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Tech that detects falls to be offered to all HDB households after pilot at Queenstown Health District It is just one of many tools and systems being tested at the district, before deciding which can be implemented or installed in housing estates islandwide to improve residents’ quality of life. SINGAPORE: Technology that detects when a person has fallen at home and notify their family members will soon be offered to all Housing and Development Board (HDB) households. The pilot for the project was conducted for two months in Queenstown, the site of Singapore’s first Health District co-developed with the National University Health System (NUHS). It is just one of many tools and systems being tested at the district for potential use in housing estates to improve residents’ quality of life. HOW THE TECH WORKS Sensors are able to detect a resident's fall. If the resident does not get up within one minute, an alarm will sound to alert others nearby. Another, more advanced device uses Lidar, which scans for movements with light detection and ranging, and can sense and record the moment a person standing upright suddenly falls onto the ground. Those living alone can pre-set the device to send instant notifications to caregivers via a mobile app, along with the recording, when such incidents are detected. The systems were tested in the Health District from November 2022 to February 2023, and HDB aims to offer such technology to all its households across the nation later this year. “Through residents’ feedback, tech providers were able to refine the solutions … We are now stabilising the system and if all goes well, we will see how to progressively introduce this,” Dr Johnny Wong, Deputy CEO (Building) at HDB, told CNA’s Singapore Tonight on Tuesday (Feb 13). SAFETY MODIFICATIONS FOR SENIORS Apart from detection, HDB is also fine-tuning efforts to prevent falls. In Queenstown, close to 5,000 households have been modified to become safer, especially for seniors. This includes installing grab bars, non-slip tiles and ramps. Such built-in facilities will also be a staple at the district's upcoming assisted living apartments. The model could then be applied elsewhere across Singapore. In common areas, fitness and community amenities are also set to be installed so that residents can socialise and stay active. “We are piloting a social and wellness hub, which houses an active ageing centre. And we are piloting the very first ActiveSG gym within housing development, in collaboration with SportSG,” said Dr Chong Fook Loong, HDB’s group director of research and planning. “Along the way, we want to test every intervention – on what works, what doesn't work, and what we need to improve further, as part and parcel of this journey to create a healthy town.” SELECTING INTERVENTIONS Researchers from the National University of Singapore (NUS) source for, test, develop and evaluate such interventions for households in Queenstown. Professor Dean Ho, head of the biomedical engineering department at the NUS College of Design and Engineering, said that over 200 technologies were rigorously tested and evaluated before being narrowed down to the essentials. “We want to make sure we help understand what the residents are going through and deploy the best interventions that can help them,” he said. “We have to ensure that it's the right technology, it's cutting edge, it’s accessible and it’s validated. And ultimately, it can be truly adopted at scale.” One such tool, for example, helps a user to unscrew a bottle using one hand. It is designed to help those who have lost muscle strength, such as stroke survivors. Physiotherapy through gaming is another ongoing project, including a button-pressing console that tests a user’s reaction. It aims to provide light exercise for those with stiff shoulders. Other technologies that help residents monitor their health, such as vital signs and chronic conditions, are also being tested. “We have residents whose mobility is a challenge. We want to have digitally enabled solutions which perhaps can be done right from a mobile phone, that can monitor stress, respiratory rate. Then we can start to pinpoint residents that perhaps need some extra attention,” said Prof Ho. Such technologies will be trialled in the district in the coming months. SHARED CARE CONCEPT The district is also piloting a shared care team concept with social services agencies such as Lions Befrienders to provide social care for seniors. Volunteers visit residents with a listening ear and check on their well-being and needs. For one such resident, 82-year-old Yin Chee Keong, such visits are precious moments. “I feel lucky and I'm very touched. Because I do feel lonely at times. At night when I'm about to sleep, when I don't have someone to talk to,” he told CNA. Mr Yin gets weekly checkups on his vital signs and overall physical health at a Lions Befrienders community health post located right at his block. Such sites, helmed by NUHS healthcare teams, are typically set up in active ageing centres in neighbourhoods so that residents do not have to travel too far. Healthcare professionals visit once a week, while social workers based at the centres follow up with residents. Nurses and volunteers share updates on each resident’s physical, mental and social well-being as part of a personalised care plan to help them stay healthy. “Shared care is our way of working more closely with social partners to ensure that we consider a more holistic picture of their health needs,” said Ms Antoinette Goh, a nurse clinician at the NUHS Regional Health System. “For example, the care team decides that it will be good for a resident to start measuring blood pressure, but the resident doesn't know how to do it, or needs a bit more nudging. The social team can then remind them or provide some guidance on the ground.” Healthcare professionals and social workers said preventive care is the best way to ensure the seniors’ well-being. “When we do preventive work upfront … the going to hospitals, nursing costs, medical costs are going to be reduced once we go upstream and ensure that people stay as healthy as possible,” said Ms Karen Wee, executive director of Lions Befrienders. QUEENSTOWN HEALTH DISTRICT The Health District @ Queenstown is the nation’s first that supports residents’ well-being across their life stages through tools such as better design and community programmes. The initiative by HDB, NUHS, NUS and their partners aims to build a living environment that supports residents’ physical, social, and mental well-being, and help them lead more active and fulfilling lives. “We have four key objectives. One, we want to provide healthy living for all ages through good urban designs and use of technology. Second, to provide productive longevity, where people can continue to work, volunteer, co-create, and lifelong learning,” said Dr Wong. “Third, we want to promote intergenerational bonding. With good community support, one can live longer and have a better mental state. Lastly, we want all our residents to be able to live independently and age in place for as long as they can, in HDB towns.” https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/queenstown-health-district-tech-seniors-detects-falls-health-hdb-4126056 getting ready for an ageing population.

