Checklist for the Recently Interned (New rentals, that's you!)

Just realised, speaking to someone just planning to move in here, that a list of possible wear and tear items might be useful when you do a checklist of the existing 'damages' to the unit, stuff that you shouldn't be accountable for, and you should note to the landlord etc. I've been here since the TOP of the estate and believe that I have endeavoured to keep the place as clean/tidy/nice as possible. Aside from a cleaning lady that comes in weekly that we call the Force of Nature (destroying things in its path and all that), damages to existing structures/fixtures etc are down to just good ol' wear and tear, poor quality, poor workmanship etc.

I'm only referring to those parts of the unit that came with it when the estate was TOP'd, not the other bits that were added by various owners.

So what I can think of right now are:

1. Hairline cracks in the tiles of the bathroom, particularly the master bathroom. I noticed these cracks over the years, and it's not because I've been banging the tiles in my frustration while showering. They just appear. Not your fault, unless you tend to bang tiles in frustration while showering.
2. Loose tap levers. Two of them have gotten so loose that they come right off. Trying to get replacements for them now.
3. Stains and scratches on the white kitchen top. That's a pain in the @$$ cos the top is one whole unit. No amount of bleach can remove some of the really stubborn stains too. Poor quality top, is all I can say!
4. Rust on the stainless steel drying rack in the kitchen. Can be removed with a lot of elbow grease and a metal polisher.
5. Take note of the faulty water heater issue. Might creep up on you if your unit hasn't had the motherboard replaced yet.
6. Tears in the rubber seal of the bomb shelter. Happens due to weather I guess. The rubber becomes fragmented.
7. Minor 'cracks' in the parquet floor.
8. Take note too, of the spa in the master bathroom. There's a square tile that is actually loose, and has to be in order for any repairer to access the internal parts of the spa. That tile is getting quite loose in my unit now, and if it slides out and breaks.. gonna be really hard to find a replacement. So tape it together, use blutac, do what you need to do to keep it secure!
   

That's what I can think of for now. Feel free to add, if any of you can think of others!

Tags: viz@holland, viz holland, viz @ holland, singapore

Viz Newbies - Moving In

For residents or tenants who are moving into Viz the first time, some useful tips:

Moving In:

1. When moving in, warn your movers that they may need a smaller van/truck that can enter the condo car park, especially if you're staying in Blks B onwards. What usually happens is - your belongings are moved into a big truck, and that is parked outside the condo premises (usually illegally, right at the bus stop curb). They then transfer the belongings into a smaller truck/van which goes into the car park area and then offloads at the Blk lobby.
2. You'll need to alert the Management Office, who will want 2 deposits from you (cheques, which they will retain until the move is completed). One is to cover against lift damages, and another against premises damages. You'll also need to fill out complicated forms stating when the move is, how long it will be, how long you'll be using the lift for, etc.
3. You may want to take note of the size of the lift too, in case you have large items that can't fit into it, and needs to be carried up via the stairwell.
4. The guards are very strict about ensuring that moves are done within 9 to 5, to minimise disturbances to other residents. That's not a bad thing but that means you may have to get most boxes into the flat first, and then unpack later on.
5. Washing Machine: This is important as it took us a long time and a lot of hassle with the project site office. The AC wall socket and the tap for the washing machine, typically located at the backyard, are NOT standard connections for most conventional machines. The wall socket is the old round-shaped 3 pin socket (like this here), and the tap has a narrower circumference that will not fit the standard washing machine fill (inlet) hose. You need to either change your machine electric plug to the 3 round pin type, or get your landlord/developer to change the socket to the standard rectangle-shaped socket. For the tap, you need a "increaser double male hex nipple" (I'm not kidding about the nipple part). An example can be found here. We went searching various Homefix shops without much luck, and eventually found it in a hardware shop in the Holland Village Shopping Centre. You need to measure the circumference of the tap and the hose to make sure you have the right size. Remember to get plumber's tape (or thread seal tape, here) to seal the connections.
   

Tags: viz @ holland, viz holland, viz@holland, singapore, queensway, condo, holland