I bought a terrace house at Denai Alam and plan to do simple renovation to the house. My most worried is to get good quality with reasonable price contractor.
Fortunately my awning contractor Saujana Electrical Trading, can do any house renovation. From my past experience when installing my awning, the contractor is fast with quality jobs and with reasonable price.
Original Condition of My House Backyard
Renovation Scope & Price
New Wiring with DB (all switches & plugs provided by me) – RM3,200
Water heater wiring x3
Air cond wiring x2
Water pump wiring x1
Power point plugs x2
New lamp point x1
Wall with new base and strengthen with steel – RM2,800
Backyard flooring & cleaning up the wild plants – RM970
Steel drain cover – RM220
Small gate at the wall – RM1, 000
Awning polycarbonate 20 ft x 6.5 ft – RM2,800
Gate (refurbish and repaint) with aluminum panel – RM2,800
Auto gate (dnoor brand) – RM1,400
Washing machine tap – RM630 (RM990 – RM120x3)
Grille to create one small door x 2 – RM600
Total Price: RM16,420
denai alam wiring scheme
Photos of the Renovations
Wild Plants to be Cleaned Up & Old Fence To Be Removed
denai alam lots of wild plant at the backdenai alam original backyarddenai alam original gatedenai alam old water tap
Buildng the Wall & Small Gate
denai alam wall heightdenai alam bricks for the walldenai alam the original backyard 2denai alam the original backyarddenai alam laying the foundation for the walldenai alam bricks of walldenai alam constructing the walldenai alam complete plastering and undercoat paint walldenai alam plastered walldenai alam waiting the plaster to drydenai alam touch up the small gatedenai alam wall with small gate at backyard
Refurbish Main Gate & Auto Gate
denai alam remove old gate to add aluminium paneldenai alam touch up the gatednor auto gatedenai alam the complete refurbish front gate
Washing Machine Tap & Drainage
denai alam add new piping at the back for washing machinedenai alam water drain for washing machine outletdenai alam completed new washing machine water tap and new power point plugs
New Wiring
denai alam tools for the wiringdenai alam wiring and pipedenai alam new wiring for lamp as welldenai alam new wiring for water heater and airconddenai alam wiring from the new db to the backyarddenai alam wiring to the new dbdenai alam new dbdenai alam wiring for the switchdenai alam water heater and air cond switchdenai alam wiring for lampdenai alam new wiring for switchdenai alam plaster back & repaint the wiring holes
Awning Polycarbonate
denai alam install awning at backyarddenai alam backyard awning and wall
Repaint & Make Small Door to Existing Grille
denai alam remove grille to make a door to the grilledenai alam installing back the grille with door
Contact & Location of Contractor
Saujana Electric Trading (Nazreen Ong): 019 372 7117
I order for McDonalds breakfast on 8th March 2023 via its mobile app. When I ordered and paid using credit card, the processing payment took so long. So I decided to close the McD mobile app and tried again.
mcd mobile app – processing payment
Amount Successfully Deducted via FPX
After I tried for 8 times using credit card, I decided to use FPX. This time the amount is correctly deducted (when I checked my online account) even though it was still processing payment. Unfortunately there were still no order number.
mcd mobile app – successfully deducted via FPX
Went To Mcd Caltex Denai Alam
So I decided just to go and pick up my order to Mcd outlet. I ask Mcd employee whether they had received my order. According to him, they didn’t receive any of my order.
So I showed to him, that Mcd mobile app has deducted my account. The employee went to get his supervisor’s advise then he prepared my order and gave it to me.
mcd counter at denai alam caltexgot my mcd breakfast food even though the order # not appear
I was happy because McD didn’t make a fuss about it. I had bad experience with KFC order where the payment went thought but no receipt come out and KFC didn’t entertain me. Since then, I rarely eat KFC. Haha.
Email Notification Payments Were Successful
When I back home and checked my email, I received alerts from Mcd mobile app that all my order was paid successfully.
mcd mobile app – payment successful
I didn’t call McD immediately because I was waiting for my credit card statement where it was true that the payment was successful. When I wait few days the payments weren’t credited.
check my credit card account was not deducted
Refund from Mcd on the FPX Payment
To my surprise, I received refund from Mcd the payment that I made via FPX.
mcd mobile app – refund after one day
I already got my food then I got the refund. Now I have to go again to Mcd Denai Alam to refund them the RM6.50.
