Living in JB

[ginfreely]

What to do? That time was Chinese New Year time, need to pay deposit for my house, then the exchange rate was very low mah. With TT lagi low. Then my husband got so gangho...we didn't know that cannot do this.... :P

Hi Cathy, the money changer will give better rate for remittance than cash exchange rate and for large amount, the fee is waived. May be you want to try this money changer, I used it once to pay my first 10% payment and it is okay. http://www.raffles1.net/

 

[ginfreely]

Before i am accused of plagiarism let me start of by saying that i found this on another website and i thought it would benefit first time home buyers and hence i am reposting it here

Quote """"""Here's my rundown after I've been comparing and surveying/discussing the different house-security measures to be installed in my new house:

GRILLES:
Acts as a simple first line passive "Defence" which doesn't require power/eletricity/tel.cable etc. to be effective unlike CCTV and Alarm which when there's no power/telephone cut/battery dead they will be useless;
To deter would-be burglars and unprepared opportunist/inexperienced thieves who just want to easily/quickly climb thru windows/door without too much work/hassle.
..............Unquote

Hi, Prof, so which of the above types you have installed for your house in JB? Or it is all of the above? Anyone has any recommendation of the good brand of CCTV and Alarm?

 

[Jogs1]

The grille is to make the robbers think twice first before striking. Although you can good quality one, glasses still looks fragile to me.

I agree with Cathy, since we all stay in the gated n guarded community, it's pretty safe in term of security.... so just to install a strong n simple grille is good enough. Grille is actually is make the robbers think twice n change to other easy target.

I do find that those grille (phase 7 n 8 terrace) provided by EL developer at the balcony in the MBR looks good, easy to maintain as well as cleaning. Any comments?

 

[Jogs1]

Yesterday rate was very good, I got it at 2.392. Change at Raffles Place.

 

[Jogs1]

Hi rw6akr

I was at one of the show bungalows at Melody Park yesterday when I was caught in a thunderstorm. The rain was coming down like at 180 degrees, and it was really raining cats and dogs. I was very shocked when 5 minutes later, I began to see rain water seeping through all the windows and even the main doors. I am now worried for my lowly terrace unit when they can even allow the bungalows to be built like that. I suppose the developer will fix such defects, but still, can't help feeling disappointed that they will not take more care with the bungalows. My wife was terrified at the thought of how the terrace will be built. BTW, did your unit experience any rain seepage during yesterday afternoon's huge downpour? I hope this is the exception rather than the rule. :(

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y166/dannyhgt/IMG00139-20110405-1701-1.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y166/dannyhgt/IMG00137-20110405-1701.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y166/dannyhgt/IMG00136-20110405-1700.jpg

Not to worry, nothing serious. It's can resolve easily by a silicon. My one year old condo in SG also have such problem when the recent heavy rain splash onto my big glass window panel, the repair guy came to fix it n done within an hour.

 

[LeMans2011]

Not to worry, nothing serious. It's can resolve easily by a silicon. My one year old condo in SG also have such problem when the recent heavy rain splash onto my big glass window panel, the repair guy came to fix it n done within an hour.

The first time i encountered this was a few years back when it rained heavily for a few days towards end of the year... oops i think that was year 2000 something like that. We came home and found a puddle of water under our bed on the parquet in the master BR... i could recall how my wife freaked out then! hahaha .. so next day called up Far East and F them upside down. Unfortunately that development has like 40 units which had the same problem... so it took a while before it was fixed.

This happens quite easily to modern designs with no awnings and a lot of glass. The seepage occurs through the adjoining area between glass and concrete, hence extra effort must be taken in finishing up the construction work... this caught a lot of contractors by surprise as well. Now, if the particular facing is towards the west sun, the silicone patch up might need to be redone every few years as the sun causes the silicone to crack. I am not an expert in this, but i was told there are the water proof type?

 

[aangsc]

Learn Wing Chun good for small build man/woman. Leverage on joints or only elbow to tilt or push opponent. But it will take awhile at least 6 months a year.

