Gated and Guarded Neighbourhood

Is it safer? With crime rates and security issues on the rise in Malaysia, the trend today is for homeowner to opt for a gated and guarded neighbourhood. Property with gated and guarded features are selling well.

My minimum requirement for a G&G neighbourhood is :

1) Guard house at the entrances. Owner will have access card. Visitor entry will be recorded.

2) Perimeter fencing

3) Patrolling guards 24/7

4) Alarm system in every house, preferably linked to a Control Room.

No doubt with all the features above, security will be greatly enhanced. However it does not mean that G&G neighbourhoods are crime free. I noticed quite a number of houses at my G&G neighbourhood do not have grille on their doors and windows. And some residents just leave their gates and doors open during the day. I feel they have taken security here for granted. They have let their guard down because it is a G&G neighbourhood. This is dangerous as I think the “people” factor is still a concern. The system works fine with perimeter fencing, alarm and all. Security guards are the weakest link here. Quality security guards are hard to come by and expensive. So, many security companies resort to hiring cheap and low quality ones. For example, at the entrance all visitors have to register. It takes discipline to ensure this happens and I noticed this is not happening 100%. Another example, guards are supposed to patrol the perimeter every 2 hours. This is not happening 100% either. Couple of times alarm went off but we do not see the guards responding urgently. On a broader perspective, we often hear break ins are linked back to the security guard (as they know your activities timing) tipping off their partners in crime. In conclusion, getting a reliable and reputable security company to manage a G&G neighbourhood is vital to a safer neighbourhood.

Yes, it is safer to live in G&G neighbourhood but do not let your guard down just yet.

Putrajaya - Alamanda

Our first visit to Alamanda is on the eve of Christmas. Had a great shopping experience and was worth the long journey there.

We reached at about 2.00pm. There was a good crowd. Carrefour, Parkson and "the fresh food people" a.k.a. Cold Storage are the anchor tenants. Cinemas and bowling alleys are located below the food court. There is this one section where a couple of eateries are side by side and overlooking a small lake. Good food with good view. Love that! Another section has a huge bamboo garden.. very soothing to the eyes. Overall this mall is just the right size, right mix of tennants, bright and comfortable. You won't feel totally exhausted after walking the entire mall and yet you can get everything here.

Agnes was shopping for apparels at Esprit. Prices in this outlet seem reasonable but it took her a long time to decide. So I went out to the nearby food court and bought a burger. Taste really good as I was hungry. When she was done with Esprit, we went to Watson to get vitamins. Later we walked into Nichii. This fashion house offers a variety of garments that suits Agnes. At the paying counter, as the bill amount gets higher... we began to have interest on the promotion that is going on in Alamanda. Its called "Holiday on us". With the purchase of RM800 (acummulated receipts allowed) in a single day, you can redeem 1 international and 1 local holiday package.

International holiday pakage is 5d4n either Bali or Phuket.

Local holiday package is 3d2n choices are Cherating, Kuantan, Perhentian, PD, Genting & Penang.

Validity of travel 1 year.

Accomodation & airport transfer only - flight tickets not included.

What a deal! We decided to go for it. But after adding all our purchases we are just about half way. As we were thinking what to buy to reach RM800, Agnes came up with a brilliant idea. Haha.. milk powder for our 18month boy. Its something that we have to buy sooner or later. Checked the price at Cold Storage and it was few ringgit higher. Ah! what the heck. Our minds were clouded. Only thinking of Bali and Phuket. So we bought 4 tins of milk powder which will last for 4 months and redeemed the "Holiday on us" package.

2010... most likely it will be Phuket and Cherating. Hopefully the holiday packages will not be too far off from our expectation. The promotion ends 31 December 2009. Anyone who is interested still has time.

Parkson coming to Setia Alam

Setia City Mall is scheduled to be completed in end 2011. Its key anchor retailer will be Parkson with a floor space of 120,000 sq ft. The new store, spread over two levels, will add to Parkson’s portfolio of over 35 stores nationwide.

