Kim Tian HDB #6 - Checklist for HDB Inspection prior to second HDB appointment

HDB's website states that at the 2nd appt "The buyer confirms that the flat has been vacated and its condition is acceptable… … After the signing of the transfer documents, the flat is legally under the buyers’ names and thus the buyers will be held responsible should anything unpleasant arise.”

As mentioned in our first HDB appt post, our HDB officer Derek has advised us to go for the HDB inspection. Thus I have gathered some info from renotalk, singaporebrides etc forums to do up a checklist, so that we know what we should be looking out during tomorrow's HDB inspection.

Checklist for HDB inspection:

1.  Any unauthorised renovation work or illegal installations?
- Any fittings outside windows
- Corridor fixtures to be "movable" at any time.

Those stuff outside house, are not allowed to be fixed (by means of screw/glue/cement, etc) onto  wall or floor…e.g. rack, pot, stand. Any hook within house is ok, but not OUTSIDE. People like to hang stuff such as flower pot/bird cage/banners outside....obstruct traffic and cause potential danger....  
- Sanitary pipes any leakage/personal modification
- Aircon /sliding/casement window safety issue

- Illegal renovation such as platform too high, boxed up of bomb shelter hole

2.   Any major cracks on the walls? Broken tiles? Big holes on the floor? If it’s visible when u sign the OTP, then seller does not have to rectify.

3.   All unwanted items removed by the seller? As you do not need to inherit any unwanted items.

4.   All the electrical lighting points are working? By switching on all the lights one by one.

5.   Test built-in stuffs to see if they are working?  E.g. instant water heater, aircon, fan, shower screen door, water pipe.

6.   Check to see if all the windows glasses are working fine by opening and closing them.

7.   All the keys to your window grills and bedroom doors are intact by locking and unlocking them.

8.   Check the ceilings and corners for tell-tale signs of water leakage:
a) 'Bubbles' in the paintwork,
b) Paintwork peeling off,
c) Wavy brown stains that forms a circle, and/or
d) Dampness on the ceiling or some crystallised water droplets.

9.   If it is an old estate, needs to take note things like the toilet lower window glass needs to be those types which had embedded wire mesh in the glass panels.

      (eh, I don’t really understand this part, will ask ‘Mr Nice Guy’ tomorrow.)

Reminder/ To-do list:

1.   Ask agent Francis about utilities account. When to apply for electricity, water supply and renovation permit? Fire insurance?

2.   Check whether the house has charms or talismans currently?

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Hen Party, anyone? Hehe ;p

I was browsing Flowerpod forum when i came across the below under the wedding section...

Hot Male Caucasian for Hen/ Surprise/ Birthday/ Farewell Parties!
Hot Bod! Good-Looking! Fantastic Show!

http://flowerpod.com.sg/forums/Male-Caucasian-Dancer-Hen-Parties-t100016.html

Wow!!

Sounds interesting! haha... never see before leh.

Any friends having hen party, pls ask me along to see see ya. hee.. *shy* ;p

Kim Tian HDB #5 - Auspicious Date to "Open Door"

Mummy said that based on Chinese customs, we should have a simple ritual ceremony on an auspicious date to open our house’s door for the first time after collecting our keys.

Heard from friends that they also do so. Thus we reasoned out that it's best we just follow accordingly for “peace of mind” and good luck. Huat ah! :)

How to select auspicious date and timing?
Auspicious dates and times are usually selected by either consulting
* chinese geomancer,
* chinese monk,
* temple official,
* fortune teller,
* chinese calendar, or
* chinese almanac.

We went to consult a lady geomancer today. Mummy gave us the address, said her friends and friends’ children also go to this lady geomancer to select auspicious date.

She’s a very patient and nice lady in her 50s, can only speak mandarin.

We previously went to consult her on our solemnization date, thus she already has our birth dates.

I actually wanted to take some pics, but Mr Nice Guy said it’s disrespectful. So no pics loh! :(

What to expect?

A)  First, she chose a suitable auspicious date and time according to the ‘Tong Shu’ (The Chinese Almanac) based on our birth dates. This date is for “Open door”, “Earth-deity thanking ritual” (‘Xie Tu’) and ‘Dong Tu’ (move the ground literally, means commencement of renovation).

