0529ASingapore Hillcourt Apartments, Somerset subway published by asiahomes.com internet classifieds

Hillcourt
research report supported by AsiaHomes Internet

38 and 40 Cairnhill Road.
Over 20 years old.
2 blocks. 4 units/floor. 14 floors.
3 bedrooms over 2100 sq. ft.
102 units.

June 9, 2000.
Upgraded swimming pool, children's pool, meeting area but no BBQ area near pool. A playground, swing beside the pool. Lift lobby flooring upgraded.

No gym or tennis court. 24-hour security and covered car parking for residents under the blocks.

Advantages:

Singapore Hillcourt, 5-min walk to supermarket, Orchard Road & Somerset subway

1. Great location. 5-min walk to the Somerset subway and Orchard shopping malls like Centrepoint. Great location but not an impressive looking facade.

2. Prime location.

3. Low density.

4. Big spacious living and dining area. The dining area is exceptionally big and rectangular, so that a dining table for 10 people can still be accommodated. It has a balcony.

5. Spacious bedrooms. A 3-bedroom unit may have 2100 sq. ft.

Disadvantages:

1. Not an impressive facade as the building is over 20 years old.

2. No gym or tennis courts.

3. Multi-coloured toilet bowls, bath tubs, ancient electrical fuse box and wiring, wear and tear inside some apartments. Expat wives usually like modern baths. False ceiling may have "office-type" boards instead of the modern gypsum board with down lights as in modern condos.

4. Window unit air conditioners unlike modern condos. Some landlords may install split unit air conditioners in the living and dining area but still retain a window unit type in one guest bedroom.

5. Worn out old carpets present in some units. Carpets were the fashion 10 - 20 years ago.

Landlords who know about interior design have renovated the units very well and are asking for $6,000 rent. However, the market rent is $3,000 - $4,000 for most partially renovated units. For $6,000 rent, expats can rent newer condos.

A long list of replacement and repairs will make the apartment more like a modern one. An example is extracted from a Letter of Intent and the long list of requests usually frighten most landlords. However, most renovations are long overdue.

Letter of Intent to a landlord of Hillcourt apartment. June 9, 2000 from Realtor David.

Annex A:
Services and items to be provided by the Landlord prior to the commencement of lease:

1. New lighting in all rooms, in the top of the shelves of the bathroom, new day and night curtains, pelmuts, lighting inside pelmuts and curtain rods. The Landlord agrees to provide a budget of $4,000 for the above items. If the budget is exceeded, the Tenant will pay for the difference and the items will belong to the Landlord.

2. New dishwasher, dryer and microwave.

3. New split unit air conditioner for one bedroom which presently has a window unit.

4. New ceramic tiles for the floor of the balcony.

5. New main door. To re-position the existing glass pane door at the entry foyer to the maid's room.

6. New shower railings, towel rails, box mirrors, shower curtains.

7. New false ceiling in the bedrooms and bathrooms.

8. New coat of paint of Tenant's choice of colour. The Tenant will select only pastel-coloured paint.

9. New cabinet doors and shelving's below windows as present ones are cracked and inside shelves are stained.

10. New good quality linoleum for the bedroom flooring of all bedrooms, the pattern and colour to be similar to the wooden strips of the living area and acceptable to the Tenant. Existing carpets to be removed and to ensure that the flooring to be even before putting on the linoleum. If there is parquet under the carpets, grinding and waxing of the parquet wood will be preferred.

11. All doors and side strips (where cracked to be repaired) to be painted to present a uniform brown colour of tenant's choice.

12. Chipped ceramic tiles (blue ones) and any other tiles in bathrooms to be replaced with identical coloured ones.

13. Remove mirror behind door of bathroom next to kitchen.

14. Install more lighting in the bedroom and bathroom. To be discussed with the Tenant. The Tenant will choose the lighting.

15. Remove all ceiling fans.

16. Repair cracks on walls. Plaster sides of board sealing the hole where window air conditioners were positioned before so that the walls of the bedrooms look smooth.

17. Paint back door (of utility area) white and provide door cover the fuse box. Repair loose wooden laminates.

18. Varnish wood strips in the kitchen sink area.

19. Remove stains in the kitchen sink.

20. Replace rusty cooker rings. Clean oven, hood and hob and provide new filter.

21. Polish wooden flooring in the living/dining area.

22. Remove all furniture, including shelving's in the recess of the living area to the right of the window.

23. Install lighting inside window pelmut.

24. New and same type of brass door knobs for all doors. Door knobs to have self locking features.

25. Remove door latch in door of 2nd bedroom.

26. Remove main door grilles.

27. Remove all bamboo sticks and repair/replace cracked wooden laminates in the utility, maid and any room.

28. Provide hot water heaters to bathrooms and kitchen.

29. Air conditioning servicing to be done by the Landlord during the lease and prior to commencement of tenancy.

30. Cable points to be available in the living/dining area and one bedroom. Landlord to confirm that Hillcourt has cable connections for the apartment.