Showflats: What you see must be what you'll get

[mr funny]

http://www.straitstimes.com/PrimeNew...ry_645986.html

Mar 17, 2011

Showflats: What you see must be what you'll get

By Cheryl Lim


SHOWFLATS will have to be accurate representations of the finished apartment under proposed new rules being put forward to raise transparency.

Setting up a showflat is not a requirement for developers but if they do, they must comply with the proposals, said the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) yesterday.

It is gathering public feedback on the changes with the new rules expected to kick in later this year. These include ensuring the floor area of the showflat is the same as in the actual unit. All external and load-bearing walls of the actual unit will also have to be erected in the showflat and of the same thickness.

Internal and non-load bearing walls or sliding doors that are removed will have to be clearly marked on the showflat floor. The exact thickness and width of those walls, partitions and doors will have to be indicated with explanatory notices. Interior design features installed to enhance the showflat must be able to be built in the actual apartments.

If walls are replaced with interior design features like glass panels or a display shelf, for example, these must be clearly marked and labelled on the showflat's floor plan.

Showflat floor-to-ceiling heights must be in line with the dimensions of the actual apartment. Location, floor plans and models of the project featured in showrooms will have to be drawn to scale and indicated clearly.

Floor plans of units must also provide the floor area and the area of spaces such as balconies, private enclosed spaces and air-conditioner ledges.

The Straits Times visited two showrooms yesterday and found they complied with most of the changes but there was still room for improvement.

The two-bedder showroom unit at Questa@Dunman condominium by Hoi Hup Realty showed a fully covered deck area with floor to ceiling windows. Agents later clarified that the actual unit would have only waist-high glass walls with roof-covering for only the terrace area outside the master bedroom and living area.

Eis Residences by EastShinee Development used a metal pole feature to divide the space in a one-bedroom unit. A notice said the features were for display purposes. The showroom's floor-to-ceiling height was also found to be lower than what would be in the actual unit. Agents said the unit was built using the site's original building and thus did not accurately reflect the dimensions of the proposed project.

[vboy]

while i applaud the transparency this will bring about
i also know that this will further increase cost and ability for developers to launch projects

what this entails:

1. more transparency
2. more cost > transferred to consumers
3. medium and smaller developments may not be able to absorb costs due to their smaller number of units, ie not viable for them to do a launch, large developers will thus control the market
4. MM units fall out of favour since buyers can see how small the units are

[Wild Falcon]

Telling the truth and not needing to come up with new creative ways to fool the consumer will not result in more costs. That is BS.

while i applaud the transparency this will bring about
i also know that this will further increase cost and ability for developers to launch projects

what this entails:

1. more transparency
2. more cost > transferred to consumers
3. medium and smaller developments may not be able to absorb costs due to their smaller number of units, ie not viable for them to do a launch, large developers will thus control the market
4. MM units fall out of favour since buyers can see how small the units are

[kane]

Make sure you ask to see the air con ledge. I suppose that has to be shown as the actual size as well.

[kane]

Telling the truth and not needing to come up with new creative ways to fool the consumer will not result in more costs. That is BS.

whoever things such measures are onerous have something to hide.