Singapore Real Estate Rental House Condos Classifieds Singapore Housing -
EXPATRIATES' ANALYSIS sponsored by Asiahomes Internet,
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SURFER’S MUMMY
EXPATRIATES' ANALYSIS
OF LANDLORDS AND HOUSING
SHOWN BY Asia USA.

In response to numerous Singapore rental housing queries
from Internet surfers relocating to Singapore,
this column reports the expatriate Tenants' analysis of
good housing or Landlord during house-hunting with Asia USA Realtors.
Housing listed/or described are available for rent. Contact drsing@asiahomes.com

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Date of report: November 15, 1998
From: Anne Brocklebank
To: Expatriate Tenants

This column reports on Singapore housing issues from the perspective of the Expatriates. This article has a house-hunting report of the 4+1 condos near Orchard Road.

Profile: American Caucasian < 40 years old. Lived in Leonie Gardens 4+1 for past 2 years. 2 active boys aged 9 and 12. Wants bigger spaces at same or lower rental.

Rental budget: S$8,500, partially furnished.

Requirements: Space (over 2500 sf), bright kitchen and Orchard Road proximity.

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to advertise in www.asiahomes.com.

Expats relocating to Singapore use this website frequently as a starting point (see "About Asiahomes Internet" as it is full of information and photographs on Singapore rental housing. You have 90 days and 24-hour exposure of your property direct to other prospects including realtors. Email drsing@asiahomes.com

Complaints regarding present Leonie Gardens Apartment:

1. Air-conditioner soaks living set with water frequently unless servicing is done once per month at occupant's expense. The Tenant (corporation) agreed to 2-monthly servicing.
2. Landlord not interested in solving choked piping of air conditioner. The false ceiling of the rooms showed water seepage due to leakage from the air conditioner ductings. The corporation does not want to withhold rent to force the Landlord to rectify the problem, preferring to "sacrifice the occupant-employee" rather than suffer litigation.
3. Kitchen's window literally is walled in as the wife sees concrete slabs of walls of building. The wife loves cooking and spending time in a kitchen with no open view from the window can be distressful for the past 2 years. She puts up some cloth blinds.
4. Cockcroaches slip into the apartment whenever gas fumigation of the rubbish chute is done!
5. Hot air from air-conditioner compressors sited just outside the kitchen's utility area and therefore, discouraging opening of window.
6. No air-conditioner in the kitchen.
7. Many big concrete columns inside the apartment making room sizes irregular in shape and not the usual rectangular or squarish layout type seen in Ardmore Point. For example, there is a big column just outside the master bedroom, thereby reducing the entrance to the bedroom and causing it to have irregular shape.

Preference:

• Leonie Gardens 5+1 (none available). Budget may not be sufficient as Leonie Gardens is a top attraction for Caucasian expats.

• Leonie Gardens 6+1 Penthouse (asking $16,000) and had been vacant for past one year. Owner unlikely to rent at $10,000 but it is the duty of the Realtor to contact Owner.
• Leonie Gardens 4+1 available but not appropriate as the couple would not have sufficient space. Email drsing@asiahomes.com if surfers want more info.

House hunting Condos for November 15, 1998 10 am - 2 pm

Listings below are available for Rent as at November 15, 1998. Contact drsing@asiahomes.com

Condos available for rent in the vicinity of Orchard Road at November 15, 1998:

1. Beverly Hills 4+1, 3,800 sf $10,000. 13^th floor. Living room faces building (Lucky Tower) but bedrooms have panoramic views of city and green trees. Renovated with marble tiles. However, unusual brownish "wavy" basins the in bathroom of master-bedroom and similar coloured bath tubs did not appeal much to prospect. Also, this bathroom would not be renovated although the others would be. Landlord did not switch on the air-conditioners and the hot air from the air conditioning compressors created an unfavourable impression. Taxis seen frequently off Grange Road.
2. The Orange Grove 4+1, 3,300 sf, 2^nd floor, $8,000. Bedroom faces construction, living room faces tennis court. "Unrentable". Other units not facing construction are available for rent at $10,000. Big spacious living and dining rooms. Off Stevens Road, 5-minute taxi/bus to Orchard Road. Email drsing@asiahomes.com
3. Ardmore Point Penthouse 4+1, 4,500 sf, $8,000. 3-levels. Private roof terrace of around 1,000 sf with panoramic city views, being 20^th floor. Suits expats who loves gardening as small flowery plants can be grown. Below roof terrace is the big living and separate dining rooms and kitchen. One level below is the bedrooms. Master bedroom surprising very small for a penthouse. Very high ceilings.
4. Ardmore Point 4+1, 3,346 sf, $8,500. 8^th floor. Interior designer type apartment with long "Roman empire type" columns separating living from family room, bar counter, extra one closet space in the master bedroom. White ceramic tiles for living/dining room. Parquet in 4 bedrooms plus family room which is adjoining the living room.

Living room faces Pin Tjoe Court which shields the unit from the ugly big hole (construction site of the Ardmore Park Condo in progress). No construction noises were heard as piling apparently had been completed recently. Very small balconies in the master bedroom and family room.

Additonal storage spaces under the windows of master bedroom, one bedroom and the family room for this 4 +1 unit.

Kitchen is 2 times bigger than Leonie Gardens' 4+1 and has windows with a view of 18 Anderson Condo and pool with sunlight streaming in. Kitchen also has an air conditoner and American-sized fridge, washing machine and dryer. Maid's room exceptionally big unlike Leonie Gardens' and all new condos. Can be used as storage room since the couple as no maid.

Only the master bedroom's bathroom has been renovated. The powder room which is next to the dining room has ugly orange ceramic tiles while one bedroom had blue ceramic tiles creating an impression of an apartment without the "classy" look to be expected of this type of condo previously rented for $10,500.

5. Beverly Mai at Thomlinson Road, 4+1, around 3,000 sf, $8,000, 7^th floor. Maisonette. Pool, 24-hour security, playground and BBQ area. 52 units in low density 5-minute walk to Tanglin Mall and Orchard Road. Late for Appointment. Owner left.

6. Paterson Towers 4+1, 2,650 sf, $7,000 as it is. Maisonette. 4 bedrooms upstairs. Big living and dining room downstairs. Bright kitchen. No maid's room as it has been converted to family area (near main door). Fantastic panoramic unblocked views of city and green trees from the living and dining room, being 16^th floor. 5-minute walk to Orchard subway, Starbucks and ISS/OFS international schools at Paterson Road.

7. Shangri-la Residences. 4+1, 2300 sf, $10,500. Ground floor with terraces, patio and garden, brand new corner unit with air well and green trees from master bedroom. Quality interior and bathroom finishes. No maid's room. No separate American washing machine or dryer permitted.

Short-listed Condo seen 3 weeks ago.

1. 8 Orange Grove 4+1, 2,800 sf. $10,000 p/f.

Big living cum dining room in marble flooring. All 4 bedrooms of good size and facing green trees (being 4^th floor) and the view of the swimming pool of D'Grove Villas, the Darby Residence, the 8 Orange Grove. Wife loved the bright kitchen which is bigger and has open views of the nearby condos such as the castle-looking Ardmore View Condo. 3-minute walk to Orchard Road and 8-minute walk to the Orchard subway. Offer of $8,500 rejected by Owner's Realtor.

Conclusion: Husband was asked to see the Ardmore Point 4+1, 3,346 sf and had no objection to the condo. A letter of Intent is given for $8,000. Negotiations will be carried out by Asia USA Realtors to secure the best deal and to get the renovations done.

Surfers interested in how the husband took 1.5 hours to check out this condo, please post/wire US$20.00 to Asiahomes Internet for report which includes tips on rentals of other Singapore condos. The book is called "How expats check out a rental condo in Singapore". Email to drsing@asiahomes.com