stoutkid

Remember I gave you a list of the cheap lobangs for buying electrical goods at the sgbride forums? I made comparison for the models of washing m/cs I want from 7-8shops from that list. In the end I bought my washing m/c from Kong Tai cos cheaper. You can call to ask. GAB's price was not bad think a few dollars difference only bah. However, I more DUI buying my LCD TV from parisilk...thought I got cheap deals and in the end I can get the same model buying from Kong Tai + the FOC HTS. then $300 CHEAPER k. Got "blaff" from the ad they advertised on papers last week.

Window grills...one day can be done. Not sure about other stuffs. Going to buy my washing machine later at the cheap electrical shop at JW. Had made comparisons at vairous neighbourhood electrical shops that Kong Tai at JW offers the "best" deal already. Others differ by few dollars only. So what other electrical appliances are u getting soon?

Hi summer, I don't have a blog eh...only Hubby does. I dun have time to monitor blog. That time before wedding used to have one for wedding (w/o much details). Then now no more monitoring cos wedding was over. Alot to clean up for my new house. Hubby has been monitoring the contractor worker's progress everyday. My contractor is very busy..heard from his electrical foreman that they got 7-8 projects currently. Been running around like mad to do electrical fixings. hehe Anyway, hubby told me that the house opp me is a contractor too. Hee..the neighbour besides me is a small Chinese family (China eh). The contractor neighbour will be noving in in Nov after his kid's exams. Think we will be disturbed by their reno noise after moving in. So eager to see the house in its complete shape!

I plan to “move in” on 25th Sep (Tues)...15th day of 8th lunar month also a good date as it’s "Zhong Qiu". Other furniture will move in batch by batch loh around that period. 25th Sep is only a mini ritual, to pray and make offerings, to cook rice etc. For safety purpose i think. *shrugs* I have spent 1K on lightings excluding downlights. My contractor told me our house will be ready latest next week. They are doing painting works now. Final bill of total reno yet to be settled as we still add this and that. We had changed to tank heater instead of instant heater as we want to have both hot and cold water running at same time during shower. Last min told contractor that we want to install window grills...“instructed” by MIL. Was told that it’s would be about $600-700. If exceed, my contractor will pay for the additional costs. Shall settle ALL bills next week loh. I realised curtain making is also another lump sum to pay. *sweat*

My Reno Pics

Dmcmat > Have told Mr Tan about your case. He will contact you today. He had forgotten about your call. Mr Tan brought me to buy bathroom accessories and lightings at Hoo Kee and Ray Lightings at Jalan Besar yesterday. He knows them cos had done some reno at their place before hence I could get some discounts further. I got some pics but yet to upload. Shall update again k.

Hi dmcmat > You need to give him a ring again. Or call his office to leave a note at his office, get his assistant to contact Mr Tan. Age is catching up on him. He told me that they will come back to you within a week latest to fix defects once reno has completed. Chide him for their unsatisfactorily service if required. Summer > Have re-sent you my quotes already. Got it? My WIW and Kitchen Cabinets were done yesterday. They got them installed over 2 full days. Nice job! Left only racks and shelvings to complete. Proposed to complete the carpentry by next week.

Ok, will email you when I go home. With some pics too. My office blocks us from emailing liew. Cant email you during office hours. Of course can come to our house when it's done loh. With furniture or what?

Saw that our showerscreen also done and the glass door for kitchen also completed. Looking forward to see more stuffs up. To update again.