Hi, any recommendation? Looking to do for rooms, platform with storage kind. thanks

For those who knows the band Weezer, enjoy. https://www.facebook.com/reel/840679441040117

A good option for patients who wish to pass away at home. Kudos to Dr. Tan and the medical team at NTFGH. If the option was presented to us during the last days of my late dad, we would have opt for it. Leaving ICU to die at home, surrounded by family and familiar comforts Mr Hong Kaw was never comfortable whenever he was in hospital and would hanker to go home. “Although my father was weak, he was still lucid. But on Nov 4, he could not be woken up from his nap and was rushed by ambulance to the hospital. We rushed down when we were told that his heart had stopped, but they managed to resuscitate him by using CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation),” said his daughter Hong Poh Ngor, 46. Wanting to give her father a fighting chance and “fulfil whatever his wishes were in the time he had left”, she and her two siblings decided to have him treated at the intensive care unit (ICU). When the family realised that the miracle they were hoping for – that he would regain consciousness – was not coming, they decided to fulfil his wish to die in his favourite recliner chair at home. “After two days and with still no response from my father, we decided to have him brought home,” said Ms Hong, a treasury executive. Mr Hong became the first critically ill patient from the ICU at Ng Teng Fong General Hospital (NTFGH) allowed to fulfil his wish to die at home. Within 1½ hours of reaching home, he died in his recliner chair, surrounded by family. He was 83. Called IAmGoingHome, the project was started in October 2022 by medical teams from both the ICU and Supportive Care and Palliative Medicine at the hospital. Six other patients have since taken the same route as Mr Hong, and the hospital wants to make this a norm in the future. NTFGH is the first and currently only hospital to offer a structured initiative for adults. “Letting go of such aggressive treatment is sometimes the best choice,” said Dr Tan Chee Keat, a senior consultant at the Department of Intensive Care Medicine at NTFGH. “Even before (the) Covid-19 (pandemic), some of our patients expressed the desire to go home. They don’t want the loneliness of dying in ICU with all the machines around, but the logistics is tough because these people are on life support. We need to ensure their transfer back home is a smooth one,” she said. She mooted the idea after a young patient who wanted to go home could not and died in the ICU in 2021. Recalling the incident with tears, Dr Tan said: “This young man suffered late-stage eye cancer. He was in great pain and wanted to spend time at home before he died. “His parents also wanted that for him but, at that point in time, we didn’t really know how to make the arrangements. The logistics floored us, and we could not help fulfil his wish.” Initial challenges for the team included the question of whether life support should be terminated, as the patient may die “quite quickly” when intensive care treatment is stepped down for the journey home. “Here, it has become more of palliative care, where some of the tubes have been removed and the patient is given oxygen to help with the breathing and medication to manage the pain – everything in small doses,” Dr Tan said. In the last four to five years, NTFGH had an average of 150 ICU deaths annually.

