Hi everyone,

I've been lurking in this forum for a while, guess it's time to start my blog as our renovation has started today.

Here's our story: My hubby and I started looking for flats in April. Since we are not citizens, our only option was to buy from the resale market. We wanted a flat in the East part because we've been staying in this area for three years now; we haven’t moved since we first came to Singapore. So we viewed flats in Simei, Tampines and Pasir Ris, and ended up getting a 5-room Improved flat in Avenue 9, Tampines. We liked the unit because it is at the corridor end and we only have one neighbor, a young family from our home country. Another factor is that the flat is near my office (10min drive). To cut the long story short, we paid and the flat was officially handed over to us last 20 Aug.

Here’s the floor plan:

congrats congrats

Ave 9 very near my new place hahaha

Oh btw happie birthday to you

congrats congrats

Ave 9 very near my new place hahaha

Oh btw happie birthday to you

Thanks, coffee_o

With the balcony at the entrance, there's lot of privacy.

Happy Birthday! I'm glad that you have started your own T-blog.

Looking forward to your reno pics...

interesting shape. looks big.

Your house is very big! how much u paid for it?

@panjang Yep, we value privacy. With that said, however, the balcony is giving me a headache since I can't decide what to do with it. Thinking of putting wood panels/chengai decking OR stone slates with pebbles because my husband wants a modern resort feel, but I am worried that it will be hard to maintain. So we decided not to touch it YET. Maybe after seeing the changes in the living room, I can finally decide what to do with the entrance/balcony.

@yhanie_17 ... Thanks. I'll post pictures as the reno progresses.

@ivy .. yeah interesting, ODD shape. HAHA. Didn't really think about the odd shape when we paid the OTP. Was rushing to get a unit and I was sold by the location and privacy. hehe.

@Pinklady 123sqm ... valuation is 368K, COV is 12K so total is 380K. Should have bargained - but we did not! Dumb eh?

Edited September 2, 200917 yr by zapped

@panjang Yep, we value privacy. With that said, however, the balcony is giving me a headache since I can't decide what to do with it. Thinking of putting wood panels/chengai decking OR stone slates with pebbles because my husband wants a modern resort feel, but I am worried that it will be hard to maintain. So we decided not to touch it YET. Maybe after seeing the changes in the living room, I can finally decide what to do with the entrance/balcony.

@yhanie_17 ... Thanks. I'll post pictures as the reno progresses.

@ivy .. yeah interesting, ODD shape. HAHA. Didn't really think about the odd shape when we paid the OTP. Was rushing to get a unit and I was sold by the location and privacy. hehe.

@Pinklady 123sqm ... valuation is 368K, COV is 12K so total is 380K. Should have bargained - but we did not! Dumb eh?

I wouldn't say u are dumb... Is the feeling you step into the flat....I am sure you like the flat..if not, u wouldn't purchase. This is priceless.

Look forward your reno journey.. It is a unique floor plan to me.

ehhh it's ok lah the price. it's big mah.

ehhh it's ok lah the price. it's big mah.

Actually I sold my previous 5-rm 110 sqm at 383K in Apr this year so in fact yours is not considered expensive le

You should look at the price of some of the flats HDB themselves is selling...

Btw is yours point block ? cos the odd shape might suggest that it might be point block

Edited September 2, 200917 yr by coffee_o

This is basically the layout that we wanted. We need a maid's room and also a tiny cozy corner for reading magazines and books. You may have noticed that we changed the entrance/door of the common toilet. In the original condition, the shower comes first before the WC so people would be stepping into the "wet area" first before they can do their business in the loo, which is the dry floor area.

Here's our ID's layout proposal

Before reno pics

Entrance balcony (dunno what to do with it, please help!)

Living room

TV console (will be removed)

Tiny dining area

Future maid's room

View from living area/cozy corner

Bedroom 2 (future kiddie room, guest room for now)

Bedroom 3 (my mom's room)

Kitchen (decided to wait for another year to re-do the kitchen because it's still in acceptable condition)

Common toilet

Master's bedroom

will build a TV feature wall and tic-tac door to hide bathroom door

-- END OF BEFORE-RENO PICS POST -- (Whew!)