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Hi Clement08, Well you can try to call them, but i'm not optimistic. Shifted here 2.5 yrs ago. No reno needed as previous owners did reno 2yrs ago when they moved in and seem to be in pretty good condition. Sold my previous flat below valuation!! Do you think our future flat's height be higher than the actual storey - i mean like if you've chosen 35th storey, it could actually be like 36 or 37th storey's height level becoz of higher ceiling in the 1st few storeys?

Hi, I'm also interested in a penthouse. do u hv a floorplan?

Hi Clement08, Actually our current flat has lots of QC problem.. i mean some of the walls and flooring are not straight or levelled... guess in the 70's when it was built people were not so aware abt the quality finishes tat HDB offers currently. I didnt know tat HDB will allow us to tell them in advance if we didnt want a particular wall! Check out this url.. it has been revamped from my last visit. previously it seem more classy now seems simple. http://www.surbana.com/showcase.htm

Hi Clement08, Yes i also heard fm my colleague that her husband heard fm his friend who works in HDB (duno which dept) that her blk will be slated for SERS but that was like 6yrs ago... but still no leh.. in fact her blk is currently undergoing lift upgrading... i think it's a pity to demolish flats that are still in good condition. They shud reduce as much as possible all the hard work put into building a blk which can take as much as 4 yrs! BTW i've many colleagues who have already been thru SERS - like at Depot Rd, Hillview, Tiong Bahru, Kallang but this year only Commonwealth was announced. guess govt taking it easy otherwise HDB staff can faint with so much work! But then again tats how govt creates money (via CPF for house) Yes, we are lucky in a sense that after ours was announced, the newer SERS flats are expensive - esp the commonwealth one! but that is still a good location but cant beat our super good location and facility! Oh so u've also been planning on the renovation needed for yr future house just like me! It's good to know what u want early so it saves the trouble of last minute planning. So yr flat all the windows are bay windows. There was once i saw on tv a flat whose owners made a seat encompassing the whole of their normal window to a bay window... was really nice. i intend to do like that also. Well my future flats layout will be very tight/small and i want some privacy - so if i convert one of the inner rooms to living room, people/guests wont know the movement of others going out of room and plus think the bedroom will offer a view of the sea. Will need to have good eye to tell ID/renovator to put in light colors to brighten up. Yeah most people think our future flats area is a condo... quite afew of my colleagues are envious of my 'luck' they also want to get a flat there but i tell them "you've missed the boat". Have u visited Surbana One's website. They have written a real nice piece of info on our future flat. Sounds better than Pinnacle @ Duxton

Hi, I was not told about the re-registration thingy!!! hmmm anyway i wanted to change to a 5rm becoz i need a bigger space now then before. Oh the current doors.. was juz wondering it is not the original door by HDB when it was built... so if they had upgraded the doors for the blks 436 - 438 then it doesnt matter how HDB selects an estate for SERS. U mentioned that yr future flat is west facing which will be 'blocked' by the slab blk... what will yr view be then? Hv u been to see the other completed SERS blks like in Commonwealth, Toa Payoh? the 40 storey views are fantastic.. guess u can see Bt timah fm yr future flat. I like the design layout of yr point blk... very squarish and rooms all in one corner unlike the slab blks... I intend to hack one of rooms and convert that to living rm and convert the hall to a bedroom. I really do hope that our future flat will be an icon in terms of looks and set a record in history.. Hopefully the shopping centre will look nice with lots of glass cladding and not concrete! Btw now our blks seem to have lots of Myanmarese renting.

Hi, Wow yr record keeping is quite close to mine... Oh i didnt know that HDB allowed residents to change. I sent an email earlier this year to change fm 4rm to 5rm but it got rejected! I wonder why the underground work is taking such a long time... Holland enbloc the flats are all up to 30+ storeys and the former Westpeak condo is was just demolished early this year is also up to at least 12 storeys! well better late and good then hurry and sloppy workmanship. Can i know since you've stayed in this blk for 18yrs+, when did HDB upgrade the doors?

Hi, sori 4 e late reply as i almost forget abt the posting since this forum is quite 'dead'... my selection date was on the 6th day of the 11 days... i've chosen a 4rm at slab blk since the point blk was all taken by my selection date... ive kept a track on the available floors now.. only 8-10th floors are available at point blk (same also for the slab blk). mine will be on the 27th floor (although i had the chance to select the 40th floor, i didnt and now i REGRET!)... guess i cant do anything but just live with it. Yeah think the point blk residents can move in earlier than slab blk... the underground works is taking such a super long time man!

Hi, v r neighbours! me staying at blk 436 too! hmm the new building is taking sooo long... i remember the temp bus interchange was ready in jun 06 but still they didnt shift till 29 oct 2006. now only 1 side of the future site can see progress although slow..... the other side digging underground 4 soooo long..... sigh.... so how high is yr new chosen flat?

Hi, Can anyone fm here share your floorplan for 4m - 75sqm? Need to know the dimensions before making a big decision. Thanks in advance.