Conclusion
I made me confident of Mcd mobile app trusted ordering system. Besides, Mcd was really accommodating my order request even they don’t see my order number and not like KFC which is really sucks.
I bought a boltless rack. I thought it was easy to install but to the contrary. The rack is loosen easily. Even though I have hammered it so many times, the rack still got loosen.
So I decided to rivet the rack and use screw washer to ensure the rivet doesn’t move due to the big hole. Only after that the rack become really robust.
loose boltless shelf
hole to put the rivetriveted rack
Rivet Size
I use two rivets size, one short and one is longer with same hole size. I use those twos because I didn’t have enough rivets for the shorter rivets but of course the longer one has better grip.
5/32″ (hole size) x 3/8″ (grip range) and also rivet size of 5/32″ x 5/8″ can also be used.
This is my first time ordered school books at School2u.my.
I ordered my daughter school books on 1st March 2023 until 7th March 2023 no update from school2u when I follow up through their support email no response until I email second time.
It took them 2 days to respond. They informed that there were shortage of certain books and the books will be delivered in 1-2 working days. It seems they keep their promise but the book will only arrive on 22nd March means my daughter will get her books after the school is open.
school2u slow response from their customer serviceschool2u.my books will be delivered by 22 march 2023
School2u.My Support Contact Details
Email: inquiry@school2u.my or support@school2u.my
Telephone: Kenneth 016 330 1511
Conclusion
In future, I might not use their service because it was
My Oakley glasses nose pad is broken and got mold inside it. So I decided to change it.
I have 2 Oakley glasses. So I decided to replace the broken nose pad in one of my Oakley glasses using the good nose pad from the other glasses because the latter one I rarely used cause its lenses can only correct my short-sighted.
Then I replaced the nose pad with new nose pad that I bought from Shopee.
It was quite easy to replace it. Just use the screwdriver (that I got from buying nose pad at Shopee) to pull out the broken nose pad. Then insert the new nose pad and tighten it with a metal tweezers.
dirty and broken oakley nose padinterchange nose pad from 2 different oakley specsreplace oakley silicone nose pad bought from shopee
The Shopee nose pad that I used to replace Oakley nose pad could be easily detached from Oakley glasses. I haven’t figure out how to make it really stick like original Oakley nose pad.
nose pad bought from shopee fit into oakleybought from shopee silicone nose pad
Lately we like to eat at Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf because we really like it bagel. Really crunchy and tasty.
Taste Like Freshly Cooked
Then we tried other food like its margarita and hawaian pizzas.
I also tried its aglio olio with shredded chicken. I ate it 3 times in a month because really love it.
The food taste like freshly cooked instead of reheat. I know Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf or even Starbucks just reheat their frozen food but Starbucks’ food doesn’t taste fresh vs Coffee Bean.
coffee bean and tea leaf bagel chia seedcoffee bean bagel and tea
Price
In term of price, it is a bit on high side but it is much better vs Starbucks foods, bagel cost RM10 and aglio olio is RM20++
This another of my sliding door frame is loose. So I called the same repairman that did at my other door frame.
Surprisingly the repair cost increase double this time. Last time they charged only RM80 now it is RM150.
The Repairman Uses New Screw To Tighten the Frame
sliding door – loose frame repairsliding door – repair loose framesliding door – repair loose framesliding door – tigthen the frame
Sliding Door Bit Hard To Move
The sliding door is bit hard to move and to replace to new rollers will cost another RM220. I found it too expensive together with the RM150 frame repair.
So I decided to use it much longer and plan to replace the roller by myself.
Haha.
At same time because the repairman was snob when I asked to show me the heavy duty rollers he plans to use, he doesn’t want to show me whereas I had used his service in November, 2021. Due to his snob, I also decided not to repair, it motivates me to replace by myself.
Repair Cost
RM150 to tighten the frame and it took the repairman 15mn to repair it.