This news will move many dog lovers to tears, and put many "topo king" to shame. No joke but during my NS days, my platoon mate actually get lost during topo at Gembas area (if my memory don't fail me), despite putting markers on some of the trees and plants along the way. Source: https://www.straitstimes.com/world/europe/dogged-determination-golden-retriever-walks-64km-for-27-days-for-one-last-look-at-old-home A golden retriever walked over 64km for 27 days – through forests, fields and county roads – just to see once more the small village in Northern Ireland where his life began. Cooper, the dog, bolted out of the car of his new owner, who had just picked him up from a kennel in Dungannon, in County Tyrone, on April 1. He then set off on a long journey back to Tobermore in County Londonderry, 64km away, more than the entire length of Singapore from east to west. It was a miracle that he did not wander aimlessly across Northern Ireland, but was instead guided by his cold, dark, damp nose to somewhere that felt familiar and where he was eventually rescued on April 27. Mr Nigel Fleming, a photographer, adopted Cooper from a dog pound in Dungannon so his own golden retriever, Molly, would have a companion. “I was just about to get the dogs out of the car on their leads for their first walk together when Cooper bolted. He literally jumped over Molly, prised the car door open enough to get past me and ran for it,” he recalled. “It was a disaster,” he said. “The poor boy had no idea where he was, and he was in the wind. I tried to chase after him, but he was gone in an instant. So then, the search was on.” Cooper probably moved mostly at night to evade organised searches, and scavenged for food and water to survive, according to a search-and-rescue team at Facebook group Lost Paws NI. He avoided traffic and human contact, and darted into secret safety holes to bed down. He was even able to sneak past sheep farmers watching over newborn lambs at the height of their busiest season, as he flanked farmlands around County Tyrone. There were sightings of Cooper in the towns of Magherafelt and Cookstown. Ms Laurent Hughes, from Magherafelt, said in a Facebook post she saw Cooper running on a road. “Tried to stop it twice, but it was very scared and kept running. By the time we got turned around again, it had disappeared. We continued to search for a further 20 minutes, but couldn’t find it,” she said. Lost Paws NI also received a tip that Cooper had been spotted in Lisnanane Lane in Cookstown making his way through fields. Finally, on April 27, someone called the pet rescue group’s hotline to report that he had spotted Cooper running towards his old neighbourhood. Lost Paws NI then received a photo that showed Cooper dishevelled but still alive, and quickly came to pick him up. A spokesman for the group said: “Cooper is a clever boy. Instinct took him back to a place he was familiar with. How he did it, I’ll never know, but he managed it. No food, no shelter, no help, just dogged determination and that incredible nose.” “It seems incredible that he was able to do this,” she said, “but dogs are incredible.” Cooper was eventually reunited with Mr Fleming, and the golden retriever with the golden nose has since decided to stay put. “I’m sitting here looking at him and I cannot believe he’s home,” said Mr Fleming. “In the end, all we had to do was follow a dog’s nose home to familiar surroundings,” he said. “If only we’d known, we could have saved big Cooper all that anxiety.”

