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blueriverview

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Posts posted by blueriverview

  1. Posted

    Just to drop a note of thanks to Tim and his team.

    Got a Panasonic system 4 from them and the whole experience went on very smoothly.

    Responsible and upfront about what can or cannot be done.

    Highly recommended and I will gladly vouch for their good service standard.

  5. Posted

    Hi, anyone who can do spray painting on existing window frames?

    I have got ugly blue windows and blue window frames (as part of the building identity).

    HBD not allow to change the color from the outside.

    So I am thinking of spray paint white on the interior part. The outside part to leave it as blue.

    Anyone done this before or know someone who provide such service?

    thanks!!

  6. Posted

    Agree! His prices was the best than the rest of the contractors in Renotalk Forum.

    Thumb up!

    not really. He quoted me even higher then my ID quote.

    While i'm sure his quality is good after so many people vouch for him on this forum, still i advise everyone to do your price comparison and homework before committing to any prices even when recommended as best price by fellow forumers.

  7. Posted · Edited by blueriverview

    Got a quotation from a contractor. Will appreciate all feedback and comments :)

    quote1a.jpg

    are you not doing your toilets also?

    what does the electrical includes? (how many single/double points, downlights etc)

    at your quoted carpentry work price, it better be a good quality type that should allow you to opt for sliding doors, larder units, soft closing, good grade laminates etc

    also $3 tiles....ask them which tile shop/branch exactly...same tile can cost different prices even at different branches of the same company.

  8. Posted

    Well I bought two ceramic sinks that are supported by stainless steel cabinets from Hoe Kee. Seemed like a good idea, won't rust and can conceal the bottles of soap etc. To my surprise rust started forming on the hinges and on one cabinet door with a hydraulic arm, on the hydraulic shaft too!

    Called Hoe Kee and was told that the cabinets are stainless but the hinges are not. Apparently everyone knows that, as the contact person said. Was told to email photos of the rust to them. Then today a Jonathan called me and said that the rust was due to the soap spilled on one of them and the other rusted because I did not keep it clean and dry. In the toilet? Wow. I didn't know I had bought two liabilities.

    Am I the only one who feels let down?

    at least the salesperson at Hoe Kee was upfront and told me all their stainless steel will eventually rust and there are over 1000 over different grades of stainless steel.....so....i still bought their items and prepare myself mentally...

  11. Posted

    Hi I'm currently renovating my old condo so doing full re-wiring.

    My ID gave me this quote and seems really high based on prices in this forum! He tell me cos I doing full re-wiring and just pulling wires from existing points hence pricing is like this. Any views?

    • Storage water heater point $160
    • Telephone point (direct to MDB) $105
    • SCV direct to main box $210
    • Single point (13Amp x 1) $90
    • Double point (13Amp x 1) $200
    • Single phrase 32A isolator (for aircon) $380
    • new Fan point $85
    • new lighting point $60
    • New dimmer switch $85
    • Installation of household lights $15
    • 2-way switch $80
    • DB upgrading of existing circuits and new DB housing $1500
    • Provide 20 Amp oven and induction point $210

    Plus on top of all that, there's an extra $1500 for a licensed electrical works endorsement by LEW - I thought all electrical works supposed to be carried out by LEW in first place??

    pls sack your ID immediately. He's not respecting you as a customer.

    I cannot imagine what other things he is quoting you other then the electrical works.

  12. Posted

    wow...that's the scary part....

    The last fair i went recently..i took their package details for reference only...i do not believe packages work.. either a lot of items are missing or some unwanted items which already factor inside the package...and of coz..no refund :o

    rule of the thumb when visiting such expo shows....never sign anything on the spot no matter how tempted you are. Always take a step back, cool down, think before coming back again to commit. There are no such things as 1 time promotion...promotions are always there.

    I got alot of friends only intend to go to gather info...end up kanna ambushed, sign contract, pay deposit....and get stuck.

  13. Posted

    Thanks friggin! Your place looks awesome.

    Been some time since I updated this place. Sorry about that. ;)

    Have been spending my time meeting up IDs, Contractors, visiting Ikea and the major retailers to get a feel of how much I should be budget. $ has been my top most concern for the past few weeks.

