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...

Taman Sutera (progress as at 8/5/2011)

Hari Sabtu lepas kami ke Kajang nak tengok apa dah jadi dengan projek taman Sutera tu. Dah 2 bulan tak tengok, kalau balik ke Johor pun dah malam, gelap, bila otw ke KL pun dah malam, so sabtu lepas, lepas bersesak kat Midvalley pegi 'Mom's and baby fair', kami pun bertolak ke Kajang dari Midvalley ikut Plus. Tol dari Sg Besi ke Kajang RM 1.80, kalau lalu Besraya cuma RM1.30 ikut exit mines, tapi selalunya ramp naik ke mines jam, org nak ke Seri Kembangan, jadi ikut je la PLUS. Kalau ikut PLUS kena tambah tol RM1 lagi kat tol Sg Balak, boleh skip tol ikut bukit angkat, jade hills, tapi jalan nya sangat la berliku, banyak lori kuar masuk ikut kilang2 kat Bukit Angkat tu, jadi labur je la RM1 tu kat SILK, cepat pun cepat.

Kami terkejut juga dari jauh progress dah lebih dari expectation. Tong penghadang jalan pun dah dibuka, jadi tak perlu ikut Nusantara yang ada guard tu (guard ok, cuma nak pusing2 dalam tu jauh sikit). Hoarding kat few areas pun dah buka, mungkin sekarang dah nak buat jalan luar dan landscape. Row kami nampaknya, dah nampak siapnya. Rata2 unit tinggal buat tiling, cat (finishing coats) dan pasang pintu tingkap, sanitary fittings. Kami tak boleh masuk ke depan unit kami tu, jadi cuma pusing tengok unit depan Nusantara/Zen 1, bajet sama la design-nya. Ni gambar unit yang kitorang riki. (minta izin empunya unit, ambil gambar):

Ni counter top kat belakang, ada column keluar pulak, sempit sikit
Ni dapur dari wet kitchen/counter top


View bilik yang kat bawah - cadang nak buat guest room untuk mak/ayah/abah kami kalau ke rumah kami. Tak perlu panjat ke atas


Ni master bedroom

Alamak, empunya unit ni sila ambil perhatian, ada air leaking ke living hall. Box up tu kena ganti. Atas tu sebenarnya toilet master bedroom, so nak tutup soil/waste pipe, dorg guna box up. Mesti air leaking dari lantai atas masa dorg buat ponding test.

Setakat ni je dulu, bulan depan kalau melawat lagi, aku taruk gambar lagi.

Update on 30 March 2011

Made a call yesterday to the developer just feed my own curiosity on the project's progress. Alhamdulillah, was told yesterday that the project will be completed sometime in November this year. I doubt will it be handing over vacant possession or defect visit. Really hope that it will be handing over vacant possession for the unit.

Besides asking about the progress, I also asked about the refund of our deposit (RM2000.00) paid sometime April 2010 in order to secure our unit. The lady said yesterday that it will be refunded once key is handed over to us and likely it will take a month (the most) for them to issue the cheque. I anxiously will wait for it, since it was my wife money which we used to put it as deposit. To make it more sentimental, it was actually the balance of her mas kahwin given by me (or it was my father hehe) during our kahwin day.

No photos available as it was just a phone call hehe. Till my next entry..

The pinch of the glitch

When we start planning to own our very own place, little we knew of what will happen to us in the following year. I still remember April 2010 when we first visit a developer's showroom and start to dream of having our own. The process took us smooth when we were requested to pay a deposit of RM 2000.00 for the unit we were interested in. Starting from that point, we knew that situation will be difficult for us but we were very much optimistic that eventually we are going to make it through no matter what.

At time, I still remember when we were asked to pay the 10% down payment for the unit. We knew, we would never afford to have RM 32,000.00 from our own saving and if even we have it, I think, we would never use it to pay the down payment. That was last year before the government announce the 1st home ownership programme which waive the requirement for the 10% down payment. What we did were something known to the property market and of course I won't disclose it here of how we deal with the issue of the down payment.

