came from authorised dealers, why can't the record companies do anything about it? They could just enforce that the CDs/DVDs be for local distribution only and not to be exported out from China. Thus I suspect that these China CDs/DVDs are just as "pirated" as those in JB.

Citygas' one is a "gas water heater", its very small so I supposed it doesn't have a very big tank. According to the website it can heat up water instantaneously. I am having doubts, but since its free so try first lor, if cannot make it then buy storage heater. It acts like a storage heater, placed in your kitchen with the pipes running into your two toilets.

You are lucky that you encounter this kind of two-headed snake contactor earlier. If you had gotten your keys, I bet he will be all smiling and literally begging you to give him the project on the spot. Such people are probably lowly commission-based sales staff and their top priority is to get as many contracts as possible NOW. Anything in the long-term does not interest them. Steer far far away from them is definitely good for you.