Lightings, Kitchen / Closet Specialist And Others....

[SmartFool 0]

Hello all ~

This is an important clarification so I will post my reply online. The $300 - I mentioned earlier in the reno permit post is the average price for hacking a wall only.

For requirements for PE (Professional Engineer) endorsement, I am not so sure for HDB. It is better that you personally call the HBD officer to check. Your ID may not know everything so to play safe, they simply ask you to do a PE endorsement.

On the PE endorsement, so far, I have heard 2 variations of story --- I do not know which is true.

Variation 1 : from HDB officers who inspected friends' HDB

HDB does not need PE endorsement all the time;

They will let you know if they can permit the hacking or not, based on the structural soundness or blueprint that they already have. You can not hack/demolish load bearing walls even if you have a crazy PE endorsement.

My logic thinking is --- Since you are only allowed to hack/demolish non-load bearing reinforced concrete walls, their blueprint will tell them immediately which wall is non-load bearing or not. They do not need a PE to tell them that, right?

If they are not so sure any more if that wall is load bearing wall or not (perhaps due to the age of the HDB), then they will need a PE endorsement, and at that time, you will have to get it for them. That means you only have to get PE endorsement if they ask you to.

Variation 2 : from IDs

Yes, you need to apply for a permit from HDB (free) which must be endorsed by a Qualified Person (QP) or Professional Engineer (PE) (must pay) for any HDB renovation.

I know for sure that that is not true. Not all reno needs a permit from HDB.

For example, if you want to construct a cement mortar base that does not exceed 50mm, inclusive of finishes, for your kitchen cabinet, you do not need a permit.

So, do not believe everything your ID project co-ordinator tells you. Check it out yourself and save more money!

Caution :

When you buy your HDB flat, check for unauthorised works in the flat.

When you purchased the flat, you agreed to the “willing buyer willing seller" (caveat emptor) clause. In other words, you agreed to buy the flat in the condition that it is in. When there are unauthorised works, you may ask the seller to remove or rectify them first.

If Not, later, you are responsible to remove and / or rectify the unauthorised works when you sell the flat. You can not run after your seller for damages.

Okay, folks, that is all. Have a good weekend.

wow 7 panels alone in ur MBR is alot

can advise the prices u paid to HM Deco for 13 panels?

also can advise how much jimmy and joe charged u?

thanks

[yokine9a 1]

Thanks for the great info Very useful since I am planning to have roller blinds in my house.

Did a research on recommended makers. The HM Decor shop name mentioned in your article has a showroom in TPY, where I am living. Dropped by their shop few days ago to ask for quote. For the design I like, the cheapest choice is $5.50psf. There were 2 other curtains shops nearby, so I hopped over for quotes too. But they were not cheap. One of them said roller blinds starts from $6.90psf. Another one was worst, at least $10psf

Has anyone tried MGL? Save this name when reading curtains recommendations from other forumers.

[123abc 0]

Part 6 – Feedback on Contractor used.

Dear all, you have been so kind with your words. I wanted to disappear quietly. But so many of you pm me in private, asking why I have stopped writing. Your concern and comfort puts me to shame. I felt that I owe all of you an explanation, so here I am.

The truth is ---> I have no face to face all of you.

For all the extreme research I thought I have done, thinking I may have hit jackpot when I found this contractor, it all went to waste as this contractor that I have used is the same as anyone out there.

On paper, when I first met with them, they were really good. They can immediately translate what I have in mind into drawing before my eyes. I was so impressed then.

But, when it comes to the actual carpentry execution ....... Excuses started to pour in.

Every piece of my design that was do-able before we signed them on, now it becomes – “wow, why so complicated?”

They empty promised, they took wrong measurements, they changed their pricing in the midst of the contract etc etc. To make matters worse, in the later stage, work was carried out only once a week for 3 hours. It took them 4 months to complete my renovation. As a result of their ineffectiveness, we had to compromise a lot of our original design works. It was most painful experience. So, do forgive me that I can't recommend them to anyone of you.

So, I felt that I have let you down. What more can I share? But some of you made me realized that I can still share my bad experience so that you will not follow in my unfortunate footsteps. So, here are the 7 insights I have gained.

1. Keep your distance from your supplier.

When I saw that the contractor was able to put my design in mind into paper, I was so elated with her. I even begin to treat her as a friend. When we went around sourcing for lights, we would also go out for makan sessions. I really genuinely like her as a person then. Sadly, I still do.

But I should have kept that relationship “non- friendly” at first. That way, when things started to go wrong, we could be firm and insisted on our rights as customers. Once the line is thin between customer and supplier, it becomes difficult to draw that distinction and work quality definitely will suffer. Friendship may also be lost in the process.

2. Insist on Black and white

Because I treated her as a friend from the beginning, I did not keep the pricing we agreed in writing. When I first talked to her to install a door stopper, it was $10. Then when the relationship soured, it become $18. I know it is only $6.90 in Self Fix shops. So, you can imagine what the real price might be since we know that contractors can get stuff at contractor price. At least 300% mark up, believe me.