Starting from April last year, things still work pretty good for us. We still able to enjoy our holiday (once in a while), eat in a fancy places and think less on the hassle of having to ration our spending. The first glitch was a few months after that when the panel lawyer request us to pay upfront for some authority payment. At first, I refuse to pay since they will get the payment anyway from the bank. According to them, the amount was so big and they need the upfront to be paid by the purchaser. I forthwith follow even after some grueling and deep thinking of where to fork out close to RM 2000.00. Luckily, the bank release a payment to the lawyer and we get our money back without much hassle. Case close.

Sometime in August 2010, after much of the paperwork have been settled, I was summoned to the bank to sign some papers. The papers includes an agreement that mentioned that I agree that my salary to be deducted for the house installment. I don't see any problem with that as I think it will help me to pay the installment without having to visit the bank on monthly basis. I offered myself to cross check with the HR on the status of my application but was told by the bank that they will do the cross check and follow up on the progress. I agree and I let the bank do what they offered. I was wrong..

Sometime in November 2010, I received a call, telling me that I have failed to pay the house installment for 3 consecutive months. We were stunned. At that time, I was so angry with that lady who has offered to follow up with the HR and I was so suprised why we were only told after 3 months has passed. In the months following singing the papers, we were so anxious as my salary has yet to be deducted for 3 months after the first disbursement was made. We just concluded that perhaps the process took a while to complete and sooner or later, my salary will eventually be deducted. Thinking critical on our source of income, we mandate that the budget that suppose to pay for the house installment, at time when deduction has yet to be made, to be saved in one of our dedicated account and we planned to use it as a back up should budget prove to be constrained in year ahead.

Since we were told that our installment has lapsed for 3 months, I forthwith used up all saving from our dedicated account to pay for the arrears. We were left without saving and that prove to be difficult to me. It was difficult and it still difficult to date. I still remember my visit to the bank a day after I was told about the arrears, I can't stop myself from being rude as I believe the situation was just seem unfair. I am a difficult situation and this is something that beyond imagination. The lady showed me every evidence that she has pertaining her application for my salary deduction to my company's HR. I know she has done her part but I believed she has forgot that once she promised to cross check with my HR on the application. I know that I can't do nothing with the HR since we are in the same boat. I did called the HR one day just to be told that the document has been received by someone that they not even recognized. The document just gone missing and nobody care anything about it.

The sad part or the part that I am so mad about the glitch is the record that will be kept by the central bank. Perhaps i need to apply for some loan in the future and this record maybe will affect my future application. I demanded the bank to issue me a letter stating that this is their fault and I won't be held liable in any way. I never received the letter until to day...

I know 2011 will be difficult. I remember comforting my wife as we talk about our hardship that we are facing. I believe we should remain positive and know what, those who sees hardship in their way are those who have better chance to succeed. Why? because they simply have calculated the risk and weighted every options that they have. In short, they are more prepared, likely more motivated and have clear plan for their limited resources that they are going to spare. On the other round, those who never sees hardship in their way, tend to be more relaxed and have little plan for their future. At the end, they normally miscalculated, spend more than they should be and often left with regret. That is how i see it. Hardship should never be used as a deterrent of progress, but it is actually an impetus for change and victory. Recently, my fear of not getting my part time pay on time came into reality. To date, the company has delay payment for almost two months and that adds to the pinch that I am having. I live terrified for not able to pay the house installment. Last week I received a printed letter mentioning that I have delayed payment for 1 month, later that evening, I was told by my wife that the bank that I made my loan with is suck. They will remind customer like **** and I have experienced that.

So far, it just March and we still remain strong. The world is just a vacuum cleaner which suck all money that we made. I just wonder why some people is needing money more than they require, and why they are keeping it for their own. If something can be sold at 10 ringgit, why there are some who sell it at 20 ringgit. Is it how business is run, or simply making profit or cheating.

Life is a never ending pinch...