With the addition of Parkson, the new Setia City Mall moves closer to achieving its vision of becoming the destination of choice for neighbourhood shopping, entertainment and parklife.

I personally prefer Jusco as I feel Parkson's pricing is a little high. Also feel that Parkson has a different target market and more focus on "lifestyle concept". Well, won't complain as this developement will undoubtedly increase the value of Setia Alam township.

Merry Christmas!!

Wishing you all a joyful holiday season and a Merry Christmas!

Remember, if Christmas isn't found in your heart, you won't find it under a tree."
~ Charlotte Carpenter.

"This is a season to be jolly.. fa la lalala...lalala la!"

Setia Alam Property (2)

We went to Setia Alam Welcome Centre today. Did not see much crowd.. quiet, with only a handful of people. My first thoughts were that property here is expensive or the economy is still on the mend. As I walked across the sales gallery, I was surprised. Most of the properties for sale were taken up.

(1) Double storey terrace houses 20x65 with build up of 1,948 sq ft were all sold out. This range consists of 2 models which combined has over 100units. Selling price is from RM374k.

(2) Double storey terrace houses 30x55 with build up of 1,749 sq ft were all sold out. This range also consists of 2 models which combined has over 100units. Selling price is from RM398k.

(3) Double storey terrace houses 24x80 with build up of 2,741 sq ft were almost sold out. Selling price is from RM588k.

Prices are on the high side as compared to other location with the same build up. Yet people are buying.

(4) Double storey link semi D houses 34x75 with build up of 2,883 sq ft were the only range available with a chance to select your preferred unit. Selling price is from RM743k.

This success may be due to Setia Homeownership Package - The Best for the Best. Previously it was called 5/95. All buyer need to pay is the 5% deposit. Legal fee SPA, Legal fee Loan Agreement, Stamp Duty and progressive interest till completion will be borne by Setia. Buyer will start paying when his property is completed.

No wonder not much crowd at the sales gallery. Most of the properties available were all snapped up earlier. Now potential customer can register with Setia Alam and they will be notify when there are new launches.

Klang Sentral Bus Terminal

We just came back from Klang Sentral Bus Terminal. Got a bus ticket for my sister in law who is travelling south. My observation when I was there...

Parking was a breeze. Not many cars.

As we entered the main door, there is an information counter and Klang Sentral masterplan model. To my surprise, nobody was at the information counter. It was empty. I looked around for patrolling guards. None to be seen. All I wanted is to get direcetion to the ticket counters. Then near the escalator, I saw an A4 paper print out showing "Kaunter Tiket" with an arrow pointing upwards. No proper sign? I feel the ticket counters located on first floor is inconvenient. Upstairs, while searching for the right bus we found out that actually there are not many buses available. For instance, in a day only 2 trips available to some destinations. A far cry compared to Puduraya.

We got what we wanted and headed downstairs. I went to have a look at the Klang Sentral masterplan model. Its dirty and dusty. No maintenance work here. I took a glance at the information counter.. still empty. We walked around a bit. Quite a number of stores are vacant. There are even 2 stores, which we suspected have closed down due to lack of crowd in the bus terminal. I felt sorry for those store owners operating here. We noticed that the boarding platforms were empty. Not even a bus was in sight.

After a year in operation, nothing much has changed since the begining except for the run down state of the facility. I seriously wonder if Klang Sentral Bus Terminal can take off or will it become another white elephant. Looks like Klang Sentral developement is turning out to be a bad investment unless the Management has a sound gameplan in 2010.

Setia Alam Property

Recently, a friend bought a house in Setia Alam. Double storey link 24x80. The price? A whopping RM644k. I personally feel the price is too high even for an end lot. And yet most of the units have been sold. Another launch 20x65 (intermediate) is selling for RM375k. I wonder if those buyers intend to stay or for investment..

