H.V.R

Finally we settled our new home at Bukit Batok.

Same place where we had our "lovely" encounter with FE agents but this time round, we bought the unit from the owners of the unit instead.

The owners are 2 sisters who bought the unit together. When we visited their house yesterday, only one of the sisters was present. She is called Lucy, a friendly and chatty lady. The 2 agents jokingly told us that Lucy was very good at selling her house and they don't really have to do much, we agreed totally.

Wow, I must say we were very impressed with the maintenance of the unit. The floorings in the entire house are as good as new. Even the skirtings looked intact. We have visited the showrooms and the unoccupied units sold by F.E but none are maintained as well as Lucy's house. Yes,even the kitchen cabinets' hinges were a bit tarnished at the unoccupied units !

She told us that she purposely placed all her furniture a distance away from the walls. Anyhow, Lucy only came and stay at this unit once or twice a week and she doesn't cook, therefore this can be one of the reasons why it looks new.

The only thing I am disappointed about the unit is the kitchen. It was the conventional model with all walls enclosed. The reason why I like H.V.R in the first place is the open-concept kitchen which was different from other developments. Anyhow, I have obtained approval from CK to renovate one portion of the kitchen to the style which is almost similar as the premium block which we saw earlier.

This time round, the new home will be simple, uncluttered and not as colourful.

We would like to thanks our friends for their well-wishes. I truly believe that we still can have a good time at the new place.

"Amazing" encounter

We had an "amazing" encounter at a certain property in the west yesterday evening and this afternoon !

It was indeed a lifetime experience for us and we won't not forget this in a hurry !

This property was launched officially three years ago. There were unsold units and we just hopped by yesterday evening to take a look.

The developer's sales staff showed us around a couple of showflats units. I must say that I like the units as the layout has not much space wastage. We were interested in one of the cheaper and smaller unit and the sales staff offered us a price which could match our budget.

He began to prepare the OPT and even obtained our signatures. He told us that his CEO will have to approve the price he offered us. Then he followed us home to get the cheque for the 1% down payment. We were quite puzzled over the "unique" procedure but if this is their procedure, then we would just wait for his approval.

After waiting for a while at our house, the sales staff told us that his Manager has a counter-offer for us and that he would be making a trip to our house. It was almost 9pm when he arrived. Of course, his counter-offer was a much higher offer ($20K more!)than what was offered by his sales staff 1 hour ago.

We were very displeased with his counter offer and told them frankly that we were looking for other properties as well. I'm not sure but I got the instinct that these guys were trying to confuse clients at late hours so that they will relent to the offer price they suggested ! Anyhow we were alert about their sales tactics and were able to "counter-attack" whatever they have put forward !

So ultimately we decided on being very relaxed and told them that if the unit is meant for us, we'll take it. If the price could not matched our expectations, then we would like to continue and moved on. It was really no point talking to the manager and wasting more time as it was getting real late. I can sense that the 2 staff were quite taken back by our attitude. It was almost 11:30pm when they left our house and we have not even taken our dinner !! They told us that they would get back to us within 3 days and if not, they won't sell us ... hahaha, it's perfectly fine for us !

There were too many untruths told by the sales staff and does he think we were fools ? No doubt we doesn't look very professional or smart, but we were not stupid lor ! Too many loopholes not covered well. For example, he told us that he was only earning $2K plus and every home he sold, he only earned $500 (he told us out of his own will, we did not even asked him!) Well, how could that be coz he told us he was throwing in a washing machine for us if we buy the unit ! So, is he so nice to spend his commission for us ?? This was just one of the many ridiculous things he "imparted" to us !

Guess what ?? As we predicted, the next morning, the sales staff called CK and told him that he has another arrangement for us which can matched the price he suggested earlier. CK called my office and told me about the new arrangement.

After my meeting at about 11:30am, this sales staff came to my office personally to look for me ! I nearly got a shock ! I asked him to wait outside for me and I secretly called CK to let him know that he was here and what was the matter ?

Anyhow, I decided to take things as it was. I went outside to have a talk with him. He just told me that he was here to tell me what he has told CK over the phone about the arrangement he has thought of. I told him that I have already know and he said that it was their policy to let both parties know exactly what was being said to the other party. I told him that we trusted each other and there is no point for him to come down personally to tell me. The way he communicated about the new arrangement was exactly what CK has told me over the phone. Overall, it was satisfactory and I told him we would visit the property again this evening to view that unit again.

We took sometime off and went down together. Guess what ? The price he offered after 8 hours later in the same day was different again ! This time round, the increase was not a substantial amount but the principal and trust behind the whole transaction has once again raise the flames in us !

I was entirely disgusted with their way of doing business ! This is a very big organisation and we expected more professionalism from the staff ! I must have lost my temper and scolded him ! I can't be bothered anymore as this is really not unacceptable at all. Again, he used the same excuse that his CEO/boss did not approve the transaction. If we were able to accept their counter-offer, he will give us a washing machine as a gift !! Does a washing machine costs $3800.00 ? Why was this big and famous organisation bargaining over $3800.00 ? Anyway, this is not about $3800.00 which was a small increment compared to a property price but where is the integrity and trust that an organisation should uphold? This seems insane, if he can bother to come down all the way to my office to tell me about the new arrangement, why change the offer price again 8 hours later ?

I told him that we were keen to buy the unit and they doesn't seems to be keen to sell us at all. Within the same day, they can counter-offer us 2 prices ! This is more than I can bear ! I reprimanded him on the spot ! I cannot be bothered what he might think of me but I need to get my message across ! Hahaha, CK said that I was very fierce but it was ok! He shared the same sentiments as me that we were being pulled by the nose and were not treated fairly by the sales staff !

