Casa Merah: For owners only.

[Daniel Foo]

Anyone here visited the Casa Merah showroom back then. Care to comment on the overall layout, ie living area, kitchen layout, the built in wardrobes & cabinets, the bathrooms quality & color tone etc.

Is the space within the individual unit fully utilised. Example balcony area and general space usage of the layout.
Also the quality of the construction material used.

Thanks all

[doragirl]

i've a good news for everyone.

CASA MERAH just obtained TOP!

[noblebaby]

launched in April 2007, TOP in August 2009, about 2 years 3 months. Not bad...

Congrats all owners.

i've a good news for everyone.

CASA MERAH just obtained TOP!

[doragirl]

Anyone here visited the Casa Merah showroom back then. Care to comment on the overall layout, ie living area, kitchen layout, the built in wardrobes & cabinets, the bathrooms quality & color tone etc.

Is the space within the individual unit fully utilised. Example balcony area and general space usage of the layout.
Also the quality of the construction material used.

Thanks all

I'm also always wondering how the given fixtures look like. Good thing is we will soon get to verify all our doubts soon. But the cabinets look rather ugly, those typical old design, i'm planning to relaminate it if possible.

I inherited dark tiles from the seller's choice. A bit disappointed cos i find white tiles easier to get furniture. There's a lot of fixtures that can be seen from outside the condo (facing the semi-d). drive by and have a look

[doragirl]

You mean you went in to take a look?

Anyway, I guess everyone have their own expectations. I'm currently sharing my small common corridor with 2 other neighbours. The front is blocked but I still get strong wind (my dining lights cracked cos the strong wind blow and hit them against one another). So I may enjoy the layout of Casa Merah..

i see from outside. not that far actually come to think of it, can actually easily climb over the fence for law-breakers. next time must join committee to voice all these out.

[Daniel Foo]

I'm also always wondering how the given fixtures look like. Good thing is we will soon get to verify all our doubts soon. But the cabinets look rather ugly, those typical old design, i'm planning to relaminate it if possible.

I inherited dark tiles from the seller's choice. A bit disappointed cos i find white tiles easier to get furniture. There's a lot of fixtures that can be seen from outside the condo (facing the semi-d). drive by and have a look

Dora,
I guess you got your unit from subsale too .
Anyway, NTUC Choice Homes projects are well known for the quality of most of their projects & also condo-maintenance (i.e well kept generally). So no worries lah

http://www.ntuc-choicehomes.com/proj...asa_merah.html

http://www.ntuc-choicehomes.com/proj...asa_merah.html

Awards from NTUC Choice Homes :-

2008
Casa Merah - BCA Green Mark Gold Award

2006
Grandeur 8 - BCA Best Buildable Design Award, Residential Non-Landed Buildings Category (for projects with GFA ≥ 25,000m2)

2005
Park Green - BCA Best Buildable Design Award, Residential Non-Landed Buildings Category (for projects with GFA ≥ 25,000m2)

[hkching]

I'm also always wondering how the given fixtures look like. Good thing is we will soon get to verify all our doubts soon. But the cabinets look rather ugly, those typical old design, i'm planning to relaminate it if possible.

I inherited dark tiles from the seller's choice. A bit disappointed cos i find white tiles easier to get furniture. There's a lot of fixtures that can be seen from outside the condo (facing the semi-d). drive by and have a look

One thing I'm considering is to change the cabinet door to frosted glass sliding door. This will save some space in the room. All depends on whether it is allowed and how much it would cost...

[hkching]

i've a good news for everyone.

CASA MERAH just obtained TOP!

I also got the email...

To clear doubts, Doragirl and I drop emails to NTUC Choice Homes about the key collection date. They replied and said that Casa Merah has just obtained TOP. That's why we get to know..

[doragirl]

One thing I'm considering is to change the cabinet door to frosted glass sliding door. This will save some space in the room. All depends on whether it is allowed and how much it would cost...

you mean the cupboards door change to sliding? But the current one is swinging type, so if u do sliding must install tracks out of the cupboard?

i saw the sliding door for the walk-in wardrobe. woody laminate type. faint.
must change it. if not clash with my master br's concept.

[doragirl]

Dora,
I guess you got your unit from subsale too .
Anyway, NTUC Choice Homes projects are well known for the quality of most of their projects & also condo-maintenance (i.e well kept generally). So no worries lah

http://www.ntuc-choicehomes.com/proj...asa_merah.html

http://www.ntuc-choicehomes.com/proj...asa_merah.html

Awards from NTUC Choice Homes :-

2008
Casa Merah - BCA Green Mark Gold Award

2006
Grandeur 8 - BCA Best Buildable Design Award, Residential Non-Landed Buildings Category (for projects with GFA ≥ 25,000m2)

2005
Park Green - BCA Best Buildable Design Award, Residential Non-Landed Buildings Category (for projects with GFA ≥ 25,000m2)

yup, got it through subsale, before the crazy price hike.

good to see their awards for some projects. But i've a friend who used to stay at rivervale crest also by ntuc choice homes. that one the standard not as good though. park green wins aesthetically even though it is an ec.

the other day i drove past and deliberately study the entrance drive-in. you are right, it's really very very narrow to do a turn without going through the drop-off porch. maybe the idea is to drive past the drop-off area??...

