Established in 1999



 

Home

Public Others Government Business Arts Community
Entertainment Lifestyle Services People Travel Internet Stuff

 

 

     Expatriates: Relocating to Singapore

     Useful Services for the home

moving in |security |upkeep of home | repairs | inventory |small matters

     Moving in to a new home in a new country can be a trying experience. It helps to have a helping hand to point the way. While we can't help you settle down in Singapore and get used to the weather here, we can certainly try to ease the pain a little by providing the following information.

     MOVING IN

      If your company has got a rental apartment or a house for you, fine. What you need to do is to make sure that you check the inventory of the place carefully and annotate any damages before pointing them out to the person doing the inspection of the place with you. Keep a copy of the inventory handy. You never know when you will be leaving Singapore and you will need this important set of papers. If the property company is also taking care of the maintenance of the place, get his/her contact number, as well as the numbers for his/her pager, mobile phone and if possible ask for a 24-hour contact number. Also, get a list of the maintenance companies the property company has appointed to take care of the aircon, pest control and other things such as plumbing.

     If your company has provided you with a company-owned apartment/house, it is likely that your company has a premises officer to take care of the place. Get his contact numbers as well as a list of maintenance companies involved in the upkeep of the place. First and foremost-rely on yourself. In case he/she can't be contacted, at least you have some numbers you can dial immediately. Some problems can't be put on hold.

      SECURITY

      If you are lucky, your new home comes with a wall safe in the master bedroom. Make sure you have a spare key. If not, get one duplicated. If the safe is a Chubb safe, you can go to their office to get one done straightaway. Chubb keys can't be duplicated at local shops.

     Chubb Singapore Pte Ltd

     207 Kallang Bahru Singapore 339343

     Tel: (65) 6292 8421     Fax: (65) 6298 7310   

     If you do not have a safe, invest in a safe deposit box at any of the following banks:

     Standard Chartered Bank    Raffles Place Branch

     Tel: (65) 6225 8888/ 6535 3522

     6 Battery Road Singapore 049909

     Scotts Mall Branch

     Tel: (65) 6225 8888/ 6535 3522

     1 Scotts Road #01-01 Shaw Centre Singapore 228208

     It's good to keep an eye open when you have maintenance staff in your home. Singapore may be one of the safest places in the world, but there's always a possibility someone may have light fingers. Just be careful but polite. No tipping please, it's not practised here except in hotels and restaurants or night spots.

      UPKEEP OF HOME

      Pest Control

      You may get problems with rats, cockroaches or lizards (Geckos). Call the pest control chaps below:

     To catch lizards, these people may place traps resembling matchboxes on the walls- be prepared for this eyesore.

     PestBusters Pte Ltd

     Tel: (65) 6288 2828 (24 hours)

      Vector Control

     If you find a bee hive within the grounds of your house or within the grounds of the block you are staying in, call the pest control chaps. If the bee hive is located on public property, call the government vector control people below:

     Vector Control  (mosquitoes, flies, cockroaches, rodents & fleas)

     Vector Control & Research Department  Ministry of the environment

     Tel: (65) 6731 9789

    Supernatural Happenings

    Some places, especially old buildings, may be haunted. Raymond has had expatriates who have complained of people knocking on their doors in the wee hours of the morning. So, before you even move in, try to check out the place first by asking questions. Best of all, ask the neighbours discreetly. Your property officer may know something, but he/she may not want to let out the information to you.

      REPAIRS

      General carpentry, renovation, painting, plumbing, changing of locks, etc

      Johnson Decoration Contractor

      350D King George's Ave King George's Building Singapore 208579

      Tel: (65) 6292 9522     Fax: (65) 6292 2076

      JDC has served expatriates of some foreign banks for many years, and has easy access to expatriates' premises because its staff can be trusted. Speak to the boss directly- he is Mr Tok Yew Seng.