Anyone of you set up a home power back up? Can share what UPS you are using and/or what other power back up you using. Comments and feed backs on the pro and cons will be good. I am looking to set up something to back up power for my computer systems, including all the wireless system, so that can still operate for a while when there is a power failure or trip. Also looking to get a 600w to 1200w power bank for standby power. Any recommendations?

come back to office or else f off ....

Covid has lasted a long time and many of us have not traveled. I hope to get my wife and maybe myself a treat, but we don't really want to go out, so I hope to get recommendations for good massages services that visit you, if they can provide some kind of spa or even hair treatment, please send them over? And no james, not 'that' kind ok? Nice and pleasant, even visually handicapped ones are ok, but I'm not sure if they do takeouts.. I did my own google, but I really have no experience with them and would like to hear from others who have tried their services: https://dailyvanity.sg/beauty-reviews/home-massage-services-singapore Will prefer a standard oil massage, head to toe. Thanks! PS: I considered a massage chair, but I don't really have the space and it's not something we do often enough to justify the Andy Lau chair...

Full respect to the guys in this! https://fb.watch/azy7K2OPDW/

If you think your loud-sounding car is safe from the authorities just because you stay in a private property, you might want to think twice now. A photo of a Ferrari 488 GTB being inspected inside someone's front yard has been circulating around in most car group chats over the last weekend. From what we understand, it is almost unheard of for LTA enforcement officers to venture into a non-public area to inspect a car that might be flouting the laws. While we are unsure of the reasons while this particular Ferrari is being looked at, we reckon the reason might be neighbours who are unhappy about the loud exhaust noises emitting from the car. On a side note, those who are in the know will wonder why the officer is looking under the car when its belly is all covered up... Check out what neitzens on SG Road Vigilante have to say about this. Let us know if you agree!

Hi guys. Our home handyman adventures are sorta scattered all round the place in different threads. Maybe can lump here under something like makan thread. Don't think this belongs to plumber thread. So I start this off. My 555 ss water container. The lid handle fell off. Would an epoxy work? Any recommended brands? Funny thing is if it's epoxyed on originally. How come got that 3 contact points?

Friends I was looking at home and fire insurance for my place and I found out some things: the fire insurance that the bank makes you take when you have a loan will pay the bank first so if there’s no money left you come out empty Second is there anyone in their MCST? What does the condo insurance cover? Say there’s a fire in your home which damages the walls or some infrastructure, does the policy cover it? I've been diving into this recently - lets use an example say a homeowner is cooking and the cooker catches fire: (A) Burns only his own unit - walls are charred, tiles need to be replaced but no structural issues) (B) Burns only his own unit - fire burns through structural beam and needs looking into and repair (C) Burns his own unit, and burns through to the upstairs unit including structural issues Are all these issues covered under MCST insurance? Looking specifically at the building replacement, not renovation or contents insurance

