Singapore Expats

Hi everyone,

I have been looking through the various residential web sites looking to rent a condo on the East Coast.

How common are unfurnished condos?

From what I've seen, the Condos are either fully or partially furnished. We've got our own furniture from AUS and would like to make our new place in Singapore feel like our home in AUS for the kids.

Are the rentals substantially cheaper (20 -30% cheaper) for an unfurnished property compared to a furnished property? When the property is described as furnished, typically how old are the furnishings?

Moving into a new country is hard enough for the family. Just trying to make it as comfortable as possible to help with the transition.

i would say it is pretty uncommon to get unfurnished apartments in singapore but still possible if the landlord is willing to remove them all.

for a furnished apartment, there's no average age limit on the furniture. you get all sorts of age. typically how old are the furniture for a furnished apartment in australia?

Hi there,

Partially furnished seems to mean basics like built in wardbrobes, curtains, white goods etc. so you still bring the bulk of your own furniture to fill the place up.

The age of these bits and bobs is variable but you can negotiate replacements when you're discussing the lease. For example, we asked for a replacement washing machine.

Hope that helps?

When it says unfurnished better check exactly what it means, one place we looked at "unfurnished" means not only no white goods, but no kitchen cabinets, just a stainless steel sink hanging on the wall. and no lights, just wires poking out of the ceiling and walls.

When described as 3 room apartment, its not 3 bedroom it really is 3 rooms
as in living, kitchen, bedroom.

Things over here are open to interpretation with plenty of rubber tape measures out there, the sizes they quote often includes, light wells etc. so a 3200 sq ft place could actually be only 1500sq ft internal habitable space (NIA).

Not to bore anyone but below is a summary of common ways to measure commercial properties ask your agent which one is used, (that should stump them and smoke out the mickey "Ah beng" mouse agents)

The terms are:

* Gross External Area (GEA): the floor area contained within the building measured to the external face of the external walls.
* Gross Internal Area (GIA): the floor area contained within the building measured to the internal face of the external walls.
* Net Internal Area (NIA): is GIA less the floor areas taken up by:
o Common lobbies and foyers
o Enclosed plant on the roof
o Stairs and escalators
o Mechanical and electrical services
o Lifts
o Columns
o Toilet areas
o Ducts and risers