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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

Pls recommend a good place for meetup that serves beer and cars can park right infront/besides, so can drink & appreciate the cars. I can only think of Dempsey Hill, any other good breezy/scenic places?

https://youtu.be/KTWI1gMU2VY

Chinese New Year is coming in 2 days time. A lot of places have put up Chinese New Year decorations since last month to spice up the festive mood. They can be seen in many places, especially shopping malls. Which place/s do you think has the best Chinese New Year decorations this year? What do you think of the modern designs decorations for the recent years?

After seeing some of the seniors comments here, I decided to give WA a try. Just came back from an awesome trip from Western Australia, I must say it is trip I will never forget. Lovely place, with nice people, nice beaches, nice mountains and breath taking landscape of the nature. Thought I share the highlights here for all to view. Went to: Perth: Blue Boat Shed, Casino and Kmart Shopping { https://watravelblog.com/attractions/crown-casino-perth/ } Fremantle: Rottnest Island (Must Go), Kaili's fish market and harbour Lancelin: Beautiful stop over at Verge 301, and of course Lancelin Sand Dune for sand boarding. { https://watravelblog.com/attractions/lancelin-sand-dunes/ } Burnbury: Wildlife Park( great chance to have lots of contact with kangaroos ) Mandurah: For the wrong reason though, son got sick, sent him to the hospital there (waiting time is like 3 hours just to take a blood test) Busselton: Busselton Jetty of course! Dunsborouh: Whale Watching (not so nice though), Sugarloaf (Must Go), Cape Naturaliste lighthouse Augusta: Cape Leeuwin and Hamelin Bay (for their wild stingrays which swim to the shore line) { https://watravelblog.com/attractions/cape-leeuwin-lighthouse/ } Margaret River: Chocolate factory, animal farm, winery and lots of drive around { https://watravelblog.com/attractions/sunflower-animal-farm/ } Denmark: Green Pool, Elephant Rocks and Valley of Giants and Albany: Two People Bay, The Gap, Natural Bridge, Blowhole, wind farm and Emu point {https://watravelblog.com/attractions/things-to-do-in-albany/ } I missed Esperance and Pinnacle as I really did not have the time to go so many places. Anyway, I created a website to pen down all my adventures, tips and advice. Still in the making so only 10 pages or so. More to come when I have more time to write down. https://watravelblog.com/

Anyone know where the best and most economical place to park for going to Hong Lim park this afternoon is? Not too far as my kid might be with me.

Used to watch EPL outside st James .. Think it was the biggest screen I can think of. As it's known anything cheap doesn't last In sg. It has folded .. We skip the pubs and bars coz most of the clubs do telecast. So any makan spot to watch the games? Any sharing would be appreciated. Tks

fellow bros, anyone has any place in mind for the repair of PS4 after the warranty is over? Thanks in advance!

Former Botak Jones owner returned as Big Bern's American Grill... Ha..ha.... saving the distant of driving all the way to Sembawang,The Handlebar" but still cannot compare with the surrounding environment of The Handlebar. Yahoo news: Big Bern’s: Starting over again…at 63 At the height of their business, with up to 13 outlets, they were living their dream. Their tills were ringing in decent 6 figures sales each month and life was exciting and fun. Their customers could not get enough of their hard core no-frills American chow. They went from Bernie’s to Botak Jones and consulted for a few outlets with similar concepts…there was no stopping them. Then, it all fell apart, “it was a series of bad business decisions and partnership woes” and I could see the pain in the business hardened eyes of Bernie Utchenik as he said so. When Bernie and his wife Zee moved on from their last Botak Jones outlet (they sold it) in Balestier, they were still staring at a “staggering” 6 figure debt, the same they used to make monthly back then. Now at age 63, when he should be reaping the rewards and enjoying the soft sunset years ahead, they are starting all over again. “No choice. We got some good years left ahead and we got debts to clear”. But have willpower and skills, will travel, I say. They now roost here in Toa Payoh (Bernie has this thing for quaint and industrial spots) and their comforting and lovable American menu is up again. Plus, Bernie and Zee are up at it personally at the stall each day. He suffers from personal anxiety disorders but calms it with his fighting spirit and some medication. Despite all that, he spends at least 3 hours a day in the kitchen. Slowly and surely, the debt is clearing and nothing is stopping them. He spoke nothing of his woes and gushed only about his kitchen craft. I had to dig and scratch it out of him. I am not a fan of salmon- too bland and blah for me. But I note how well chefs do this. They took a wild caught salmon (the texture and flavour is bolder) and seared it very well and was not the usual dry piece of fish I usually get at dressed down western eateries like this. Their own made tartar sauce was a bonus to the show. The lovely potato cake completed the show. The Po-Boys sandwich did not floor me the first time I tried it. The bread used felt like a stack of cardboard but they recently changed it to what felt a whole lot more authentic- it was softer and gummier inside and crunchy but not crispy. The battered soft shell crabs lumps had its natural flavour but would’ve preferred it with more marinate. The greens and the chiili sauce lifted it. Bernie is very practical… “sell good food, treat the customers well and git myself back on my feet”. He will get there and be up for air very soon, I know. Big Bern’s American Grill 978 Toa Payoh North , #02-01 +65 6710 7362 1130am to 9pm daily Link: https://sg.news.yaho...-094536952.html