Public Announcement Service: On Saturday (Apr 25) at precisely 7.55pm, local celebrities will be singing the ever-popular NDP favourite, Home. The song's composer Dick Lee, along with Rahimah Rahim, Shabir, Taufik Batisah as well as Mediacorp artistes Desmond Tan, Felicia Chin, Rebecca Lim and Vernetta Lopez will be taking part in the event. They will be backed by the 900 members of the Voices Of Singapore choir. Those at home are encouraged to take to your balconies and windows to sing the song as well, wave a torchlight and even record yourselves. Join the entire nation in singing Home to thank healthcare, migrant workers Singalong event, Sing Together Singapore, will take place on Saturday (Apr 25) at exactly 7.55pm and will feature local celebs like Dick Lee, Taufik Batisah, Shabir as well as Mediacorp artistes. Get ready for Singapore’s very own crossover event as the nation’s media industry participates in the biggest singalong event ever, Sing Together Singapore. You can then upload the clip of your performance to social media with the hashtags #singtogetherSG, #SingaporeTogether and #stayhomeforSG. Selected entries will be featured on a special music video that will be shown later that same night at 10.30pm. The massive "karaoke" session is intended to rally Singaporeans to show our support and appreciation for our healthcare and migrant workers. According to the press release on Thursday (Apr 23), the initiative also aims to encourage all Singaporeans to keep their spirits high and to stay united as everyone remains at home during the extended circuit breaker period. “We hope that this small initiative can help to boost some morale and at the same time, show our appreciation to all the frontliners and volunteers who are out there fighting for the nation,” Taufik told CNA Lifestyle. “I do hope the lyrics will be a reminder to us that more than ever we need to stick together and help one another wherever possible.” Lopez added: “Families will be coming together for a very special moment in Singapore's history. Every child should look at their parents and say, ‘I'm with you here and now.’ If every block and estate has voices ringing out, and social media goes nuts with everyone's uploaded videos, that would make every frontline worker realise that we love them for what they're doing.” Singapore’s media industry has teamed up for the effort, namely Mediacorp, So Drama! Entertainment, SPH Radio, mm2 Entertainment, AsiaOne, the Association of Independent Producers (AIPRO), and the Mediacorp Partner Network companies comprising 99.co, Popcorn, theAsianparent, The Walt Disney Company South East Asia and VICE Media. Sing Together Singapore is supported by Gov.sg and Nexus MINDEF. According to Irene Lim, Mediacorp’s chief customer officer: “It is heartening to see so many media industry partners come forward to lead and be involved in this meaningful event that truly unites people from all walks of life across Singapore.” She added: “While we are all physically apart in our respective homes, I hope everyone can come together this Saturday to show the Singapore spirit by joining the singalong.” You can watch the singalong through the following channels: Mediacorp platforms on meWATCH, meLISTEN, TV channels, radio stations and social media pages on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. You can also catch it on SPH Radio, Camokakis radio stations, and the Gov.sg Facebook page. The special music video at 10.30pm will be available on Mediacorp platforms on meWATCH, YouTube and TV channels. TO EVERYONE: Sing if you want, clap if you wish, cheer if you can but the best form of support and encouragement we can give to our front liners, is still to stay home, and stay safe. Because this: Ok end of public announcement service. Bye!

Stuck at home with nothing to do? Or worse yet, stuck at home with your kids that have nothing to do? Why not take this time to get them hooked on that that three-pointed star so maybe someday you can retire and drive your children's car around like a proper tai tai (and whatever the male equivalent of that is)? A man can dream... And if colouring is not exactly your child's thing, maybe he/she might be interested in this creepy thing? Whatever tickles your fancy, get them all from Mercedes' website here!