Agree with Bullet, it's bst to talk things out again. Unless both parties agree to top/bear additional charges else dun do better. Have bought my sofa, tv console and coffee table from home2be yesterday at liang court...so happy at leat a burden off the chest. Also bought my built in oven on friday at Kong Tai. Ariston brand. Then went to find Mr Tan at his shop, cos Liang Court to Everton quite close so thought of popping down to select the colour of our wardrobe again cos that time I was told no stock on the design. Then Mr Tan happened to be there with a couple (whom I suspected to be intro by me). Strong feelings though. They signed with him too. Saw their dealings..hehe... Anyway, the thing was, Mr Tan was asking us if we like to go to their factory to see our wardrobe and kitchen works. In fact, he had already selected a close design to the one we chosen before already...still acceptable...else I would get him to re-do entire thing. !! Saw the FOC pull -out tray given by MR Tan into one of our kitchen cabinet liew...large size type...very exquisite. Mr Tan said I "tan tio" cos he said this one cost $80 and the one given FOC is smaller type and costs $50. !! So we inspected the half-done and done items...very good workmanship! This we need to compliment. We spoken to the carpenter who done our kitchen and wardrobe cabinet...also compliment his neat skills. Then Mr Tan also invited Hb and I to stay for the seventh month dinner. The factory is located at Tong Lee Building then all companies had their combine celeb dinner below the buidling .Then Mr Tan was the "towkay" for this yer so extend his welcome by inviting us for the dinner. Keeps pouring us red wine..till me and HB became "lobsters" when travelling on the train. Tee hee..also saw his group of electricians and carpenters at the dinner. His own company's 7th month dinner to hold on monday so think we will need to postpone getting him to bring us around to buy our lightings. Mr Tan told us all our built-in stuffs will be ready to install next week too. L Box already up. The aircon will be up tomorrow (latest). Then the furniture we bought will be delivered next Sat...need to be around when they arrive. Inspection is needed. Shall update again tomorrow. We plan to visit the house every evening starting tomorrow. Hee.

Oh dear, hope to settle it nicely tonight. No one would like to revise pricing when agreement has been signed (unless both parties agrees to change).

Hi summer, How come change in price? Alot of discrepancies not? What are the changes that he proposed? Does it cound reasonable (though you wouldnt want to fork out more cash eh)?

Had met up with Mr Tan again yesterday. That was quite a tiring process. We met up to discuss on furniture layout, he took actualy measurements and seek our advise on interior display of our walk-in-wardrobe and some lightings' positions. Saw his group of workers to fix up the electrical wiring to prepare for the installation of L-Box in the living and dining area. We spent nearly 6 hours for the entire discussion. Terrible day...din know it's such a chore eh. Mr Tan will rush out the drawings for viewing soon. We still need to re-select our cabinets colours, choose paint colours, toilet accessories, oven models, lightings fixtures etc at another session. Saw something done up for our foyer, quite pleased with the design. Shall update the progress again.

Summer, HB & I sort of discussed the colours for the wall last time but din go into details cos we have yet to pick the colours/materials for the kitchen cabinets, wall tiles etc. That time still early to discuss eh. Yup, saw ya house pics..are those pics taken before any reno? Guess, you would want to make a b4 and after transformation huh. My MIL just had a knee-cap surgery so my FIL needs to take care of her at home, they cant assist us for the reno inspect during operation hours. Likewise for my family, u know eh, .hubby not around, my dad just started his chemo treatment lately, my mum needs to take care of him (not much time to rest already let alone helping me to oversee reno inspection during the day) then my sisters also need to manage their own matters...thus cant rely on family to run errands or inspect reno for me. Must become superwoman liew..haa...They dun have much comments on our selection of materials and colours cos everything haven’t really started eh. I would say my mum is the hardest nut to crack in my reno project. Currently, only the floor tiles are almost done, she saw them when visited my hse last week then say me “not good” at selecting floor tiles’ colour...yellow yellow..not “Da Fang” enough.. then currently u know there’s this kitchen wall tiles issue and it’s yet to settle ...she said “how come you din see properly if they had written properly on the form or not?” (if I know the office gal dun know those stuffs I would have checked already lah...somemore it’s the office gal who intro me the model too). More . She sure got 1001 things to “complain” when more works are done. However, she offers to HELP me choose the colour of my cabinets and floor tiles colours if we do need to re-select again for the kitchen (that is if the HDB contractor is not going to redo and we wouldn’t want to spend more $ for re-hacking). Was told that HB might return this Friday, so happy. At least I know there’s someone to share my workload soooooon liew. I try to scan you a copy of my house layout by this week (if I rem).

Oh okay..thx for the advice.

OIC, however would it be okay to get the previous owner to restore the unit back to its original state before the sales transaction is completed?

I thought you have the right to get previous owner to restore the wall or anything back to the original state. Can check with HDB.