Anyone know which workshop service stock shock absorbers for subaru legacy

Each place at SIT eyed by five poly graduates Sandra DavieMy PaperMonday, May 11, 2015 Artist's impression of Singapore Institute of Technology’s satellite campus at Republic Polytechnic. Even as the Government provides alternative pathways for school-leavers to achieve career success, the university that caters to polytechnic graduates continues to draw more students. A record 9,600 polytechnic graduates applied for the 2,080 places offered by the Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT) this year. Last year, there were 7,000 applications for 1,800 places. The university offers 28 degrees with renowned overseas university partners such as Germany's Technical University of Munich. Since last year, it has been offering its own degrees. It has 36 degree courses in total. There had been doubt over demand at SIT, as it was granted the charter to confer its own degrees only last year. Also, students enrolled in SIT-conferred degrees will have to spend an extra eight months to a year doing intensive internships combining work and study. Yet, of the 9,600 applications, more than half were for the eight SIT-conferred degree programmes. Said SIT's director of admissions, Kelly Koh: "Despite SIT being just over one year old as an autonomous university, it is fast gaining traction and we have seen that most of the SIT-conferred degree programmes are well-received." He added that word is also getting out on the benefits of its internship programme, which is designed to be more in-depth and structured than a traditional industrial attachment. The university, which now operates from an interim campus in Dover Road, has also set up an Enterprise & Innovation Hub where its students will work on projects suggested by firms. Among the popular courses are accountancy, hospitality business, information security and aeronautical engineering. The university has shortlisted more applicants - 4,000 this year - for interviews. Said Mr Koh: "In line with our holistic approach, we believe in putting in the extra effort to identify students who display attributes and qualities, beyond academic performance, who are suited for the course." Students go through two interviews, and to select those for the hospitality degree programme, employers are invited to sit on the interview panel. Applicants said SIT's niche degrees and emphasis on getting its students job-ready were the reasons why they picked the university. Said Mr Lim, who graduated from Nanyang Polytechnic and is applying to do the new information security degree offered by SIT: "I like SIT's focus on giving students work and industry experience. It will be a definite advantage when I go out to work." - See more at: http://news.asiaone.com/news/education/each-place-sit-eyed-five-poly-graduates#sthash.qhUT80YB.dpuf

http://www.themalaymailonline.com/features/article/excavation-jackpot-at-singapores-empress-place-archaeological-dig ‘Excavation jackpot’ at Singapore’s Empress Place archaeological dig. Situated in front of the Victoria Theatre and Concert Hall at Empress Place, the archaeological excavation is organised by the National Heritage Board, with support of the Urban Redevelopment Authority, as part of its efforts to commemorate 31 years of archaeology in Singapore. — Today pic. SINGAPORE, April 16 — Excavation works at Empress Place — the biggest archaeology project to be conducted in Singapore — have uncovered the largest-ever haul of findings here, said National Heritage Board (NHB) today. The two-month-long project, situated in front of the Victoria Concert Hall, came to an end last Sunday (April 12), with an estimated two tonnes worth of artefacts found. It was a collaboration between NHB and the Nalanda-Sriwijaya Centre of the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies. These artefacts, said lead archaeologist Lim Chen Sian, provide even more insights into Singapore’s early beginnings, and may reveal more details about life back in Singapore even before the early colonial days. A total of 15 artefacts were unveiled during a press conference this morning, including Buddhist figurines and a piece of porcelain measuring 34cm in diameter said to be of “imperial grade quality”. NHB assistant chief executive office for Policy and Development Alvin Tan, described the project as Singapore’s “excavation jackpot”, adding that some of the more significant artefacts will be put up for displays in the museum once the necessary procedures, cataloguing and research work has been completed. According to Lim, a day of excavation would require another 21 days of post-excavation work, which involves washing and cleaning the artefacts. It would take another two to three years before the artefacts can be exhibited. — Today