How I cope with WFH (Working from home) So this is how I am coping with working from home. I am not the most diligent worker you have seen. But my motto is work smart don't work hard. So my job scope is smth like a dialysis machine. . . My boss will have something that needs to improve or need to work on, then I will be the one working on it, making sure that the end products are relatable to the dealers/consumers. And of cuz, MyCarForum is my baby. So everyone here always sees me commenting, laughing, goofing around here. So you can say I am a papa-san in MCF. @RadX & @BabyBlade is still the discipline master and mistress. So, in the morning I wake up in my usual timing, I will pack my bed, do some mediation and light exercise before I wash up myself. Once, I have wash-up, I make myself a cup of oat milk. And because now my office is just like 13 steps away, I just take a slowwww walk back to my "office". I usually start my day with MCF, checking all the past replies and try to find interesting news to share inside MCF. And once I have done it, I will check on my email. replying to all the necessary correspondent. I also try to make my room as bright as possible, so that I am in the zone of working. Usually, my room is like a bat cave. I do not take naps and after a few tasks and replying on MCF, time flies. And it is time for lunch! I took my bicycle and cycle to kopitiam and dabao-ed duck rice. And I will eat at my dining table instead of my room. Just to change the environment abit. While eating, I did watch a bit of the Porsche documentary that @Mockngbrd recommend. Quite a nice documentary. TBH. I haven't finished yet thou. Then after my lunch, I rest a bit, went down and walk my dog and bring her go pee pee. Then when I am back home, I went to shower to freshen myself. Once I am done with the shower, I am back to work! Same old, same old. making sure some of my tasks is done, talking to my colleagues in teams. And usually, during the afternoon my concentration wasn't at my prime. I will "wander" off to read on some other stuff. Mainly is tech/car. (checking how to mod my car or what new stuff xiaomi come out.) Walk to the kitchen and make myself a cup of green tea, and munched on some biscuit. Chatted with my HR abit, as she is making sure we are all working at home. Then go back to work. . . My co-worker have different live thou. 😕 She just NAPPPPPPPP alll the wayyyyy! What do I think of working from home? It is definitely a good initiative at this time, as you minimise on public transport and socializing. However, the person who is working from home, must have some vigilant/discipline, if not end of the day you will be simpson-ing all the way. Here's are some of the things that I find it helpful for myself when I am working from home. Have a designated work area. (Tell yourself, when you are there, you are working.) No working at your bed. I play music while I am working so depends on your style. Separate your dining away from your work area. On aircon/shower if needed. (I tried not to on aircon during the morning, but I BTH. Once I have showered, I on air-con and work) Have a very realistic to-do list (try to strike out as many as possible, can add more list along the way too) Walk around or make urself a coffee if you are not in the zone. (same when you are in the office) So here are some of my takes for working at home. I think is doable, but the end day is still the trust between you and your employer lah. They must trust you, and you must not abuse it also. 🙂 Okay! back to work!

Hi, My HDB gate frame is having alignment issue ever since after the reno. I need to use force to push the gate in order for the mechanism to lock in place. When open, the gate will spring open once the handle is pressed. I trully think there is a misalignment in the gate frame to the door frame which my reno ID denies it...he said it's normal... (bullsxxx!) now I need to find someone else to fix it, but who can I call? Not a lock smith right? Cos it's not the lock problem. Due to this, every closure and opening of the door is very noisy due to the clicking sound especially during night or early morning time. thanks

https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/condo-residents-in-jurong-west-shocked-to-find-foreign-workers-listed-as-tenants-under Does it matter, you may ask. If they do use your address and you aren't renting the place out, you may end up paying tax which is much higher instead of the lower tax rate for home stay. So how do you check? Go to this website: https://www.mom.gov.sg/eservices/services/tes If you do find illegal tenants using your address: You can log in to this MOM website with your Singpass: https://www.mom.gov.sg/eservices/services/tes After logging in, you'll be able to check if you have any foreign workers registered under your address, and deregister them.