Taman Sutera as at 23 March 2011

Lama dah tak masuk entry projek rumah taman sutera. Sibuk sikit tahun ni dengan segala projek2 peribadi yang harap2 berjalan lancar. Alhamdullillah, progress rumah so far so good, i mean really good. Harap2 speed di maintain sampai la siap. The last check we made were 2 weeks ago. Sekarang dah start internal plaster, first row yang awal2 start dah start 1st coat internal paint. Roof trusses untuk window hood pun dah masuk. The last row (least progress) pun dah hampir siap ikat bata. Now I think architecture/finishing stage untuk semua unit. Our unit facing the main road, so setiap kali visit memang tak nampak actual progress. Normally, bila external works dah start, contractor akan bukak hoarding, time tu boleh la check out our own unit. Hopefully, the workers are doing perfect job for the unit. Sekarang habuk memang banyak kat area tu, Normal la untuk kawasan yang dekat dengan job site. Sabar banyak hehe. InsyaAllah akan masukkan gambar terlatest, cuma kena carik dalam phone gambar yang mana. Alright!

Our home at Taman Sutera after 9 months

Taman Sutera Kajang

It's been ages since the last entry i made on our house project. From March to Now December, progress has been very smooth and i believe, according to schedule (should there be any delay, there's no way the purchaser may know unless the period stipulated in the S&P has already passed!).

Our last visit to the project's site and observation from afar indicate that the developer is now completing RC works for the block near the main entrance. Our house suppose to be located in the middle row has shown practically good progress. RC works has now completed, staircase casted and formwork removed, brickworks has already taking place at the 1st floor and roof should have all been installed, except perhaps those at the corner.

The first row, which is the earliest block to be constructed, has received almost all it's bricks and i assume soon, finishing works ie plastering and all those internal works will commence.

In term of bank facility, 2nd payment has been made by the bank to the developer and this second claim amount to rm52k +. We do hope that the project will run smooth (no delay!!) eventhough it's been raining most days in December.

Update Rumah - 1st site visit

Loan progress

Our loan has been approved and we have already signed all documents required. I have returned the document to the bank personnel and up to date, we haven't heard anything whether it was ok or ko (amend etc..). We assume should there be no calls from bank, well we guess everything goes just fine.

S&P

The last call I received from the panel lawyer mentioned that the document has been stamped and ready for collection at the developer's office. We don't have plan just yet to drive all the way to Kajang at the moment. So we just leave it there or perhaps some other week.

Site progress

We eventually went to the site last Sunday just to feed our curiosity as what is the current progress. The earthwork stage has already passed and we seen piling plants around the site depicting piling works is now underway. Last Sunday they managed to complete the 1st block and base to our experience, by the end of this week, the first row should have been completed. Our propose home is at the second row and I think by the end of May 2010, the overall piling works can definitely complete. I was told by the sale person that phase 4D shall complete together with the 4C. They don't launch this phase just yet, I think they will start on the 4D after 4C is sold out. We don't take photos last Sunday as it was raining. Perhaps we shall include some photos after this.

Loan Update

Fresh from the bank

Just came back from bank checking on the loan agreement document prepared by them. As I have thought, the document is thick (don't mentioned how many copies they made!) and full with 'I don't know what' words and terms. Having two times experience before with the same bank, I am quite familiar with the way they arrange the terms and where to find certain clause on something. Being 100% Islamic Bank, I can understand the bulk of financial commitment waiting us for the next 30 years. My 1st installment will amount almost RM 1, 700.00 that that will be revised following the increase and decrease of the BLR. Peace though that islamic banking system has this capping rate which they used for 'akad' purposes. The rate has been capped at 10.50% and whilst I am borrowing them RM 360,000.00 the akad for the property will be at RM 1,200,000.00!! yes, 1.2 million. I wonder if let say, I still can work at 80, do I have all the sufficient to keep and raise 1.2 million? Well beyond imagination.

Other terms

Other terms seem similar which I don't bother so much to read. I just go and checked the upfront that need to be paid upon signing the document and to my suprise I just need to pay RM 200.00 for processing fee or something. Just hope that the lawyer that the bank appoint now will be okay. Not like the previous one who easily karap my money hoho. Their service okay though but when this refund issue come to surface, ooooo. hate to mention this.

Note to those who plan to purchase a property

Don't worry if you don't have much money. Well planned, organized and structured plan will save the day. But, if you don't have at least the deposit, then perhaps some other time hahaha

Rumah

Dapat call dari developer pagi tadi, asyik2 tanya pasal progress documentation. So far selepas hampir sebulan proses ni berjalan sekarang ni lawyer developer dah prepare S&P (kitorang decide nak try loan dulu baru nak sign S&P) dan Bank tengah prepare loan offer letter dan agreement. For this loan kitorang decide buat join name since name sendiri dah agak ketat. Itu pun pakai panel tempat kerja pasal nak dapatkan high margin (yahoo!! dapat 95%) meruncing gak la masa nak tunggu result loan pasal fund pun limited.