Like to know which is best source to get brakes pads and rotors online? Like Brembos and Hawk. Thx in adv

Found this website deal extreme, dx.com, the led bulbs are super cheap. Any other reliable places where I can find led H3 bulb for my fog lights? Thanks

I wish I wish~~ I will be able to drop by this cool island one day http://news.asiaone.com/news/asia/its-raining-cats-and-tourists-japanese-island Love them all! Be kind to animals , you dun have to love them but don't abuse them

Of recent, my area the multi-storey carpark has more empty lots compared to yesteryears. As I usually come back home late at night, I fully comprehend the full strength of the cars parked. And no, this is definitely not Chinese new year period ppl drive out to Malaysia. Been noticing since couple months back. Any similar sightings at your carpark?

Was at raffles place this pm. Someone just got stabbed..

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/part-of-raffles-green/1472456.html?cid=FBSG SG so happening! Not sure of intent, lots of speculation over at edmw...

My wife is learning driving at BBDC. I want to let her to practice using our car. so she can progress faster and get liscence ASAP (so I have flexiblity for driving the car) Any recommendation ? want to practrice parking/steering skills.

hmmmm........ can consider ... Yahoo news: 11 Reasons to Retire in Portugal's Algarve Portugal's Algarve, home to more than 100,000 resident expat retirees, could be the best place in the world to retire that nobody's talking about. Particularly appealing are the two municipalities of Silves and Lagoa that are situated slightly west of the center of Portugal's southernmost province. In these two spots, you can enjoy the best the region has to offer, from medieval towns and fishing villages to open-air markets, local wine and some of Europe's best sandy beaches. This is a land of cobblestoned streets, whitewashed houses with lace-patterned chimneys and everywhere there are fig, olive, almond and carob trees. Here are 11 reasons the Algarve qualifies as one of Europe's top retirement havens: 1. Great weather. This region enjoys one of the most stable climates in the world and 3,300 hours of sunshine per year, meaning more sunny days than almost anywhere else in Europe. As a result, the Algarve has a longstanding reputation as a top summer destination among European sun-seekers and a top winter retreat for those looking to escape Northern Europe's coldest months. It's a popular holiday destination among the Portuguese year-round, and the Spanish love the region's wilder western coast. 2. Safety. Portugal ranks as the 17th safest country in the world. Violent crime is rare, and petty crime is limited to street crime during the busy tourist season. 3. Good infrastructure. Portugal and the Algarve have enjoyed important infrastructure investments, specifically in the country's highway network and airports. This could be a great base for exploring all of Europe and northern Africa. 4. International-standard health care. Medical tourism is a growing industry in the region, particularly if you are interested the aesthetic, hip replacement and dental specialties. 5. Golf. The region boasts 42 courses in less than 100 miles and is generally recognized as a top golfing destination in continental Europe, and some would say the world. 6. Great beaches. The Algarve's 100 miles of Atlantic coastline is punctuated by jagged rock formations, lagoons and extensive sandy beaches, many awarded coveted blue flags from the European Blue Flag Association. The water off these shores is azure and the cliff-top vistas are spectacular. Most beaches have lifeguards during the summer season. Many have restaurants or snack bars, sometimes open only seasonally. 7. Affordable cost of living. The cost of living in Portugal is among the lowest in Western Europe, on average 30 percent lower than in any other country of the region. A retired couple could live here comfortably but modestly on a budget of as little as $1,500 per month. With a budget of $2,000 per month or more, you could enjoy a fully appointed lifestyle in the heart of the Old World. 8. English is widely spoken. Thanks to Portugal's strong historic and cultural links with England, English is widely spoken in the country in general and even more so in the Algarve, the country's main tourist draw. Retired here, you could get by without learning to speak Portuguese if you wanted to. 9. Healthy living and eating. The Portuguese are the biggest fish eaters per capita in Europe, and fresh fish of great variety is available in all the ever-present daily markets. In addition, the abundance of sunshine in this part of the world means an abundance of fresh produce is also available in the local markets. 10. Retirement income is not taxed. Recent legislation allows resident foreign retirees to receive pension income in the country tax-free. The law also provides for reduced taxation on wages, intellectual property, interest, dividends and capital gains. 11. Severely undervalued property market. Real estate in Portugal is undervalued and among the most affordable in Europe. Further, Portuguese real estate has one of the most favorable price-to-rent ratios (a measure of the profitability of owning a house) and price-to-income ratios (a measure of affordability) in the region. What that means is that housing is cheaper to buy and investors can make more money from rentals than in many other European countries. Kathleen Peddicord is the founder of the Live and Invest Overseas publishing group. With more than 28 years experience covering this beat, Kathleen reports daily on current opportunities for living, retiring and investing overseas in her free e-letter. Her newest book, "How To Buy Real Estate Overseas", published by Wiley & Sons, is the culmination of decades of personal experience living and investing around the world. link: https://sg.finance.yahoo.com/news/11-reasons-retire-portugals-algarve-135758354.html