So we have checklists for buying a new car, and why not one for a new home? I've consolidated what I have previously written here, so everyone can benefit and also contribute and some of the info comes from other bros. Before we even go into the list, there are some basic things to do: - make sure everyone in the family agrees to this purchase, and whether it's for investment or as a home - check your financials well and get a large enough budget to buy and for renovations or other costs - do your homework! Check the online property forums, buy and sell places and see what your money can buy and which regions suit your needs best So, now onto the buying process Is it going to be landed, a flat or a condo? Some of the general principles which apply to all three types: Is the home paid for or is the seller still in debt and not bankrupt How many owners are there, and any divorce in process. Who is the legal owner or executer of the property if the owner is deceased? Is it tenanted and when does the lease run out Can you break the lease How old is the place. As a general rule, most places under 10 years can do without major renovations and you can use the piping, aircons and wiring. Most places above 20 years old will need more extension renovations - freehold, 999 years or Leasehold (how many years left) - location - is it within 1km to a primary school and how many places are there - sun direction - North South is the ideal - developer matters too - some are cheap and use poor quality materials - neighbours - good ones to whom you can entrust your keys, psycho ones, and nosy ones - visit the location at different times - if you go over a weekend it's usually quiet and the traffic is light, so see at at peak hours and see if there's any choke points and if the streets around it become very noisy or is there a school or some place that attracts a lot of noise - amenities eg market, food places, 24 grocery, petrol station, postbox - near work - near a clinic or GP - MRT, bus or good roads etc to work, school etc - wind : how well ventilated it the place - how high is the place - the interior of the place, can you salvage the parquet floor for example - TV reception - is there a fibre / home line (will cost $288 to run a new fibre line for example) - where is the mains and the PUB meter located - do you have the plans for the electricals Items specific to an apartment: - the shape of the unit, any odd unusable corners, how square is it - how many units are there? Is it going to be too crowded over the weekends to swim? - what are the amenities? Sometimes too many water features, landscaping or pools will mean higher costs to maintain - pools: regular shape? Good for swimming laps or merely for wading? Any lifeguards? - maintenance fees - sinking funds - more units will mean more people to share costs. Small developments will need larger contributions to fix items like lifts, repainting costs etc - number of lifts, is it private - ratio of parking lots to units and the number of visitor lots - number of entry and exits, side gates - how much power is there? As a rule, you need a minimum of 45A and up - any provision shops? - who runs the place? which security company do they employ? - get a copy of the house rules - eg no moving in hours and are there a lot of AirBnB listings? Items specific to houses: - plot ratio and GFA - zoning and potential developments of the area - who was the designer or builder and are they still around - cul de sac - land size, is it square or narrow, can you expand the built up area? (remember to account for set back if you do more than A&A) - soil analysis - is it reclaimed land - fengshui : water, wind and mountains etc - at a junction - noise level in the neighbourhood - any new developments - renovations or reconstruction can continue for years around the place - is there going to be enbloc or a new road running through the area - if the homes near you are going to be replaced by flats, the roads can be much busier - parking - flooding / ponding - any religious building around you or a popular eatery that attracts a lot of visitors eg illegal parking during peak periods and noise levels - any piped in gas... so you don't need to use gas tanks - any retaining wall, and is it near a 24 hour gas station - noise and fumes - is the place close to electrical plant or substation - how much power is there? Single Phase or Triple Phase (most modern terrace houses will have a triple phase 63A main DB, which can support the needs of most homes, even those with a swimming pool) Don’t forget to check for termites and mossies. How windy and well ventilated the place is. How wide is your lane and even the type of roof and tiles used. Bring a builder along to give you an idea of renovation costs.. But before you even look around, do the financials first. Make sure you have a loan approved in principle and also enough cash for the renovations with a 20 percent buffer. Then bring the check book for every viewing. A basic renovation for a landed place can go from 2-300k, and for a A&A you might be looking at twice that. Adding a new roof 50k, and a new floor around 150k. A tear down? It can be 600k and up and these costs don't include furniture or fittings. Time is the other factor you have to budget in. Add 20% to any schedule, especially if you are doing it around Chinese New Year or Christmas. Be detailed in your planning, for example: If you are doing a rebuild, make sure you work with your builder and neighbours. A small road - like the Countryside one, yes that 'wide' road, may not be able to take a full truck or a cement mixer coming in. And with such a long road, you need to coordinate with the entire road of owners, so they clear the road such that the truck can come in. Trust me, it's not a given nor an easy task. If a car gets scratched... be prepared for an ugly scene. So also check that your contractor is registered and has insurance. One of your neighbours might own a limited Maclaren that your builder just happens to nick whilst transporting your tiles into your plot... Are there any other persons building in the same area, maybe you two can work together and save cost on building materials or if the other person started first, they can share some of their experiences Is there space for your builders to park? Is there good road outs of your estate or are you reliant on a single exit which can get very clogged up during peak hours? Here's a BCA owner's checklist guide Finally, I would like to start that I'm not an agent. I'm just trying to share since others have helped me before and I'm giving a little back so everyone can benefit. But YOU and you alone need to get that info you need. No one will spoon feed you and there's no charity. You find those good deals, with the aid of a good agent. Look at as many areas as you can, and take your time. But timing is everything and sometimes, that dream home just pops up and you have to be ready. You snooze and you lose... Good luck! BCA Homeowners Guide.pdf

My friend told me that the home-fix outlet at Compass One was repossessed. He sent me a photo of the notice outside the unit. Was surprised that home-fix closed down. They are like everywhere and seems to be doing well.