Hi bullet, I wont feel offended for no reason. Mr Tan came to my parents' house yesterday and told me they had in fact have proceeded to work on on my project already before what HDB had given me as the deadline. They actually told the HDB worker to speed up if possible when they were clearing some work few days ago I think (somehow they met at some points of time at work last week). Yes, my contractor still carry on working on other areas in my project just that they dun leave expensive working equipment in my house. It's the tiling work that they need to put onhold for time being till the HDB workers finished their work (else it would be too messy placing many equipment around the house). Guess they also dun wanna see disputes wroking on same area eh. I also remember asking Mr Tan's workers to do spot checks on them if they do a proper job or not when doing my house reno. I am glad that the HDB contractors had finished the work way before the deadline given to me. Yeh. Mr Tan keeps telling me he dun wanna see any delay in my project even if I told him I dun pressurise them with any deadlines...hehe..even tells me that "if late to complete work, then they would "eat" wind already". *chuckles* Personally, I dun think they are giving excuses for delaying my project. It's me who like to 'postpone' finishing the project..heh.

Mainly on the tiles still on-going cos my contractor's workers need to give way for the HDB workers to finish their job 1st on replacing tiles for my kitchen hollow wall tiles. They suggested this cos they dun "feel" secured enough to leave their barangs in my house cos there are other contractors around. Then they haven't really finished tiling for other rooms, I would say it's about 70% done for floor tiles. Partly my fault too for last minute submission of another defect list to HDB for rectification. Oh yah, I requested to change the original kitchen window panels leading to the service balcony (if u happen to know my floor layout) to the sliding type. That was done already. What about you, summer? !!

I agree with summerholiday, would advise you to shortlist a few e.g. 5 companies from forums and pay a visit to see their showrooms or their clients' houses. Seeing is believing. Do talk to their clients if possible. Afterall, we want to be happy owners of our new house. Happy "researching"... !!

korea > mine's a magnet...something which our guests can stick it onto whiteboard, CPU, fridge or any metal plate to display our wedding favour...hehe..not space consuming + can view it at times.

Hi kwt121, I used to engaged myself in the same situation as you. I would say my reno progression is rather gradual cos need to laise between the HDB & Mr's contractors at this period. My house defects are going to get fixed by end of this week hence Mr Tan's men had tentatively put a halt on their work. I count myself as a non-fussy owner so as long as Mr Tan's able to produce a satisfactorily house for us to live in shall deem fit already. Plus, I think I give Mr Tan more "troubles" than the otherwise as he's helping my parents to do some very minor jobs in their house too. My views on Mr Tan remain unchanged. Not much complaints yet as not much works have been done? Heh. It could be good for some couples who have absolutely no idea on where or how to kick off their hse reno. Mr Tan is able to improvise them with his basic ideas/concepts for a start. Take a step further and get him to view his works physically by visiting his client' houses. I didnt sign on the dotted line before the house visits but after few appointments to see the different units altogether then we signed up with Mr Tan. I feel more secured after seeing his designs and workmanships before letting them to do our house reno. It's good that Mr Tan has got his own electricians cos that also save my parents some times and troubles looking for another party to fix up some lights at their house (at nominal fees). On other hand, I must admit that Im lazy to take pics but shall post up few pics once available or more reno works are done k. !!

Doesn't seem to a tiny project to me. There are many good companies in this forum to seek for reference. One rejection doesnt mean others would turn you down too. Be persistent! Good luck~!

Here's mine. =) My Wedding Favour

Of course, we would only know the quality after using it for sometimes. Sharing of experience and knowledge from other clients would be good but all depend whether they are free to post up their comments or not. Im just one of the very few to comment on my initial experience with Mr Tan. You might seem it's a tad too focus to "promote" Mr Tan at my end but from my point of view, im not bringing more biz to MR Tan (feel it's a fate to bring me to him, thanks to another forumer who recommeded him to me too). Im just helping others who're seeking for contractor's quotes. Still up to the person to take up his offer or not. With regards to the solid top brand > I need to check again as I don't have it with me now. Too many to rem too and don't think that's very critical for me too. No matter what, let's hope that our reno process to go smoothly for the both of us.