B)  Then she wrote down the items that we need to get for the ritual. This is to pay greetings to the earth-deity as the new owners for wealth and happiness.

Pic above: Geomancer's list of items to prepare

               Translated in english, items include:

                  1. 1 'Fa gao' 发糕 (means prosperity cake)

                  2. 5 Oranges

                  3. 1 Pineapple

                  4. A bunch of banana

                  5. Joss sticks

                  6. A pair of candles

                  7. Joss papers

                  8. Tea leaves

                  9. Sweet – for good fortune

                   (read it somewhere coz God of Fortune loves sweet stuff.

                    Just like during CNY, people also put sweet stuff to invite God of Fortune.)

C)  She also advised after the ritual, we need to sprinkle a mixture of rice and salt at all corners and cannot sweep it away for 3 days.

As both of us dunno anything about the custom, we asked a lot of questions on the procedure, what to say for prayer, the facing direction of the ritual, how to arrange the items, when to do what etc.

Wah, I must say she’s super patient. She explained in details to all our questions, while I quickly scribbled on a paper. Seeing how lost we were, she even write another note on what we have to say when we offer prayers to the earth deity.


Time and cost?

The whole session took around half an hour.

She does not has a fixed charge, but accepts ‘angbow’ (red packet) instead where you give an amount to your ability and liking. We have previously given her a red packet when we consulted her on our solemnization date. Mummy said this time gives $12 so we just followed suit.

What we like?

She’s very warm and not the kind to ask you to buy this and that. Very friendly and patient as she knows we are first timer buying flat and we do not have a single clue, she takes the effort to explain the ritual in details to us.  Also, she does not charge exorbitant fees to choose an auspicious date, I heard my friends paying $100 or more to choose a date. Also, she said if we have any further questions about the procedure, we can give her a call. Very nice! :)

Cons?

She can only write and speak Chinese, so there may be things that we don’t understand from her note.  But when we asked her, she will immediately tell us what’s the word etc.

Found some other recommendations online on moving house... for those who may be interested:

1.   Don't move house when there is a pregnant woman in the family, or at least the pregnant woman should not be at the scene on the day of moving.

2.   At the day of moving, say good things, and avoid any dispute.

3.   Organize a 'house-warming' party for lunch or dinner; the presence of guests would bring favourable 'Yang/Sheng Qi' to the house.

4.   There is no need to move 'everything' in at the appointed date.

5.   Any charms or talismans at the old house should be properly disposed off.

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Dairies of a JieMei #1 - YH's BIG day set!

**Drumrolls**

One of my dearies just told me that her Wedding Banquet Day is set! Yipee!!!

And I'm invited to be her 'Jie Mei' (sister).

Of course i agreed straight away! So honored!!!!
This is my first time to be jiemei for one of my dearies!

These photos were taken on YH's Solemization day.

Pic above: Gorgeous Bride YH

The sweet bouquet is the great masterpiece by talented JL. It's amazing right?

I can never create something as amazing as that!

Great work gal, can consider sideline. hehe :)

Pic above: Me and Dearie YH

Pic above: The whole crew with Prince charming and Cinderella :)

Pic above: The great love between Prince Charming and Cinderella

Kawaii and sweet pic right? :)

Pic above: The gals and the bride

Looking forward to YH's BIG day! :)

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He got his first car! :)

Sep is a fabulous month! Many awesome things happened!

For a start, my good buddy YM got his first car!!!

Erm...months of deliberation manz

(hee, he is a man who make cautious decisions ;p good husband material huh. :))

It started with an unexpected sms "Hey gal, you are the first in the uni clique to know this news. Feels very privileged? I made a big ticket purchase yesterday and its not a house. Guess you will know what is it haha"

I got intrigued and cheekily replied "Ring or car? ;p"

I do know the answer lah, but just wanna tease him. Hee.. Oops... My bad.

Of course I felt very privileged! And most importantly "CONGRATS, YM!!!!"

Haha.... he told me he got a Suzuki SX4 Hatchback in grey color. I managed to find this pic on google.

Pic above: Suzuki SX4 Hatchback in Grey color

Will take pics when i finally get to see YM's car.

Do I get a ticket to a ride? *hint hint* ;p

pondering.... haha

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