Wing Chun Singapore


Cheers

You better start a Wing Chun class in HH . How to handle a parang with bare hand ?
Most singaporean are good in 'tai-chi' , we do a lot of that in office, you know the pushing of responsibilities and jobs here and there :-)

 

[Investor]

The grille is to make the robbers think twice first before striking. Although you can good quality one, glasses still looks fragile to me.

HH do not provide alarm system. I installed one myself. I also felt how ugly the grills will look on such a nice place.

Bro i still think a grill is the best solution anything else would be compromising on ones safety.

Glass can be broken. But grilles give you considerable time to react.

A combo of tempered glass plus security film plus grilles would be great.

I have security film cum grilles.

Alarm is really good but electronic stuffs can fail you once in a while. The good old reliable mechanical parts like solid steel grilles, once installed, will not fail you. For your own safety, install alarm plus grilles. I'm saying all these just hoping that all you guys staying in Malaysia will be safe, I'm not even staying there myself. Should be renting out all my future units and not keeping any for weekend stay, at least until security in Malaysia improve over the years.

 

[Investor]

You better start a Wing Chun class in HH . How to handle a parang with bare hand?

Make it 4 parangs, you'll end up with no hands. They'll let you keep your head if you're lucky.
Also don't think you alone with a baseball bat can beat the shit out of 4 desperado with parangs.
Install all security features which you think are necessary and your house will definitely not be broken in because there will always be another easier target around. Don't be an easy target!

 

[Jogs1]

The first time i encountered this was a few years back when it rained heavily for a few days towards end of the year... oops i think that was year 2000 something like that. We came home and found a puddle of water under our bed on the parquet in the master BR... i could recall how my wife freaked out then! hahaha .. so next day called up Far East and F them upside down. Unfortunately that development has like 40 units which had the same problem... so it took a while before it was fixed.

This happens quite easily to modern designs with no awnings and a lot of glass. The seepage occurs through the adjoining area between glass and concrete, hence extra effort must be taken in finishing up the construction work... this caught a lot of contractors by surprise as well. Now, if the particular facing is towards the west sun, the silicone patch up might need to be redone every few years as the sun causes the silicone to crack. I am not an expert in this, but i was told there are the water proof type?

Now outdoor silicon even come with water n sun proof.

 

[aangsc]

I also hope one robbery happens in HH so that everyone will sit up and take note that security CANNOT be taken for granted.

You want to be thee 1st sacrifice sheep ? Make sure you execute a few Wing Chun stroke to send the message across....we have martial art exponent up the Hills.

 

[Charlie258]

Hi rw6akr

I was at one of the show bungalows at Melody Park yesterday when I was caught in a thunderstorm. The rain was coming down like at 180 degrees, and it was really raining cats and dogs. I was very shocked when 5 minutes later, I began to see rain water seeping through all the windows and even the main doors. I am now worried for my lowly terrace unit when they can even allow the bungalows to be built like that. I suppose the developer will fix such defects, but still, can't help feeling disappointed that they will not take more care with the bungalows. My wife was terrified at the thought of how the terrace will be built. BTW, did your unit experience any rain seepage during yesterday afternoon's huge downpour? I hope this is the exception rather than the rule. :(

I guess I tend to buy resale (old/used condo) more than I buy new condo's. But I can tell you this: 90% of the condo's I buy have rainwater coming in around the windows. As long as it is not a torrential flood of water, serious enough to float you on your bed out to the main road, it's nothing to worry or complain about.

If you have parquet or some other type of wooden flooring, it will cause the wood to deteriorate eventually. If you have marble/ceramic/homogenous tile flooring, it will not be affected: just wipe off the rain water.

My landed and terrace houses never have any water problem. The roof kind of overhangs the glass windows, protecting them from direct rainfall.

 

[cathylmg]

Wah! Sounds like you have many condos leh? Can you please share with us how you make money with all those condos?

 

[jasonjst]

Notice that robbers who come in the night are usually targeting for cash / valuables . If we dont switch on any light at night to give the impression that noboby at home , they wont target us right ?

