zirhk3355

Yes, all will sit in a circle, cross legs, hold hands, close eyes and chant, "We will have a blissful marriage! We will have a blissful marriage!! WE WILL BE HAPPY! YESSS!!" Haha...like cult like that...

Erm, likelihood is that the contractor, after being suspended, quickly go register another so-called "sister company" (maybe under wife's name or something) in order to get another licence and continue working. If this is true, totally not recommended at all - very shadowy...

Wah you faster than me. Ok just checked as well; as of now, there is no need for individual agents to be licenced, but they need to belong to a licenced agency. And the good news is, think by 2008 or 2009, the govt is going to implement that every agent must have CEHA. I guess this will bring the industry to a higher level...

I strongly advise not to let the contractor touch your flat. Its illegal to let them continue working on your flat knowing that they do not have licence. You can get fined by HDB for that - don't risk it. As for your liabilities: If at the point of signing, they still have licence and later suspended, you should have the right to void the contract given the change in situation. Even if the contractor was suspended right from the beginning, if you can prove that they had misrepresented themselves to be a licenced contractor, you still have a case to fight. Even if you lose your deposit in the end, I think its still better than getting fined by HDB for engaging unauthorised contractor, worse if they do any unauthorised works, there is ANOTHER fine slapped on you. Emphasise again - DO NOT allow an unlicenced contractor to work in your flat just because of the deposit, totally not worth it at all.

There is no die-cast chrome. Chrome is a form of plating (akin painting) on metal/plastic material, which gives it a shiny look. The material can be any kind, you can't see if its good when its covered by chrome. And since its a plating, just like paint or coating, it has the the tendency to corrode. Somemore its exposed to heat. In that sense, I would feel that aluminium is better, since it has better resistance to heat, it is a whole piece of material instead of just a plating on some unknown metal alloy. But on the other hand, chrome would look nicer because of its shiny surface. Maybe if a good job is with the chrome plating on good material, then it can last lor...

You are right; I am quite biased when comes to homosexuals, which I think is a bane to society. I do not detest individual gays/lesbians, though; I know great people who are homosexuals, but I respect them for their abilities, NOT for their homosexuality. And if it takes being biased to safeguard my children's interests, I will be as biased as I can, mann!

At the moment I don't think agents got licence; seemed like everyone also can be agent. But you need to know the job in order to co-broke mah. Eg if you represent the buyer, you got to get the proper documentation, qualify your buyer (bankruptcy, eligible to buy, etc), help the buyer to check the property for defects, etc. You need access to certain systems and network in order to do some of the stuff, which only agents will have. BTW do you know if an agent does not do the proper, s/he can get sued? So if you are not an agent, nobody can help you leh...dangerous...

Co-broke means two agents are involved in one transaction. One agent will represent the buyer, one agent will represent the seller. Each will get the respective commissions (1% for buyer, 2% for seller), but they will have to do work for the respective parties. For private properties where sometimes the buyer does not pay comm, co-broking agents will share the commission from the seller. Thus you got to be an agent in order to co-broke...

If its a free upgrade then are you sure they will let you deduct? Since they confirm that its Class 0 then ask them to show you lor - its printed on the insulation, cannot run one, tell them don't cho pattern...hehe...

Not co-broke, just a friendly goodwill fee when you inform an agent that you have a buyer/seller. Machiam referring someone to go buy car or other products/services...

Yeah everyone want to earn abit lah, its normal. But do you know that for properties with high price-tags, people neg with agent to reduce the comm? I supposed agent does not know both of you, so s/he would definitely try very hard not cut back on his/her own profits. And so, the more you take from the agent, the harder it is for your relative's friend to neg. I got $300 for a mere 4-rm flat was because the agent is my friend and she knows that I will refer more cases to her. So she cut back on her own profits on goodwill basis and in view of long-term relationship. BTW did you just call up this agent on some flyers or newspapers? Do be careful lor; sekali the agent screw up and your relative blames you. Try to ask around for an agent that you trust, better that way...

Yes, yes, no ill-intention lah. Just trying to help...

I dun think there is even a guideline on such referral fees; most agents give on goodwill basis, hoping that you will refer more cases to them. IMO, you will only get good referral fees from, 1) relatives/friends who are agents, or 2) desperate agents. BTW, the agent does not get the full 1% comm; remember they got to give back to their company as well? The company usually take 30% to 5%, depends on the level of the agent (company takes more for junior agents). That will leave a junior agent with, say, 70%. If s/he gives you another 30%, they only got 40% left. Agents who are established may not be keen to do such cases, unless on friendship basis. I did refer a buyer-friend to my agent-friend before, the buyer-friend bought a 4-rm flat and my agent-friend gave me $300. But since its all friend-friend, I in turn gave $150 to my buyer-friend; everyone is happy lor.