Hi, in my opinion it is not worth it. I'd rather pay for a flat that is well renovated, near mrt n facilities like the one near redhill mrt station. $50k for 3 rm? no way (actually fm your post - it looks like alot of minus points) to buying the flat. Gong xi fa cai

Jeddie, think $10K is enuf to reno those that u mentioned above. Good luck

Hi jeddie, Fm what i read in yr comments, looks like you've done yr homework. Good. Now that the mkt has picked up especially for HDB flats, owners are asking for the world.(recently i heard fm my agent that a 3rm flat owner in blk 326 is asking for $300K. valuation only $225K. last offer $272K was rejected!) It will be worse for SERS case if owner has $30K discount they will surely ask that plus additional. If you have enough cash, buy the higher floor and spend money to renovate nicely, it can fetch higher for the compensation. If you get the lower floor, need not spend money to reno but think compensation might be lower. When i purchased my SERS, i heard alot fm my agents that lower floor flats in good condition can never fetch as high as those in higher floor with reasonable condition. Since last Feb 2007, the govt pays compensation at market rate so i think you can expect a fair deal for the higher floor. Good luck

Hi, Just a private project, dont worry i do not work for the govt. LOL Hi Karen77sg, Yes you are rite. clever girl! I didn't know HDB had such designs... hmm guess those were the old days (ard 90s). Anyone, care to share something like that.... heard fm my colleague that he went to visit his friend who stays in Farrer Rd (not park - the new one). 3rm flat has a huge balcony! very old flat by HDB

Hi people, Just wanted to get some ideas on HDB's unique floorplans like some 4rm have balcony in the master bedroom (Bt Batok before the MRT station), 3rm with full height glass windows in hall (TPY, Redhill old houses etc). If you can share your floor plans here it will help to do my project

Hi all, Good times or bad times, do u really think COV upto $100K for a HDB flat is reasonable? It sounds preposterous! P.S. i paid COV $30K and that is becoz it is a SERS flat. Had no choice as future house is an excellent location. Even if i can afford the cash, I would never ever pay so much!! Hmm juz my 2 cents worth of thoughts.

Hi, Thaj Homes is another branch of Homeway Design at Queensway Shopping Centre. Boss is Indian. Always advertise on Vasantham Central. Read thread on Homeway Design for more info.

Hi, Clementi is a matured estate. HDB is trying to rejuvenate the estate by builiding and intergrated aircon bus interchange, shopping mall, library and houses. Recently Clementi Ave 1 was enbloc. So more new houses will be up too. As explained earlier by one of the forummers it has many good facilities like schools, polys, universities, hospital, west coast park, food outlets etc and it is very near to Orchard (20 mins by bus no. 7). I've been living in Clementi for 20+ yrs. Lots of friend say it is a nice place but can't afford to shift becoz of the high prices. Although i find the price for 2nd flr ($360K) expensive - it is worth it. Alot of demand is there for students and working professionals who seek accomodation. Recently my friend's place at Boon Lay drive got enbloc and it was time for him to select a place. HDB initially offered only Jurong West St 93, 64 but somehow included Clementi last minute. I convinced my friend to take Clementi (blk 462). He saw the recently transacted prices and agreed that it is a good and wise choice.

Hi, From my observation, whenever HDB enblocs certain blks it will build new ones nearby and when residents shift out, that area is demolished and put to flat land for a few yrs before it develops that area again. Eg. the plot of land near redhill MRT station - it was vacant and sold to private developers Status of that land now is currently undergoing superfast construction of a condo! You either take the allocated new location or choose another estate of your choice with whatever benefits you are entitled to.

Hi zirkh, Can you also pm me how you 'grew' your 2 digit?

Hi zirhk, Yes i agree that contractor should not be taking the liberty to show the flat of flat owners without their permission. That day Karen was showing us the flat when the house owner was there BUT i guess she didn't tell/ask the owner. Btw, pretty nice pix you snapped of your new estate. Well done! Real pleasure to view them for those people who don't hv the chance to see in person. Hmm the wonders of modern technology! Well that's progress if you ask me....

Hiya Khriz, Now that i know your name.... I was also there last sat around 2.30pm. Karen the lady contractor fm across the blk was showing people the 4rm and 3 rm flats.... I'm also puzzled as to why the bay windows are sloping down!!!! Saw fm your blog that your unit - whole corridor juz yours alone.... wah so exclusive.... may i know your view is facing which part? Cheers.

HI zirhk3355, Oh you can see Bt timah too!! Hmm tat's what you get when you pay for a high floor!! hahahaha... Fm my present flat (11th flr) i can see Bt timah and the Control Tower thingy... very visible. When it's abt to rain.. i could see the dark clouds and fog during the wet months. Luckily my present flat is unblocked in front and behind.

Hi, Price wise i'm not sure... I have a colleague who bought the Strathmore Avenue flat thru walk in selection about 2 yrs ago.. She paid $256K for a 3rd storey unit!! (4rm - 90 sqm) That's real expensive! So prices may be comparable in all e 3 locations.. of course the better choice would be Dawson Green.. I didn't go and see the SERS exhibition that time whereby a 3D model will be put up (i went to see the Ghim Moh and Henderson exhibition - nothing fantastic... anyway there's also a virtual exhibition on HDB's website)... so can't comment on that.. not sure if the recent news on sky gardens at Dawson is referring to the replacement flat for those staying at Margaret Drive. My observations are:- 1) Tanglin Halt - Blk 90 may not have many high flrs (i.e. if you prefer high floors) or a good facing but it is very near MRT - a plus point 2) Forfar (Strathmore) also same as above but it may be blocked by future Dawson Green flats.. i've been to the 40th flr of one of the blks there.. .wow absolutely green and unblocked! 3) Dawson Green - downside - have to wait longer plus point - can choose your own flr, facing, layout etc At clementi where the 1st batch of SERS flats near the swimming pool - the prices are only little bit cheaper than the future 40 storey flats very near the MRT. I compared the price list which was given during our selection.. Those houses some of them have odd shape rooms!