[hkching]

you mean the cupboards door change to sliding? But the current one is swinging type, so if u do sliding must install tracks out of the cupboard?

i saw the sliding door for the walk-in wardrobe. woody laminate type. faint.
must change it. if not clash with my master br's concept.

I saw from the casa merah specifications that it is a frameless glass sliding door.
Hmmm...

[dist16]

Thanks hkching and Dora for the good news!
By the way I am owner of a unit in blk 50. Just found this thread recently. Also got my unit through subsale.

So did NTUC reply to you when they will distribute the keys?

[Daniel Foo]

From the horse mouth (NTUC Choic Homes)
The "TOP" process will be done in stages, ie. by stacks and blocks.
I think Stack 50 go first then the rest xxxx ......

They target about 10+ units per day. Dun ask me why
Based on total 556 units, the whole TOP process should be completed by end Sept 2009 latest.

For those "pan tan" for Hungry Ghost Festival which starts on 20th Aug & ends 19 Sept 2009, you need to do some calculation in terms of right timing to move in. I doubt NTUC Choic Homes can issue all the keys before 20 Aug 2009.

[james8899]

I would like to seek all owners especially those with bathrooms for master facing outside meaning externally people can see, it seems the glasses are so big and while this is open concept , for privacy we should demand for some standardised wallpaper to cover the windows.. from developer they are not going to do anything. Then the problem will be every unit will paste different colors and the whole stack will look very "colorful" those who viewed on site will know any comments?

[doragirl]

I saw from the casa merah specifications that it is a frameless glass sliding door.
Hmmm...

strange...then i saw one wooden sliding door is for where? kitchen? or maybe i see wrongly :P

[doragirl]

Thanks hkching and Dora for the good news!
By the way I am owner of a unit in blk 50. Just found this thread recently. Also got my unit through subsale.

So did NTUC reply to you when they will distribute the keys?

they will get lawyer to contact us and the faster we make payment for the maintenance, the faster we get, also must depend on which stacks issue first.

[doragirl]

From the horse mouth (NTUC Choic Homes)
The "TOP" process will be done in stages, ie. by stacks and blocks.
I think Stack 50 go first then the rest xxxx ......

They target about 10+ units per day. Dun ask me why
Based on total 556 units, the whole TOP process should be completed by end Sept 2009 latest.

For those "pan tan" for Hungry Ghost Festival which starts on 20th Aug & ends 19 Sept 2009, you need to do some calculation in terms of right timing to move in. I doubt NTUC Choic Homes can issue all the keys before 20 Aug 2009.

reno works also need another 2-3 weeks, so not possible for anyone to shift in during that month. just the pan tang thing for entering the house during that month. ..hmmm.. i must go ready my pineapple to throw into the house hahaha

[doragirl]

I would like to seek all owners especially those with bathrooms for master facing outside meaning externally people can see, it seems the glasses are so big and while this is open concept , for privacy we should demand for some standardised wallpaper to cover the windows.. from developer they are not going to do anything. Then the problem will be every unit will paste different colors and the whole stack will look very "colorful" those who viewed on site will know any comments?

i saw a lot of condo showrooms put blinds.
maybe the idea is for people to enjoy the scenery whilst soaking in bubble bath. But i find the person inside the bath is more like 'scenery' for others to view

the blinds go something like that
http://www.karbell.com.sg/blinds.htm

[james8899]

i saw a lot of condo showrooms put blinds.
maybe the idea is for people to enjoy the scenery whilst soaking in bubble bath. But i find the person inside the bath is more like 'scenery' for others to view

the blinds go something like that
http://www.karbell.com.sg/blinds.htm

Just curious u think there is such material where the external people cannot see (like piece of opaque material) but u can see externally that will be ideal

[hkching]

strange...then i saw one wooden sliding door is for where? kitchen? or maybe i see wrongly :P

According to specs :

From Dining to Kitchen - Timber Door with Glass Infill
Bedroom, Bathroom, Linen and Store - Timber Door

[hkching]

I would like to seek all owners especially those with bathrooms for master facing outside meaning externally people can see, it seems the glasses are so big and while this is open concept , for privacy we should demand for some standardised wallpaper to cover the windows.. from developer they are not going to do anything. Then the problem will be every unit will paste different colors and the whole stack will look very "colorful" those who viewed on site will know any comments?