    Am still meeting IDs and Contractors. And as expected, most exceed my budget of 30K. I now have a good sense of the market rate, and I'm gonna try to trim my requirements to fit the budget. Am a firm believer of keeping to initial budget, else it will never end, isn't it? :)

    I'm trying to get a better feel of my non-reno items. I want to work things backward to make sure everything falls within my budget. Remeber what I say about my budgeting principles? Hehe.

    Appreciate if anyone can advise if I have over/under-budget for anything below? I have a column for recommended retailers, so please free to let me know I can good deals!

    nonrenoitems.jpg

    Uploaded with ImageShack.us

    how about your kitchen cabinets, kitchen worktop, kitchen sink and tap? no re-piping of water/gas pipes? hacking wall cost? no floor/wall tiles? all lightings re-use? any relocation of electrical/tv points? room doors re-use? no need to paint the house? installation cost of your sanitary wares? installation cost of your lightings/ceiling fans?

    contractors come in, there will be removal/haulage fees...

  14. Posted

    Dear All:

    Just got a electrical quote (thru ID) and I know that the rates are ridiculous. I expect, and am willing, to pay a bit above market rates since the process may go smoother due to ID Recommendation, but I don't expect to be price gauged.

    Can someone let me know what are the market rates for what they have quoted? Or if you know of a good recommendation, do let me know.

    DESCRIPTION UNIT PRICE

    Lighting Point c/w new switch $55.00 (30)

    Single Power Point (1x13amp) $70.00 (50)

    Double Power Point (2x13amp) $90.00 (65)

    SCV Point $180.00 (80)

    Heater Point (15amp) $150.00

    Air-con power point (15amp) $150.00

    Air-con power point (20amp) $200.00

    Telephone Point $100.00

    MCB Unit $550.00

    Dimmer Control $80.00

    2 Way Switch $80.00

    Speaker Point (normal black / red) cable $55.00

    Installation of normal PLC Downlight / Ceiling Light / T5 Cove light $15.00

    Installation of Pendant light / Looping T5 $30.00

    Installation of wall mount / ceiling fan $60.00

    Installation of instant heater $50.00

    RJ45 Computer point $80.00

    Shifting of MCB unit not exceeding 10ft away from existing point $200.00

    Changing new point's Faceplate $ 25 - 35

    Installation of door bell $15.00

    Hood & Hob point / Heater Switch $100.00

    To run Cak 6E cable for data point $130.00

    To run shaver point and supply shaver switch $220.00

    Heater intergo wire $100.00

    Heater oppanet pair $100.00

    Hacking / Conceal electrical works (Subject to approval)

    Thanks!

    there is at least a 40-50% markup by your ID.

    A few I have indicated in brackets

  15. Posted

    Hi all

    I'm new. I'm purchasing a resale house. I've engaged this 2 companies but I have yet to decide on which one I would like to stick with. Any one has ever engaged with them before?ive read some bad press about homeway recently but that was some time ago.

    I would appreciate if those experienced, share their encounter if they have any.

    Thank you!!

    once bad press...don't take the risk. We only do reno once or twice in our lives...and once done..it stays with us for 5-10yrs.

    My only advise is go with the company reputation...not follow the ID....big companies don't mean they are expensive. Small companies are also not cheap.

    Test your ID....being punctual in meetings...they call you to explain when they are late etc...all these small things will mean alot when you start the actual reno with them.

  16. Posted

    I'm finally getting my keys next week. Currently am looking for a good date to 入宅 and 装修.

    My contractor came back with a quotation which I feel that it is too vague and some points are missing.

    Any kind soul to check the list/quote for me please? :dribble:

    How much is hacking of wall and floor tiles?

    What is the price or homogenous?

    Quotation is below. I know the kitchen carpentry and MBR wardrobe is not stated inside.

    Points were not very specific.

    I will be asking my cousin on more information.

    f7dbec1f7648a3fa7e9b3905be2ce424_zps7b4baa58.jpg

    bc2f089f61f8d990a2d7139b85822fef_zps11fa2e91.jpg

    your quote looks quote expensive. At this price, this better be a quote from a reputable ID firm and not from those 1-2 man show ID type.

    are you doing a complete re-wiring of the whole house? $4500 seem expensive although its only any estimation. somemore no false ceiling/downlights..electricals can't be so ex.