HI all, Its time of the year for me to change my tyre as front 2 gg botak soon. My ride is 2009 Suzuki Swift sport. Tyre size should be 195/50R16. currently using Hanhook Ventus S1 Evo 205/45R16. May i know if the tyre size matters alot if i continue to use 205/45R16? or is it recommended to use back 195/50R16. I remembered that I had used this 205/45 because 195/50 hard to find in market. Any good tyre to use? No tracking, just spirited driving in Singapore and this S1 Evo saved my life 1 month ago during raining days in Lornie Road when 1 idiot make a sudden U-turn. Lastly, The screw track of my wheel( the one that is used to screw the rim to the car) is spoil. May i know where can i change it? Thank you everyone!

Hello all, I will be relocating my office to Metropolis area soon so like to ask if anyone of you work around there ? Where do you usually go for lunch ? The nearby hawker is quite far.

Don't understand this new rule, that the HDB selling price to be based on recent transaction price instead of COV? do they mean that the HDB price will be based on bank valuation only??? ----------- To improve the long-term stability of the public housing market and encourage buyers and sellers to focus on the sum total of a flat's price, price negotiations for HDB resale flats will now be based on recent transaction prices instead of Cash-Over-Valuation (COV) figures. This according to an MND facebook post summarising National Development Minister Khaw Boon Wan’s speech in Parliament this afternoon. As of 5pm today, HDB will only accept valuation requests from resale flat buyers or their appointed salesperson, after buyers have been granted an Option to Purchase (OTP) by the sellers. Under the new rules, buyers who are granted OTP will have 21 calendar days, instead of 14 days to exercise the OTP to adjust to the new procedure. In addition, HDB will publish daily prices of resale transactions as and when they are registered, instead of fortnightly after the transactions are approved. Responding, Mohamed Ismail, CEO of PropNex Realty, said: “Using valuation and negotiating based on COVs has been a long-standing practice for the sale and purchase of HDB resale flats. With this revised procedure, the possible impact of allowing valuation only after the OTP is granted, will expose HDB home buyers to a higher vulnerability of a greater cash outlay if there is any gap between the agreed price and the valuation price. Buyers will become more cautious in their offer price as they enter into a purchase without an indication of how much the property is worth. In comparison, for the purchase of a private property, buyers do get an indicative valuation from the banker before entering into an option and in most instances, banks do honour the valuation based on indicative prices given. “This new procedure will take some time to adjust as the market moves away from the use of COV as the yardstick in negotiations. In those estates where the COVs are still holding high, especially in central locations like Redhill, Bishan or Toa Payoh, buyers and sellers are likely to continue to rely on the valuation of other sources for their price negotiations as such information are still going to be made available by property portals and other platforms,” added Ismail. He noted that HDB resale prices are expected to drop further as potential buyers take a cautious approach in their negotiations before they ink the OTP. For the first time after an eight year period, HDB resale prices saw negative growth of 0.6 percent in 2013. Ismail expects this trend to continue, with prices expected to fall by five to eight percent this year. http://www.propertyguru.com.sg/property-management-news/2014/3/37469/new-rules-place-less-focus-on-covs

Or share your views on fine dining restaurants? eg, the most expensive 1 or the most romantic 1?