Pikir2 pasal nak beli rumah ni, mula2 tak budget pun nak beli lagi, last attempt beli tahun 2008. Rumah tu rumah lelong, aku mana la ada experience beli rumah lelong. Rupa-rupanya banyak isu kalau nak consider beli rumah lelong. Kes aku yang tak boleh nak setel hari tu pasal maintenance fee tertunggak dekat 12k. Abisnya, surat undertaking dari DBKL selaku developer asal tak boleh nak kuar. Last2 kes rumah tu tergantung dekat 2 tahun. Nasib baik ada tenant masa aku beli hari tu, dapatla gak recoup balik 5% deposit yang dah lebur kat auctioneer. Beli rumah lelong ni nasib la, ada orang cakap nak beli rumah lelong ni kena pakai duit banyak. Banyak mana tu ikut harga rumah, tapi shortfall nya, legal fees semua kena tanggung sendiri, tu tak kira disbursement fee lagi, untuk rumah 60k haritu, legal fee campur disbursement je dah dekat 4k. Duit lagi tu, dahla masa tu dengan nak kawin lagi. Tapi memikirkan nak ada rumah, tahan je la penangan dia.

Lepas 2 tahun kes rumah tu hang camtu, aku decide withdraw je la purchase tu. Agak rugi jugak la memikirkan kos2 yang dah dikeluarkan seperti:

1- Duit deposit (5%) harga rumah - RM 3,500. Ni duit saving sendiri.
2- Upah agen: RM 1,000.00 - Mamat ni memang gunting dalam selimut la, ambik kesempatan je kerjanya. Kerjanya cuma buh iklan kat tiang lampu, pastu teman gi auction. Masa sebelum auction kerjanya cuma menakutkan kita dengan macam2 cerita sampai aku pun percaya yang agen ni penting. Abis auction, dia karap RM 1,000.00 tu, call apa semua dah tak layan.
3- Upah valuer - RM 300.00 - ni request by bank, so nothing much I can say about it.
4- Upah lawyer - RM 3,000 lebih including disbursement. Aku setel semua, cuma kalau boleh disbursement tu aku tak bayar dulu lagi ok. pasal apa, sampai sekarang aku tulis surat mintak refund disbursement fee haram dorang tak layan. Lawyer patutnya kena la adil betul tak? aku rasa lawyer2 ni cuma requirement je la, interest kita bukan dorang jaga sangat la. Business tetap business. Money matters maaa..

Uihhh.... dekat 10k jugak abis, tapi rumah tak dapat pun. Ding dong2 camtu, so early this month, aku cancel loan agreement dengan bank (terima kasih banyak bank), call lawyer mintak refund. Boleh gak la cover untuk rumah yang baru nak beli ni pulak. Tapi sadly, biasa la, duit bila dah masuk poket orang susah nak dapat balik. Masih ding dong2. Ni pun surat last yang aku hantar dorang belum reply. Tak harap sangat la dapat balik, cuma kalau nama lawyer tu, patut kena adil dan saksama la. Legal fee tu faham la, mungkin tak dapat refund 100% pasal kes dah jalan 2 tahun tapi disbursement fee, tu patut kena pulang la, pasal presentation kat land office pun tak buat lagi. Tapi jangan sebut nama firm la, dorang pun nak carik makan hehe

ok enough the sad part. Sekarang kalau ikut salesperson tu kerja earthwork dah jalan balik, completion date expected to be around nov. 2011. mean still ada almost 2 years from now. For the time being, aku tengah chase lawyer pasal S&P dan bank untuk loan agreement.

Just kalau yang tengah berkira nak beli rumah, ada strategi yang korang kena plan la. Tak boleh main buh je. Duit tak semestinya kena banyak, kalau kena dengan game plan tu, insyaallah boleh berjaya, ni attempt yang ketiga. Harap2 ada rezeki anak kali ni