Been meaning to post this for over a month, even though it might only interest some. Home visit doctors can be quite expensive but my missus found this group to come and check on her mother who at the time was not well and it's difficult to get her to the Polyclinic which has a long wait in cold aircon. Anyway https://www.rescu.sg/a-b-o-u-t came along to look at my mil. They stayed about one hour did quite a few tests and took my mil medical history. The whole team of three came along and they were very caring to my mil. They suggested after some tests etc that my mil be sent to A & E because of low Blood oxygen and the possibility of a chest infection. They even wrote a letter for the A & E doctor explaining their tests results etc.. My mil was admitted and the doctors at the hospital confirmed it was the correct thing to bring my mil to A & E. Their one hour visit was billed at S$ 68. I've no relationship to this team in any way but I wholeheartedly recommend them. They were great.

The reliable cable/wiring in aircon installation for home that I have read about is the Keystone or Sigma brand. I was quoted a system 2 using Eikou wiring. The salesman told me that it is a Singapore company. Does anyone here has any experience with the Eikou wiring. Thanks.

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/fire-st-regis-residences-tanglin-orchard-scdf-evacuation-11267600 Last month my mum neighbour house caught fire. With the huge surge in mobile scooters, it seems that fires is more common now... Do u guys have any fire protection in house like smoke detector, fire extinguishers? Thinking of getting some...

My experience in past 2 days where one of the day i forgot to bring my wallet out. Day 1 - with wallet but never get to use cash - Went to the physio at NUH, after the session i went to make payment, counter nurse told me 'cashless please'. - Going to watch movie with wife, so i make booking via phone apps and pay through Masterpass. - Took a grab to orchard. - Still have an hour to kill while waiting for wife, went to a cafe for coffee, place order and took out cash, the staff point to the signboard 'cashless payment ONLY'. Day 2 - without wallet (i left it in my wife's bag when we were watching movie) - Didn't notice i dun have my wallet until i reach office bus stop, my ezlink card was behind my phone try to act like i have a NFC sim card . - Panic for 2min thinking how to survive for the day, walk into Starbucks which i have the Starbucks app in my phone, breakfast settled. - Come lunch time, dun want to eat Starbucks again, heng i stored a credit card in Samsung Pay. walk to Hans and pay through Samsung Pay. - Dinner time met up with wife, went into a Korean cafe and they told us to scan the QR code on the table where you place order to making payment all via the phone!!?? i input my card number detail (i actually have those info in my phone but each info was hide in different apps). So i manage to survive 2 days without cash (wallet) for medical, transport, meals, movie, and shopping and thank god my phone battery can last whole day

Hi everyone, per topic, was at Stuttgart for a holiday. Per title, will be sharing some of my experiences during the trip. All photos were taken with my iPhone camera, so I do apologise if the quality is not up to standard. Nothing eventful on the first day, arrived at Frankfurt and took a train down to the main station of Stuttgart, approx. 1hr 20min. For those who are unfamiliar, look out for the 'Long distance trains' sign at the airport, which will bring you to the platform, which looks something like this Reached Stuttgart main station, rather old building, constructed in the early 1910s till early 1930s I believe. the entrance to the ticket hall headed to my airbnb apartment thereafter, theres a vantage point nearby where you can get quite a nice view of the city center will update the rest as soon as I can, cheers

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