Well there may not be statistics to prove this (because it would be discriminatory to collect such statistics), do think about this: Since you had found yourself having crushes on girls when you are in a mixed school, where there are boys and girls, won't the chances of your crushes increase if you are in an environment where there are only girls? No need statistics to prove this, its mere law of probability. As they become more associated with having crushes on the same sex, surely a number of them will become convinced that homosexuality is the way to go. And thus, these few people will turn into gays and lesbians permanently. Sure, that can also happen in a mixed school, BUT because the number of crushes are lesser (cuz don't have so many same sex to have crush on mah), the number of homosexuals becomes lesser. Again, no statistics here, just mere law of probability. As for English, yeah you are right they form the minority in their school, and that's because of their families' background, whom are not English-speaking. Thus what I was trying to say is that being in a convent/girls' school does not automatically makes one proficient in English; other important factors are like family and peers. Hehe, you put it in a nice way. Maybe I shouldn't have been so strong with my words...

Marriage counselling is good because it will let you see the real personality of each other. This is important especially when you have a soft heart and/or don't know what to do now. But you got to brace yourself for the worst too; counselling DOES NOT save your marriage. It lets you understand each other better and show you if the both of you are suitable for each other. I saw alot of people going for divorce after counselling because they realised they are not suitable. But its good thing, of course, if not suitable better part now than later when there are more implications. Good luck!!

If homosexuals are natural, why are there more homosexuals in single-sex schools than mixed schools? So coincidence meh, all the homosexual babies end up in single-sex schools? Hehe...but of course, I am not saying ALL graduates from single-sex schools are homosexuals lah, otherwise the govt would close them down liao. Just that the number is higher than mixed schools, so the probability of your daughters being influenced is also higher. For me I will still try to get my daughters into radin mas first, really cannot then go CHIJ lor. BTW for english, its more of an overall environment, which includes your family. I have several friends from convent schools as well, they got bad grades for english but hokkien/teochew can speak very well!

Re-upholstery involves customisation to suit your chair, not forgetting to get extra materials. Many new items are mass-produced, where the manufacturers cater for the figures they need and order accordingly. Machineries, moulds, templates, etc are all pre-fabricated and used over and over again. In that sense, it is actually cheaper to buy new...

I heard good comments about karplan as well - got quite a few friends studying there. Very professional, no hardsell like other private schools, and conducive classroom environment...

Erm, the link is still there in the 2nd post under mace leh...keke...

Should try yousendit.com This files-upload.com is not stable and always make you wait for the download so as to make you stare at the ads, hoping you will click on them...

You are so diplomatic!!

A tougue-in-cheek reply from me, but I am serious about it: Do you want your child to have a higher exposure (and perhaps *touchwood* higher tendency) to homosexuals?? If not, don't send them to a single-sex school. Don't mean to offend you normal people from single sex schools, but you have to admit that you do see more homosexuals than your counterparts in mixed schools.

You don't have to "accept it" or just "resign to fate". Like I said, you can still have what you want, but take from a different angle lor. While you dun feel good that your husband went back his old self, do you know what he thinks? He may be thinking, "why you kept trying to change me?? I am like that one mah, before marriage you know already!" Which goes back to the saying...hehe...you know what...

Ohh oh, just checked the forum and found this is the renovation con-men that the others are talking about. Well, at least you can count yourself lucky that they did not disappeared after doing the flat halfway...

Sorry what do you mean now they have disappeared? Did they close down? Sorry to say this, but I always think that such 5-yr warranty are a farce and I will never pay extra for it. But since you had already committed (and obviously paid a higher price for it?), do check with the authorities on your rights. CASE is one example, you can also check with RADAC. But I don't think you can make a police report on this because its not criminal; the police will just give you the usual scripted 'this-is-a-civil-case-you-got-to-file-with-sub-court-yourself' speech. In that case maybe you can consult a lawyer lor. Erm, but if you don't mind me, this seemed to be too small a case to fight lor...not worth the legal fees lah. All you could do is when the repairs/defects come up, go file a case with small claim tribunal and see if you can get back some money...