3. Don’t be happy too fast.

See the work first. On paper, everything can look fantastic. Always ask the question, however stupid. Always check on their works, daily if possible. My contractor assumed we know a lot just because we know a bit more than the average joe out there. That is another mistake we encountered. Always tell your contractor – “I may look like I know a lot, but please take time to explain to me.”

4. COMMUNICATE - Plan more meetings than needed

If we had not done this, matters would have been worse. If you ask me, what is the one thing we have done right, this is the one. We were able to salvage a lot more mistakes before matters went more southwards.

5. DO NOT TRUST EVERYTHING THEY SAY.

I say this in a manner of respect. They are in a business so they need to make a profit. When you ask them to buy a door stopper, be prepared that they will make up 300%. We knew it yet we allowed it. Why? Because in life, we give and take. In exchange, you can ask them to drill this and that for you.

Do not believe them when they say it can't be done. Find out more.... is it because they want more money...? To save costs, many times, they will tell you that they can't find your preferred materials. So do your own homework to avoid being cheated. Then, decide if you want to pay a little more to get what you want or you are ok to compromise and take what they give.

6. Take your own measurements.

Ha ha ha …….. this is so basic you may think but trust me – they cannot measure even if their life depends on it. They always “agak-agak” here and there.

7. Commitment to deadline.

Learnt from my pain, and insist that your contractor tell you in writing how long the project will take. If they refuse, don’t sign them on, no matter how cheap they are.

Lastly, my general advise to all of you doing renovation now is

a. Give allowance for mistakes – yours and theirs.

b. Do all the research you can but know also that you have done your best because we all have limited knowledge.

c. Do not be too hard on yourself – there is NO good contractor out there in Singapore. You will be conned, that is for sure, just try to minimize the level. Whatever they quote you, their profits is at roughly 50%. But don't bargain too hard; they will take it out on the quality provided. Buy the stuff you want yourself and get them to install for you.

So, at the end of my renovation project, I can truly say is I have thoroughly enjoyed the whole process – good and bad. There are tears of pain but I refused to let these bad people rob me from enjoying my new home. Yes, my designs are compromised somewhat because of the bad execution but I can say in all honesty, I designed them all by myself. You can’t find any items in any “home and décor” magazine.

Life is a journey. You will meet many people. Some will help you. Some will spit on the road to make you fall down. But the decision is yours --- to be better or to be bitter?

A list of excellent suppliers we should support….

1. Lighting shops – Megaman, Lumerie/Eurostar,

2. Tile Retailers - Lian Seng Hin, Stiles.

3. Kitchen Carpentry – None. Mudian seems good on paper but I did not use them because they are really EXPENSIVE.

4. Window Dressing – H.M Deco because their after sales service is very good.

5. BEST Window film – Liang : hp-985345296.

6. Hardware shop – Shanghai Tong Lee opposite Concourse

7. Good Paint – Nippon, of course

8. Wallpaper – Brandon from Goodrich Wallpaper (hp- 82336835)

9. Affordable local furniture – Objet (look for Vanessa), Celini (look for Rose), Air (look for Roger)

10. Good investment furniture – Space (look for Aloysius)

Lastly, a word of thanks ….......to all of you.....

Thank you for giving me a chance to complete the whole session. Thank you for not giving up on me. Thank you for giving me courage to face my failure. I WON’T MENTION NAMES HERE, BUT YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE, Thank you ~~~

Many of you said that you are grateful for my sharing, but I am equally blessed by your presence here.

This is by no means "THE END"........ I hope my thread will attract more people to step in after me and share with all of us name of excellent shops / salespersons so we may benefit from each other's mistakes / good fortune.

I hope that suppliers who are honest and provides good service / products can continue to thrive in expensive Singapore because we support them.

so, in the meantime.............hang loose and have fun because life is so so so so so ...good!

Edited August 30, 2008 by 123abc

[LGG 0]

Hi 123abc

Glad u are back! was wondering..

Can you share with me the address of Lumerie and Eurostar, couldn't find them in the yellow pages..

Thanx!

[SmartFool 0]

its here

http://www.lumiereshowcase.com/showrooms.htm

355 Balestier Road #01-359

Goodwill Mansion

Singapore 329782

thanks 123abc

might i add that it is better if we, who have not started renovation works, view more of the previous projects of our prospective contractor?

anyway good luck to your new home

all the best man

[LGG 0]

Thanx for the location! Will go check it out

[dolcevita 0]

hi, just wanted to add that all this info has been very useful.

esp for pple like me who are first time home owners.

after scouting ard for so many quotes, i am beginning to take the same line of thinking - ie that i better have a good idea of what i want and just get the ID/contractor to translate them into reality.

becos the really good IDs who can design are few and the price is quite expensive.

the run of the mill IDs all are decent but average.