  17. Posted

    Mine is a 12 ft L-shaped wardrobe in laminate finish cost $3,600 and i can only have normal hanging bars, and drawers. I requested for pants hanging bar and bastket, they told me i hv to pay additional. So, i told my ID firm i will buy from IKEA. They said their contractor cannot fit into IKEA measurement??? WTF

    ID will tell you all sorts of story to discourage you from going to your own subcontractors.

    I got the following **** from my ID:

    1) my own window grilles supplier...ID say if my installer remove existing windows and damage the wall/tiles etc...ID will not cover

    2) my own electrician...ID say if my electrician pull the wires along the false ceiling done by ID....anything damage..ID will charge me to repair back false ceiling

    3) my own aircon man...ID say aircon piping run behind ID's cabinets..ID dun guarantee his cabinets will cover the pipes completely.

    4) if I buy my own tiles and my own price from the same tileshop as my ID, ID's tiler will not want to do my job as they will blame my tile quality not good (even from same shop)

    the list can go on and on....its all about the money!

  18. Posted

    We just need to really do our homework before committing to anything with the ID.

    A few important lessons learnt

    1) cheap may not be good. There are intangible things like workmanship of tilings, carpentry (bad, normal, excellent?). Usually if a few ID quote about the same prices and suddenly 1 is much cheaper, we just got to beware. You pay peanuts, will get monkeys.

    2) If you go for smaller ID firms, make sure you know who is the boss and actually meet him. In case of disputes later, only the boss will be responsible to make rectifications. Avoid ID firms with 'no bosses' or bosses never show face before. big ID firms, sure you can find someone there to escalate issues if your ID play punk. Afterall, big ID firms treasure their reputation if you do complain about them.

    3) beware of fineprints, ask them to indicate clearly what is the value of the floor/wall tiles given in the package. Go see for yourself first if that range is acceptable to you. Otherwise, during actual selection, you will be asked to top up here and there.

    4) beware if your ID ask you to go to ulu ulu tile shops. These are usually offshoots (same company but under different shop name) of the main big players. Tiles in these ulu places are marked up further. Exactly the same tiles, same name, same part number even, but prices are another 20% higher. There, your ID will ask you to top up. Make sure you go to the big and famous tile shops to compare and don't get cheated! Don't say small ID firms, even big established ones are using this tactic to make their customers top up on the tiles.

    5) end of the day, reno is a plus/minus things. You may pay more for some things, but IDs will also help you cover for some additional work that you may add in later.

    6) don't follow your ID recommendations to their lighting shops, sanitary shops, curtain shops. Prices are never cheaper then if you find them yourself.

    7) prepare your electrician and aircon man to come and compare quote with the ones recommended by your ID.

    8) the 'everything can' before signing changing to 'everything cannot' after signing is true. Please make sure all items agreed is written down on the contract.

    for those in the process of looking for IDs or contractors, do enjoy the process.

  20. Posted

    Hi all,

    Im looking to buy a resale HDB. Understand that buyer's agent will be paid 1% by the buyer for the successful transaction.

    Can I opt not to have an agent? Does it mean I wont have to pay the 1% agent fees?

    Thanks!

    if you are internet saavy enough to come to renotalk forum, I'm sure you will be able to get the instructions from HDB website for DIY transactions.

    But when u intend to DIY, you may not have access to some good units that are kept within 'agents circle'.

  21. Posted

    Its not your searching skills, I search for it since few months back and it wasnt there. either HDB website is so hard to navigate or my email actually works. Nevertheless, I'm glad the website says it. Now its left with letter. Is HDB going to change the requirements of parents or inlaws printed behind and make sure it is crucial?

    if you had an agent, then your agent screwed up big time. You should get your agent to settle this for you or not pay him the commission.

    Else...write in nicely and politely again to HDB, cc to KBW, LHL and your MP. Ask them nicely for help as you have been misinformed by their letter.

    Sure someone will get back to you within 1 day.

    a complain letter shooting them will not help.

  25. Posted

    normally 30k will come with alot of add-on later.

    you have to check with them what are the type or value of tiles they are quoting you.

    What type of kitchen top?

    What finishing for the carpentry?

    if you just need basic functionality for your house..a contractor is probably enough.

    but if you are very particular about the 'moods', 'taste' factor...you may still need an ID to provide that 'finishing touch' unless you are quite well versed in in design, color, & material matching.

    I'm also still considering to use contractor or ID. But one thing is for sure...any mismatches in color or material..will probably stay on for the next 10-20yrs until you sell off or re-reno again.........

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