Rent issues: bargain? furnished/unfurnished? & wat is it w swimming pools?

andante · 16-01-2006, 12:04 PM

I've been surfing quite abit on the Hongkonghomes.com and Gohome on apartments to prepare for my relocation in March..

I have a couple of questions:

1. how much can i expect to bargain? I noticed the price listed on HongKongHomes is usually a couple of thousands higher than those in Gohome.. so i figured they might have inflated the price for advertising.

2. shld i get a furnished or unfurnished apartment? I do see some nicely furnished places.. but they are normally priced at least 2k higher than other units in the same apartment. That is easily 48k and i thought it might be cheaper for me to get an emptier place, and furnish it the way i like it to be with tht difference... no tax rebates for that thou.

3. Some apts marked with swimming pools do not actually have them opened! Is that common in HK? I would love to have an apt w a pool than to have to go to the beach often to get tanned..

PettsWood · 16-01-2006, 12:12 PM

1. I should think about 5%, give or take 5% depending on a number of factors. But I guess it is true that you should always bargin.

2. That's what I ended up after four years in unfurnished flat then I found one I like but is unfurnished and was about 2.5K cheaper than the previously furnished. I ended up paying something like 20K to furnish the place to a state I could call home (including curtains etc). You do have to factor in what you want to do after two years. I ended up paying the cleaner to throw them away. Such a waste but it costs a lot more to have them shipped to charity.

3. Thats probably/often because the pool is outdoor. Outdoor pools don't normally open in winter unless it is an indoor one or a heated one (not heard of heated outdoor pool yet...).

Hope it helps.

andante · 16-01-2006, 12:29 PM

Hi Pettswood, Thanks for sharing! It sure did help!

is 20k enough inclusive of tv n home theatre system & getting the furniture, lights, wiring all set up? I hv no idea how to drill a hole man.. thou i'm convinced i can pick that up in no time.. HAHAHA

At the end of the day, u saved more getting an unfurnished too guess.. i aint v keen on getting everything Ikea.. so it might end up costing alittle more is it?

The pools were closed from the remarks i read in Gohome.. not coz of the seasons... and its not just one.. quite a few i read actually dun open at all!

jimbo · 16-01-2006, 12:41 PM

The situation with pools especially in new developments is that they can't actually open it up for public use until its been governemnt inspected and they have been issued a licence.

This is the situation with my flat in a new development.

PettsWood · 16-01-2006, 01:41 PM

Originally Posted by andante:

Hi Pettswood, Thanks for sharing! It sure did help!

is 20k enough inclusive of tv n home theatre system & getting the furniture, lights, wiring all set up? I hv no idea how to drill a hole man.. thou i'm convinced i can pick that up in no time.. HAHAHA

At the end of the day, u saved more getting an unfurnished too guess.. i aint v keen on getting everything Ikea.. so it might end up costing alittle more is it?

The pools were closed from the remarks i read in Gohome.. not coz of the seasons... and its not just one.. quite a few i read actually dun open at all!

Hi Andante

Well, I've got to be honest with you. That 20K isn't going to get you the TV and home theatre. I was actually a bit economical on the truth. I had the TV and stereo set shipped from the UK and bought a three-seater sofa before that. If my memory serves me right, that 20K (for a three-bed) included all the curtains, light fitings (I put these up myself but they don't cost too much to put up and are sometimes included in the price), dinning table and chair set (super bargin), one double bed, one single and one bunk bed, about 16 ft worth of wordrop (chipboard), and a TV cabinet. This was in 2002 when things were looking not so bright in HK and loans of bargins around.

Flats, furnished or not, norally comes with kitchen appliances such as fridge/freezer, washing machine and gas stove.

I have to admit that I ended up spending more than I planned for various reasons. I just had to kid myself that everything was brand new and colour coordinated, something you probably will never get in a funished flat...

You do have to organise the whole thing with military precision - I got the flat one week before moving in and planned precisely which item got delivered on which day (lot of stores only deliver to certain area in certain day) - there were only two accidents - the first one was I planned to install the curtains and the lights on the Monday ready for delivery from Tuesday on (so that the drilling won't make the furnitures dirty) - just that when I turn up to the flat armed with a big drill, I saw a notice by the lobby saying that electricity will be off for the whole day for annual inspection - for the entire booming year, why did they have to choose that day (or was it me...). Second thing was a small part of a set of wardrop was discovered broken when they were installing it. It took more than a week to have it sorted and in the meantime I had a broken wardop and loans of clothes around the floor...

Well, it was all a good laugh...

PettsWood · 16-01-2006, 01:42 PM

Andante - Which development you have found the pools closed?

andante · 16-01-2006, 03:17 PM

i'm looking at flats in central & the midlevels.. even Kennedy...

THink i've encountered at least 3 that says they have a pool.. but the remarks there by residents claimed the pool's closed.

20k and u din include tv, home theatre and sofa! those 3 are the most expensive besides the mattress and a bed. geez.. think i'll have to stick to my budget after all!

I shld be alrite w 2nd hand furniture to a certain extend.. things like dining table, coffee table, tv and stuff.. but definitely no 4 mattress and bed.

I'll be staying put in a svs apt for the 1st mth.. company paying so no problem..

& i'll definitely have alittle more time budgeted for glitches..

andante · 16-01-2006, 03:18 PM

Originally Posted by jimbo:

The situation with pools especially in new developments is that they can't actually open it up for public use until its been governemnt inspected and they have been issued a licence.

This is the situation with my flat in a new development.

That;s the problem.. i wanna stay in a new development.. but i would like to have a pool too!

sigh.. btw, where u staying at jimbo?

andante · 16-01-2006, 03:19 PM

not planning to stalk u.. haha.. just in case u are wondering..

I'm looking for trustworthy comments that can contribute to my decision making while house hunting...

jimbo · 16-01-2006, 03:29 PM

I have a flat at Pacifica in Lai Chi Kok, the development was completed early last year but the pool and sauna facilities are due to open by the end of this month.

The facilities are good as it does include, Indoor and outdoor basketball court, Barbecue Area, Gym, Massage chairs, Library, Indoor and outdoor pool, Spa and massage area. putting green, and table tennis and not forgetting your private karaoke rooms and even a climbing wall.

Flats there are small though but its fine if its just two of you.