I planned to buy an auction property. So before buying, I tried to get the fastest bank in getting approval because the loan needs to be disbursed very fast to avoid my deposit from getting burnt.
Housing Loan Inquiry via Bank’s Website
I contacted few banks via their website to see which respond the fastest.
CIMB – no response at all, even thought CIMB said they will contact me as soon as possible. Alliance – same as CIMB no response at all. Ambank – Worst couldn’t find contact us / inquiry page. Standard Chartered – I got voice call the next day after submitting the online inquiry. Public Bank – I got response after 9 hours of online submission
housing loan enquiry – public bank email centre took nearly 9 hours to respond
Maybank – The fastest, I got response in 1 hour after submission
housing loan enquiry – fast response from maybank email centre – they responded within 1 hour
Visit Direct to Branch
Bank Islam – I was passing through Bank Islam Bukit Jelutong, so I decided to drop by to their housing loan department. I get pre-approval on the spot whether I could get loan if I win the bid & good thing the bank office has experience in handling loan for auction properties.
Check Bank Officers Responsiveness
You must check whether the bank officer respond you even during weekend and check how long the officer responds before taking loan with the bank. Besides you must check whether the office can influence their HQ to get fast approval.
Some bank officers will tell you that just pray to get fast approval some will inform you that they could push for it.
So based on my experience:
Bank Islam – the office was really responsive even during weekend and she said she had experience in pushing to get approval
housing loan – bank islam officer responsiveness even during weekend
Public Bank – Not responsive, have to follow up few times. In the image show that I have to follow up to get response.
housing loan – public bank officer slow respond
Standard Chartered – Responsive as well but he couldn’t influence HQ.
Maybank – need to follow up but faster response compared to Public Bank and weekend stops responding
Check Bank Panel Laywer Responsiveness
At same time, before bidding, get their panel lawyer to check their fast responsive and experience in handling auction property. You ask questions regarding the process and see their response.
Bank Islam – very fast and well versed and confident can complete the transaction before 120 days
housing loan – bank islam panel lawyer fast respond and willing to share the process in easily understand words
Standard Chartered – their lawyer also very fast and well versed.
Other banks I didn’t check because even if my loan approved by their bank, I might not take it because their officers were slow.
Check Bank Valuer Responsiveness
So far my experience Bank Islam & Standard Chartered valuers response were fast.
Bank Islam, I got appointment on the next day after I message the valuer.
housing loan – bank islam vlauer panel – fast response and get the appointment on next day
Fastest Housing Loan Approval After I Won the Auction Property
After submission, I got housing loan approval as below.
Bank Islam – 5th January (documents submission) – 9th January (housing loan approved)
Maybank – 5th January (documents submission) – 12th January (housing loan approved)
Public Bank -5th January (documents submission) – 12th January (housing loan approved)
Standard Chartered – 5th January (documents submission) – 18th January (housing loan approved)
Conclusion
In my case, Bank Islam was fastest even though I got better rate from Public Bank but I decided to take Bank Islam loan due to their fast response and even their lawyer and valuer were very fast.
My advice to check the bank officer because it doesn’t mean all Bank Islam officer will be fast as Bukit Jelutong branch. So better follow the steps I mentioned above to make your decision.
During Chinese New Year holiday from 23rd to 24th January 2023, we did simple renovation at our dining area by replacing the old sink with built-in sink.
Before we could install the built-in sink, we have to remove the window frame and cover it with bricks to make it looks nicer.
We planned to do this since 2013, but it took us 10 years to really do it.
original windowputting bricks to cover the windowplaster the covered window
Due to Chinese New Year all hardware shops were closed and unfortunately I didn’t buy enough sand to do the plastering.
Fortunately enough, my neighbour was doing some renovation works and had extra sand. So we took some sand and replace them when the hardware shops opened.
use neigbour sand due to cny all shops closed and replace it
Other Repair Works
Besides have to replace two missing stopcocks handles. The first one have to replace the whole stopcock because the screw inside the stopcock got stuck so unable to add new handle.
The second one, I was able to find new handle and can install the new handle to the existing stopcock.
replace toilet stopcockjust replace the stopcock handle