I felt shiok to scold him ! I was never a person who lost my kool easily but this was too absurd ! It was an insult to us and we would be be so easily being suppressed by such sales tactics !

Hahaha, he got my message, of course. He apologised all the way to me and see us to the car park !

Anyhow, let's see how it goes! We let go our steam by having a nice dinner at a coffeeshop nearby !

PS: A "love letter" has been drafted to his CEO about this !!!

Family Potrait and Mother-in-law's Birthday

During CK's mother birthday, 2nd brother-in-law has suggested to take family potrait. The photo was taken at "Li Ming" at Clementi. The photo will only be ready in one month's time.




Celebrations of Ah Mi's 73 birthday at Long Beach restaurant at IMM.

Country Ornaments & furniture for Sales !

Yeap, selling most of our country style stuff and furniture at cheaper rates !

I will be letting our buyer to choose what she likes first. Our own agent has also expressed her interests to buy some of the stuff too.

If you are keen, let me know.

of course, there are some cheaper stuff that I have which i might just give away.

Country House Sold

It was an eventful day last Sunday on 15 March 2009. We finally sold our little country house !

It was entirely unexpected sales transaction all done in one day ! Since we have appointed Dennis Wee Agent to source buyers for us in Feb, there were a couple of people who came to view our flat. We got an offer from a malay family but we did not accept their offer. Last Sunday, we got 2 groups of viewers who were scheduled to view our flat. The first group came at 12:00pm. They are two middle aged couple who view the house and left about 20 minutes. The second appointment was at 2:00pm with a pair of young couple and their agent. They seems to be quite jovial and were seriously looking at every corner of our house. We could hear them laughing and chatting away in the kitchen, bedrooms etc. After they had viewed all the rooms, they came and asked us some questions. Apparently, the young lady was very excited about the country style ornaments that are hanging in our home. She loved the ornaments and asked me where I bought them from. Therefore, I told them that I bought from various places. Anyhow there are not many shops in Singapore that sold country style ornaments.

The young man asked me whether our house and corridor are bright or not ? Would there be sunlight or not ? I was rather worried to answer his question. Does he likes sunlight or he shunned sunlight ??? Therefore I decided to ask him what he preferred. He told me that he preferred sunlight and do not like dark places. After they left, I gathered that he was staying in landed property and he does not like long corridors and dark corners.

Three hours later, our agent called to said that the young couple were very interested to buy our flat ! They quoted a price and we were agreeable to it. What a relief ! Even though we managed to get our flat sold quite fast, but it was an agony to rush home to get ready for viewers and not closing the deal in the end. CK and myself were ecstatic and very much relief!

We received another call from our agent that the couple was bringing their parents over at 9pm in the evening. At about 9pm, the couple plus their agent and the young lady's parents came over. The young couple's father was a stern-looking man who talked very loudly. He was discouraging the young couple not to buy our flat outside the corridoor. He was complaining that there were no wind here and he was simply displeased with this area ! The young couple's agent (who was their friend)came and apologised to me about her friend's father behaviour. She was apologetic that we have already accepted the couple's offered price and yet the young couple seems to be wavering because of the father's remarks. I told the agent that it's ok, if they doesn't want to buy the house, we will just wait for the next interested buyer. Their agent told me that the couple was very very interested in our flat and they did not like other flats which they have viewed after they came to our house.

Somehow, things got more firmed up after the father did not managed to persuade them. He went downstairs to wait for them. I can tell that the young couple were very relief !

We have a rather interesting family here. The young man and his future father-in-law are quite similiar. They are religious and were discussing where to place the "shen tai". The young lady's mother was extremely interested in our 3 chincillas and Jojo. I can tell that she is very affectionate towards animals. She told me that she loves animals and I invited her to enter the chinchilla's room to have a closer look at them. At this moment, CK brought the chincilla's cranberries (their treats) for the auntie to feed them ! She was happily feeding our chincillas with the treats !

Her daughter saw her feeding our chincillas and told her "Mother, you were supposed to give us your opinion". Her mother looked at her and told her that she did not know how to give her views and she should decide for herself. I can sense that her mother was a very relaxed and "ching chai" person.. . extremely different from her husband !

Anyhow, the young couple has decided to buy our house and we signed Option to purchase papers on the spot. (Option 1) Accordingly to the contract, buyers were given 2 weeks "cooling" period to consider whether they wanted to buy the flat. After 2 weeks, once we have signed Option 2 of the papers, both buyer and seller are binded to the contract.

The buyers are coming down this Saturday with their Feng Shui master to view the house ans signed Option 2. Interesting ... should we also get Feng Shui Master for our new home in future ???

My FIRST swimming lesson

We brought Jojo to "Club for Paws" which is very near to our house for a swim. We have been to this dog club for a few times but have never let Jojo try swimming before.

As predicted, Jojo was not fond of swimming. He was clinging for dear life when CK put him inside the pool ! Other dogs swam the "length" of the pool while our doggie swam the "breadth" of the pool ! It's such a disgrace ... hahaha.

We saw my uncle's neighbour with their beautiful golden retriever, Ah Bee at the club. It was Ah Bee's first time at the pool and he was doing great ! He can swim full length of the pool back and fro. Jojo was frantically striking his paws as he swam towards the edge of the pool. I wondered if bigger dogs have more advantage over water. Then I was proven wrong. A Tse Zhu came afterwards and swam leisurely in the pool and the owner told us it was her first attempt and she just dived into the pool and swim !

Anyhow, it was great exercise for Jojo. After the swim, he just ran around the enclosure and mingled with other dogs.


This is crazy ... I feel like drowning ... I prefer to "ledged" on to the edge of pool !


Swimming definately doesn't show the best side of me ... woof !


Ah Bee, comfortably swimming in the pool.


Look at me, I can swim, just that I don't like it !