I think actually the idea is to allow more light to come into the house. I was advise against putting wallpaper as it will darken the place. Frosted covering also not good, cos at night with lights on, the whole world can still see your shadow, which is even worse.

The best is actually blinds which you can lower when bathing and pull up when not in use to allow lights in.

[hkching]

Thanks hkching and Dora for the good news!
By the way I am owner of a unit in blk 50. Just found this thread recently. Also got my unit through subsale.

So did NTUC reply to you when they will distribute the keys?

Welcome welcome.... just happy that our little community is getting bigger...

[hkching]

Just curious u think there is such material where the external people cannot see (like piece of opaque material) but u can see externally that will be ideal

The only thing I can think off is 1 way glass. But that means you need to change all the windows in the bathroom. Think it is not allowed.

[ngloong]

Any one worry by the construction noise from Optima for next 3 years ? And to be blocked by Optima, after 3 years later ?

[doragirl]

Just curious u think there is such material where the external people cannot see (like piece of opaque material) but u can see externally that will be ideal

there should be. you know like those paste on car windows?

[doragirl]

Any one worry by the construction noise from Optima for next 3 years ? And to be blocked by Optima, after 3 years later ?

not so worry about being blocked by optima. actually better, block the mrt noises. my friend stayed in the tanamera, the mrt track disturbance can be quite loud to even tolerate.

as for construction, no choice, sure will get all the dust and construction noise, even for those who face inside. but on the hindsight, if everything is built up - nearby condos and shopping mall, then the price to get will be higher than now. so suffer now enjoy later

[Daniel Foo]

not so worry about being blocked by optima. actually better, block the mrt noises. my friend stayed in the tanamera, the mrt track disturbance can be quite loud to even tolerate.

as for construction, no choice, sure will get all the dust and construction noise, even for those who face inside. but on the hindsight, if everything is built up - nearby condos and shopping mall, then the price to get will be higher than now. so suffer now enjoy later

For those in Casa Merah stacks directly facing Optima too bad. You will get to peep into your next door new neighbour block. Moreover, Optima is 14 storey, thus may tower over CM which is 12 storey ==> maybe less windy next time but u it willdefinitely absorb all the MRT noise.
Luckily my stack is safe from the Optima stack and view not block.

When construction start, there is definitely an opportunity cost to pay
i.e when Optima or the shopping mall is erected. Need to bear with the piling sound, dust, lorries moving in and out etc. But anyway, construction work is done during the day when most of us are at work,so dun bother lah, at night still come back to your cosy home to relax & koon

On the bright side, when the shopping mall is up, we will be the envy of most of the other East side condo owners , also your condo price will appreciate further when shopping mall is up

[venus]

But those who bought the CM penthouse facing optima will

[kEN9170]

For WFW, construction work end at 9pm.

For those in Casa Merah stacks directly facing Optima too bad. You will get to peep into your next door new neighbour block. Moreover, Optima is 14 storey, thus may tower over CM which is 12 storey ==> maybe less windy next time but u it willdefinitely absorb all the MRT noise.
Luckily my stack is safe from the Optima stack and view not block.

When construction start, there is definitely an opportunity cost to pay
i.e when Optima or the shopping mall is erected. Need to bear with the piling sound, dust, lorries moving in and out etc. But anyway, construction work is done during the day when most of us are at work,so dun bother lah, at night still come back to your cosy home to relax & koon

On the bright side, when the shopping mall is up, we will be the envy of most of the other East side condo owners , also your condo price will appreciate further when shopping mall is up

[xebay11]

For those in Casa Merah stacks directly facing Optima too bad. You will get to peep into your next door new neighbour block. Moreover, Optima is 14 storey, thus may tower over CM which is 12 storey ==> maybe less windy next time but u it willdefinitely absorb all the MRT noise.
Luckily my stack is safe from the Optima stack and view not block.

When construction start, there is definitely an opportunity cost to pay
i.e when Optima or the shopping mall is erected. Need to bear with the piling sound, dust, lorries moving in and out etc. But anyway, construction work is done during the day when most of us are at work,so dun bother lah, at night still come back to your cosy home to relax & koon

On the bright side, when the shopping mall is up, we will be the envy of most of the other East side condo owners , also your condo price will appreciate further when shopping mall is up

I saw the planning for that area which states commercial use for the last piece of land, but to say it is a shopping centre there is a bit premature, the access will be difficult for cars coming in and out as Tanah Mera Kechil Link is very narrow and even has a road divider in the middle and also there is not enough critical mass for a shopping centre to sustain there, Simpang Bedok already has a retail area and except for the ground floor, the second floor hawkers centre and some shops are quiet as a ghost town.

BTW 99 year lease properties do not hold good mid term value, short term and long term may see some gains, so unless you sell within 5 years, I dont see how you would make good gains, as there is oversupply in that area, even East Meadows have many units selling below valuation.