Taman Sutera budget fitting out

Having the house keys is just the beginning. I should always remember this because the cost of fitting it out would be huge. We only had some money to spare for the house and since we are now staying in JB, we are in the opinion that major renovation works should be carried out later. We manage to sneak (from the outside) our neighbors house the other day and I must say that the owner has some distinctive taste of the interior. Plaster ceiling, cabinets are all stacked up for installation and I just wonder how much the owner had spent for the renovation. I wish to be able to meet my neighbor soon. As I mentioned, little money means simple fitting out for the house. We plan to use the house as our own 'hotel' whenever we are in KL and that, i suppose, able to save us on hotel expenses. We did not plan much, just some ordinary lighting in most areas of the house and most importantly, the grille. We contacted this one guy and he quoted some 3k for the grille. After much negotiation etc., we managed to get him to agree to 3700 for grille and lighting installation. We bought the ordinary long pendaflour ourself and managed to get RM 16.50 for each. We bought 16 in total plus 2 Panasonic ceiling fans at RM 120 each.

Then I realized that although the fittings should be temporary, but we do like some aesthetic lightings at some areas of the house. So I made some comparisons for some lighting outlets which sell the same product and resorted to some cheap IKEA lightings. Since we are in JB, we made some comparisons between IKEA KL and SG. So surprise to see that some products were sold much cheaper in SG compared in KL. We compared these items to be exact: Tross (ceiling lamp), KL RM 59, SG 19.90 (+- RM49.15); Illumen (bathroom category) KL 49, SG 16.90 (RM 41.74) and Santir (Wall) SG 9.90, KL 29 (RM 24.45). Don't know if those items are on sale but we do save RM 30 for all the purchased. I went to SG myself, considering the practicality of buy and return home soonest as I could. I think after calculating the toll etc., it still saving, well not that much actually but its the penny saved that matters most hehe. We'll be going to KL this weekend to meet the contractor and hopefully, we will be able to stay in our own house whenever we were in KL.

Taman Sutera - this entry just got misaligned..

Been a while since the last entry on the house progress, and I really mean a long long time ago. The last time I post an entry on it, the house was still under construction and early April this year the house has finally completed and I've collected the keys after signing some papers. It was a total relief on our side knowing that the house has finally handed over to us. Read so many complaints on unfinished and abandoned housing project around Klang Valley and having one which is still under construction making us living in 'fear'. We have started financing the house installment since the first pile hit the bare ground and until this date we have been forking out almost RM2000 every month that go straight to the bank. RM2000 for those who still renting a place and not having an own place is a whole lot of money. 2000 that goes to ASB every month will amount to 24k yearly and if the dividend remains constant at 8% per annum, that will give me close to RM2000 yearly. I'm a rich man by now (on my own definition), but, the need for housing is actually more pressing than having additional 2000 on a yearly basis. Renting is not bad at all, I read about people renting a place their entire life and as long the landlord agrees to let the place for rent, life should be secured. On my part, having an own place was and still a crucial matter. The property price especially in KL has been going up like 'what' for the last 10 years or so. The time we signed the SnP for the house, the asking price was at close 350k and just after 2 years of construction and finally ready for occupation, the property now is valued at 490k!. There are a few agents who called me even at 10pm asking if I would like to sell the house and they are ready to introduce keen buyers who are ready to part with huge fortune just to get into the area. Well, the offer seems good, but if I sell this house, I simply won't afford to buy another house in the same area given the 'crazy' value currently attached to the house.

Ok then, that's life. You love KL very much then face the reality. Don't complain so much and try to get something to face it. This situation will continue and in coming years, I do not know how much a landed property will be and I see much inclination on the part of developers to build semi-D rather terrace in the greater KL area. I think my house was the last terrace been built in the area. Ordinary folks like me will eventually have to consider moving out to new growth areas or better still migrate to states where living cost is low. I think the salary which I receive each month is enough for a living but with house installment eating much of the portion, the disposable part is actually getting smaller. But this situation is a normal happening in  the property market. It is in fact, a situation which spurs new township at many areas. Buyers simply look at a few factors in selecting their dream property and topping up would be the cost factor. The house which we purchased located almost 30km from my workplace. Daily commuting would simply turn my distance gauge to 60km daily and say, there are 22 working days each month, i'll be clocking more than 1000km monthly. 

I supposed to write about the house but in return, i'm writing about something else. Perhaps i'll do the house writing part in a few months time...