27 June, 2007

Exploration of Vietnam

Getting more investors are penetrating into Vietnam market.

Firstly, we notice GAMUDA has a huge development to be launched in Vietnam.

Recently, Loh & Loh Construction is also heading there..

Today www.thestar.com.my posted "SP Setia kicks off township in Vietnam"..

have to put an eye on this trend. be an early bird. Most of the local companies have started to explore oversea market. Vietnam will be a next station.

i believe later or sooner, there will be an elaborate forum to describe about the potential growth in Vietnam.

Paint Guide

There are some well known paint suppliers which has their respective website are providing a very useful guide for customer.

1. Selection of type of paint.
2. Estimation of paint consumption
3. Step by step guide for painting work
4. Nearby dealer..etc.
5. Exclusively some information related to FENG SHUI (unbelieveable, but it's true)

This is fun and knowledgeable page as it indicates various kind of paint to be used on different element, like, wall, plaster wall, steel, timber, indoor, outdoor..


Explore yourself. with following links.

1. http://www.nipponpaint.com.my/search_frame.html

2. http://www.icipaints.com.my/MYDLX/Dulux.jsp

Painting Work

Looking to repaint the entire house. All walls, ceiling, grill, parapet wall need to be re-painted. Some nail holes on the wall are usually need to be touch up first before apply new paint. Those spots which above normal man height may need a ladder to reach and wondering what the heck previous tenant nail at such height and why need to be so high?!

Furthermore, the wet area, like balcony wall and bathroom, old paint started to peel off with suspicious high moisture content. Worse still, fungus grows on the wall ruthlessly jeopardies its aesthetic.

How much does it cost for paint the whole unit? Normal project rate of painting work is about few cent per square feet. Understand that small scale renovation work, of course, will charge higher rate due to the work quantity is small.

Therefore, cost breakdown estimation is required to plan and budget for a repaint work.

1. Total Paint Area
2. Coverage area of 1 pail of paint (5 Litre)
3. Cost of paint per pail
4. Labour Cost per day
5. Estimate productivity, ( paint area per worker),

with such information, we should be able to work out the estimation cost of doing re-painting work and check on the contractor quotation either is reasonable.

Anyhow, we can also do it ourself and make it to be part of the fun and enjoy the self satisfaction with this DIY end result.

24 June, 2007

Homebuyer Complaint Channel

Home buyers always face problem in dealing with a developer, especially after handover the long waited house. There is the developer obligation to deliver a good quality house to the buyer. There is a clause stated the developer must repair the defect within the defect liability period, normally is 18 months, at his own cost. If the developer refuse to do so, the buyer can refer to the following address to file a case in Tribunal,

Tribunal for Homebuyer Claims
Ministry of Housing & Local Government
Level2, Block B South, Pusat Bandar Damansara,
50782 Kuala Lumpur
Tel : 03-2092 8389 / 8482
Fax : 03- 2093 4776
Email : tribunal@kpkt.gov.my

In the certain condition, the buyer can proceed to repair and claim back from the developer through its final retention sum and certain condition need to be complied.

the following related links may also useful.
1. www.kpkt.gov.my
2. www.hba.org.my

Property Boom -Do Not Follow Blindly

Flip through the newspaper, most of the analyst are praising on the government policy to boost the property sector. Everyone is very excited to see the property sector start moving up. Property counters at the share market already be the indicators to show the potential growth in future earning.

Time is of paramount crucial factor to determine the success of the property development. The result will not be seen in short term. Most developers start launching new projects, including residential , commercial, etc. The side effect is the construction material cost increase in tremendous rate and the cost will be eventually borne by end purchaser. End users have to bite the bullet to take up the over price property.

On the other hand, to be competitive, developer may reduce the cost by cutting down its quality or award the project to the lowest tender, which may be the main cause of poor workmanship and shoddy work. Then, subsequent defect will eventually repair cost more than construction.

Come to the end, the development is not properly managed, its sale will not achieved the target and the project become abundant. Once project abundant, the one who suffer it is still the buyer.

Government shall put in more effort to monitor such possible outcome and being a smart buyer, a careful selection of property is important and do not follow blindly to the trend.

13 June, 2007

Sound Technical For Contractor

How important to be a technical sound contractor?

When we are heading to a competitive edge of globalization, it is a must to have a sound technical base as a fundamental in an organisation. Most of the time, as a contractor, they construct work according to the drawings and specifications and designers in the consultant office will do all the design and other technical matter. Due to the advanced sophisticated design software, most of the designers have ignored the importance of the buildability or constructibility of design. It becomes a common problem being occurred in all projects.

As a technical sound contractor, they can always check the drawings in advance and highlight or clarify with designer in all discrepancy or incompatible designs and counter propose to designer with the actual on site situation. It can greatly cut down the idling time of the project.

Added value to the client, whereby an alternative cost saving or better quality design can be proposed to client. I believe none of the clients will reject such kind of proposal. With a technical sound organisation, it sure have a better advantages than others and do not solely rely on consultant -designer to feedback information rather than to take proactive to counter proposal as to facilitate the work.

Moving to K-Economy, being a technical sound contractor will surely have a better competitive advantage. Do not ignore the importance of being a K-contractor, and time to make a stride.

03 June, 2007

Sub Contractor

We normally hear about the big projects being award to those big boy contractors. Everyone wanted to be a main contractor, tender a project with a low profit margain. Conventionally, the main contractors will chop down the cake into smaller pieces and sublet to other parties which so-called sub contractor.

"Subcontractor" sound as secondary compare to Main Contractor. The scope of work is relatively small compare to main contractor, same as well for contract value involved.

Most of the subcontractor works are required a certain skill and it is more specific in certain task or specialized job. Therefore, as a subcontractor, they are always excel in their work and they can perform better and produce a better result.

Whenever there is a better focus on job and narrower scope of work, it tend to have a better control of cost and quality. Therefore, undeniable, the profit will be higher with these control measures.

Despite of the position of subcontractor is considerably as secondary place, what most important is still a Profit return. Therefore, who care about whether you are main contractor or subcontractor, Profit takes the lead in Business. As long as the position that you are standing can make a big buck, then this is the right place for you.