[t3hkor 0]

omg! good read! but u made me angry because u posted after my reno almost completed! hehehe

thumps up!

btw abc..

Over the last weekend, I went to the Expo Hall at Changi. It was a hot hot day! Singapore hot weather is back, huh? I always find that Singapore is one of the best country to stay in, except it is just too BLXXDY hot.

When I was a child, I always day-dream that our government will build a dome-like covering over our tiny island. That can protect against foreign invasion; that can also protect against ozone cancerous stuff.

i think alot of ppl have this dome thing... lol fully air conditioned too! hehehe my friends also said the same thing haha

Edited September 2, 2008 by t3hkor

[summerholiday 2]

one add to roller blind..

i use them for a year..

tis is wat i notice..

my house very airy.. night time a lot of windy..

i open my top hung all time.. cos i keep pets at home..

then i notice every night the wind blow or during the day.. my roller blind go pom pom pom.. it hit on my walls left sme liitle marks.. and mak obvious noise..

good thing no need to wash but...

after 1 whole year i notice when i use cloth to wipe them.. yucks very dirty.. in the end still cannot ignore them.. plus the bootom base also trap dusts... :<

[123abc 0]

Friends,

You can try using this to create a 3D models to explain to your contractors what your design looks like.

http://sketchup.google.com/

My hubby loves this software too and he said that I am real good at it.

Now, if someone like me who is not so good at 3D stuff can use it, I am sure many of you will be able to catch on faster than me. I just used it to help my in-laws to design a 3D model so that they can explain to their contractors how to build them. No need to pay good $$$ for lousy designers. Go straight to the builders and explain your designs directly, using this free software ~

Enjoy Downloading!

PS: Latest issue of Style Living : Vol 3 Issue 03 has a great section on "Kitchen Planning".

For those who can cook, I strongly recommend you to invest in a good "sucker" aka hood. I use http://www.rinnai.com.sg/index.cfm?GPID=11 Do not just go for brand name. Miele washing machine may costs 5x more than Bandt but who can guarantee that Miele will definitely wash better than Brandt?

Rather focus your money to buy stuff that will serve you longer, gives you least maintenance headache and best saves your electricity bills in the long run.

Also, do not just buy from big malls --- (read big malls equals big rental), go ask around HDB shops, you will be surprised that they can be as much as 20% cheaper than Harvey or Best Denki. But for bigger items like Fridge, TV, you may want to buy from Best so that you can also buy their extended warranty package. Your choice....

For those who do not cook so often, do not ignore the "kitchen" too. You can have an "open concept" kitchen that joins with the dinning area -- that will make your place look bigger and classier. You can still prepare simple finger food for friends while entertaining them around your beautiful kitchen.

I recommend you to look at Ikea kitchens. They have some real good stuff going on these days and the best thing is -- they can do the layout planning for you too, on a PC..... wow! And you know exactly what you are paying for, because their pricing list is so open.

Last but not least, many of you PM me to ask for the name of the contractor from **** that I have used.

My sincerest apologies .... but I really dont wish to dwell on them any more. They sucks big time, but I am equally stupid to have chosen them so ....... please forgive me for not wanting to PM you back.

[123abc 0]

Two more things to add on Roller Blinds --

Experience has taught me .....

1. to roll up or down the blinds, you have to close the window first.

My place is VERY windy, even the chandelier can swing.

So, in the beginning, I did not know that I have to close the window first.

Then, my roller blind started to "slate" when rolled up.

Immediately, I call the supplier and they fixed it FOC and taught me this "trade secret."

2. to prevent the blind from hitting the window during a windy spell and "pom pom", lower the blind more than you need to, so it sits "not so tightly". That way, its weight on the end will prevent it from slamming against on the window frame.

Sharing with all of you good people out there .......

[SmartFool 0]

agree with ur analogy on the washer

for me no hood since we only doing light cooking

wtb says hood not useful for us

so no hood!

was also looking at the rinnai hood esp the katana

rinnai hoods are pretty nice and good for asian cooking

anyway thanks for all ur updates

really a good thread

[yokine9a 1]

Didn't know that is a trade secret. Was told by the installer to close my windows when rolling up/down of my blinds. He said that would prevent the blinds from rolling side way. Although I find it very troublesome, I thought that was logical & follow his advice till now. But my bf is a lazy guy, he always forgot to close the windows when rolling it down

As for the pom pom noise, was told by another forumer that bumper tag should help. However, I can't find a flat surface on my blinds to stick it, so I am using blue-tag at the edge of the roller. At least not that noisy now. Can't think of other useful tool to stop the noise

[snoopy_tiong 0]

hi 123abc, can u PM me reliable IDs as im not confident can do all the works myself like you..

[summerholiday 2]

i tried lower at diff heights.. it doesnt help so maybe i go find e bumper tag.. any pic of tat?

my two room so windy tat every night so loud e sound..