As for my friend, she buys for own stay. Good for her. I don't think those investors can make profit with this kind of price. How much more can they sell for a double storey link house. Furthermore, many do not even know where Setia Alam is..

As for now, I feel the price has reflected the upcoming infrastructure and shopping mall for the next 3 years. If the developer does not deliver, or delivers late these prices will be adversely affected. Maybe as a long term investment of more than 5 years, it is still viable.

Running - Newbie Common Mistakes

Mistake: Too fast, too soon

Most first-time runners go out too fast and are miserable by the second mile. Even veteran runners get caught up in this enthusiasm.

Easy Fix: Start out at a comfortable pace, a pace where you're not killing yourself and can still converse with deep breaths in between sentences. No huffing and puffing. Then try to run each mile just a little bit faster, so that your last mile is the fastest. A strong finish leaves a better taste in your mouth than a great first mile with a cross-eyed finish.

Mistake: Too much food

Many first-timers eat too much before a race, particularly the night before. You don't need to carbo-load for a 5Km run. Most people have enough stored energy in their bodies to run a 5Km run without taking in any additional calories.

Easy Fix: Eat less than normal before the race. Try small meals the day before, and something as simple as a banana and a glass of skim milk on race morning. The key is choosing something easy to digest. Not meat and eggs, which your body has to work hard to break down.

Mistake: Too little warmup/cooldown

Your body needs to warm up properly before it can run well at the higher intensity required to race a 5Km. And a postrun cooldown helps you recover more quickly so that you'll feel better the day after the race.
Easy Fix: Include a 15-minute warmup before the race, and a 15-minute cooldown afterward. For both, mix walking and jogging to help ease into and out of your race pace.

How to enjoy your run? Read here.

To Test OR Not To Test ?

My 1st pregnancy, my 1st baby meant a lot more to me...

I never forget the mixed feelings I had to carry along through out the whole pregnancy. Many thanks to my husband and my family who supported me along the pregnancy journey.

Every woman in the beginning of pregnancy will always have this doubt: will my baby be healthy? This anxiety is common for those who conceive at the age of 30 and above. Besides carrying out regular gynecological examinations, several screening and diagnosis have become a must for most reproductive woman.

I had my first pregnancy at the age of 29. Without any specific medical history or reason, I accepted the suggestion of my gynae to have a “Triple Test” screening.

Please continue here: http://hubpages.com/hub/Triple-Test

Are you selling your property?

Great Tips for Making Your Property Listings Stand Out

1. Photos photos and more photos. Need we say more? A picture tells a thousand words, so make them clear, quality and appealing.
2. Think about including some special extras like floor plans, local neighbourhood shots, or maps.

3. Does it warrant a virtual tour? Or some kind of video showcase of the property?
4. Sell, sell, sell. Use compelling sales language and make your description the best it can be. This means making it accurate too, right down to spelling and grammar. Don’t leave anything out, highlight the features, and lay it out in a logical fashion. Consider writing a small piece of introductory text, a succinct sales pitch, that will begin the listing.
5. If in doubt, add more information. People are hungry for details and will spend more time on your listing if it contains more information. Is the property animal friendly? Are good schools nearby? Is it a renovators delight? What’s the price guide?
6. Aim for the top. Ensure you are on the top advertising package available. Most portals offer a premium option that allows for better positioning for your properties so they attract buyer’s eyes more readily.
7. Exploit all the features you can. If the portal offers paid for positioning, audio, mapping, or attachments like info sheets and neighbourhood data – use them all.
8. Dare to be different. Does it warrant a special open house, or something unusual?
9. Choose the right portal for the property. Not all portals are the same, and not all buyers look on all portals. It pays to get it right.
10. Flaunt it. Tell everyone you can about this property – email it, blog it, tweet it, Facebook it, talk about it, make phone calls about it, link to it, whatever it takes.

And finally, make sure your listing is kept 100% up-to-date, and this includes saying when it’s been sold.

GOOD LUCK!