 

[house]

Notice that robbers who come in the night are usually targeting for cash / valuables . If we dont switch on any light at night to give the impression that noboby at home , they wont target us right ?

thats call thief not robber..... :P

 

[Charlie258]

Wah! Sounds like you have many condos leh? Can you please share with us how you make money with all those condos?

Why you all women so damn money faced?

 

[cathylmg]

Why you all women so damn money faced?

Not only money faced but also very humble enough to learn. You can't earn all the money in the world by yourself mah. Please share share your formula to success here lah....

 

[LeMans2011]

Alarm is really good but electronic stuffs can fail you once in a while. The good old reliable mechanical parts like solid steel grilles, once installed, will not fail you. For your own safety, install alarm plus grilles. I'm saying all these just hoping that all you guys staying in Malaysia will be safe, I'm not even staying there myself. Should be renting out all my future units and not keeping any for weekend stay, at least until security in Malaysia improve over the years.

If you the owner does not think JB is safe enough to stay, do you expect others to rent your house? ;-p

 

[LeMans2011]

Safety in JB Revisited

I must say i am a little dissappointed with those who now say JB is "not safe for occupation".

There is a break-in here... and there is a break-in there. I suppose it seems to get "nearer" as Adda Heights is a development which looks quite nice and cosy. I am just thinking, outside this thread we were trying to convince the naysayers, and if any of them were to read this thread in the last few days, it does show some sign of "widespread panic" and they must be laughing. If this is your reaction to any reported break-in then i am afraid to say all your property prices will not go up.

I have always maintained my view criminal is out and about in JB, even at places which appear very safe. Once you let down your guard, you become a target. As long as you remain vigilant and stick to all your safety rules, you are safe. It goes without saying certain places are more criminal infested and you should not even take the trouble to explore.

Nothing changed. If your house does not have an alarm system, install one. With grille or not, up to you. Keep a parang, a baseball bet or whatever you like near you at home. Keep a dog if you like pets. Don't keep too much valuables at home. Don't let your kids roam about out of your sight in public areas. Don't be flashy. Don't leave bags or computers in cars. These are rules to follow anywhere in the world.. although in Singapore you can dispense with some of these rules... but you have already made your assessment it is not worth paying the price. House defects are not peculiar to JB, your million dollars condo might have the same problem especially if Far East is the developer.

Don't give people the impression Singaporeans are timid. This might further attract criminals to you since timid people are really easy target. I find the biggest joke about the Adda Heights incident being the neighbour who did not get broken in now wants to sell their property and move back to Singapore. You might get a steal from his fire sale.

You just need to do what you can for your own safety, beyond that it is fate. If fate brings the robber into your house, just give them what they want - 99.99% of the time they take what they want and leave. Usually they turn violent if one of you scream or go beserk because they need to quieten you. In the 0.01% scenario that they want to harm your family member, take whatever you have and fight them. My dad kept a parang near his bed in his kampong house all his life, because there were break-ins now and then nearby. Touch wood, at the age of 70+... he has never needed to use the parang.

Enjoy your stay in JB please, do not let your spirits be dampened. I must commend Jogs and Cathy for being very little affected by this reported incident.

 

[Investor]

If you the owner does not think JB is safe enough to stay, do you expect others to rent your house? ;-p

Hi Lemans, I'm expecting the demand to be from the future new population of Nusajaya and other parts of Iskandar Malaysia. Those who will be working in Nusajaya's Financial district(Medini), Industrial Cluster, Universities, Hospitals, Theme Parks, Hotels, Shopping malls etc etc. So investment wise, I'm not worried as long as Nusajaya keeps developing.

Of course the safer Johor becomes in future, the higher the demand from Singaporeans either for weekend homes, investments or primary homes. If this happens in future, I'll take it as a bonus to my investments.

In conclusion, even if Johor remains not so safe from now till 2025, capital appreciation of properties in Iskandar region is still inevitable because of the strong commitment of its government to develop this region into a vibrant city for the next 15 years. If it becomes safer, it will only attract even more demand.