      Electrical, plumbing and air-con breakdowns

      NTUC Income  (24-hour household services)

      Tel: (65) 6788 6616

      E-mail: household@income.com.sg 

      INVENTORY

      Crockery

               Noritake      (The Blue Danube is available here) 

               304 Orchard Road #01-39 Lucky Plaza Singapore 238863

               Tel: (65) 6733 7029

               Pavillon Christofle

               391 Orchard Road #01-19A Ngee Ann City Singapore 238872

               Tel: (65) 6735 7490     Fax: (65) 6735 6973

               E-mail: christofle@pacific.net.com.sg 

               Royal Copenhagen (S) Pte Ltd  (They even have a cafe which uses their crockery)

               333 Orchard Road #01-09 Mandarin Hotel Shopping Arcade Singapore 238867

               Tel: (65) 6737 9810     Fax: (65) 6734 5360

               Robinsons

           Centrepoint Orchard Road

               Tel: (65) 6733 0888

               Opening hours:  Sun - Thu   10.30 am - 8.30 pm

                                         Fri - Sat      10.30 am - 9.30 pm

      Electric appliances  

               Goh Sin Huat Electrical Pte Ltd is a perennial favourite of expatriates.

               492 Tanglin Halt Close Singapore 148810

               Tel: (65) 6467 4833     Fax: (65) 6474 0933

      Curtains/upholstery

               Laura Ashley Japan Co Ltd

               391B Orchard Road Ngee Ann City Singapore 238872

               Tel: (65) 6834 0515

               Fax: (65) 6834 0514

               Au Furnishing & Textiles Pte Ltd   (They have done work for expatriates)

               2 Jalan Raja #03-26 Singapore 329134

               Tel: (65) 6355 2288     Fax: (65) 6355 7171

      Cleaning Services (house/curtains/upholstery)

               Berkeley Cleaning Pte Ltd

               12 Tuas Ave 8 SITA House Singapore 638896

               Tel: (65) 6862 3228     Fax: (65) 6862 2852

               Nafa System Services Pte Ltd

               Blk 153A Serangoon North Ave 1 #02-462 Singapore 551153

               Tel: (65) 6282 3836     Fax: (65) 6284 2674

 

      SMALL MATTERS

      Party Attire

            Children's Party Dress Company

            277 Orchard Road #03-45 Specialist Shopping Centre Singapore 238858

            Tel: (65) 6737 1968     Fax: (65) 6738 7289

      Delivery of newspapers

            The Straits Times  (local daily)

            Business Times

            Tel: (65) 6749 2577     Fax: (65) 6746 1925

      Sharpening of scissors and knives.

            Pow Li   (specialises in sharpening of scissors; price around S$8)

            32 New Market Road People's Park #02-1062 Singapore

            Tel: (65) 6535 2450

            Handy-Man Centre (FE) Pte Ltd

            1 Scotts Road #04-04/07 Shaw Centre Singapore 228208

            TeL: (65) 6737 7815     Fax: (65) 6732 7124

            Xinghe Knife Sharpening Service

            Blk 74 Geylang Bahru #01-2876 Singapore 339682

            Tel: (65) 6293 2286     Fax: (65) 6297 1857

      Live Christmas trees (available during Christmas only)

            Cold Storage Supermarket

            Contact them directly at (65) 735 1215 (Takashimaya Branch) or call their dial & Deliver Service at (65) 6344 1661 fax at (65) 63441522. 

            Website: Cold Storage

       Classified advertisements

            The Straits Times

           CATS@sph.com.sg

           Tel: (65) 1800 289 9988     Fax: (65) 6319 8228

           Post Office Matters

           Singapore Post Pte Ltd

           Web site: singpost.com

     Taking up residence in Singapore? Read THIS!

 

     Listings

     A-cubemicro.com specialises in office cleaning, commercial property cleaning, carpet cleaning, one-time house cleaning, pre-move in house cleaning, weekly house cleaning, part-time maids, full-time maids (provided by our reliable licensed partner company), babysitting, babysitters, childcare, confinement nanny, marble polishing, parquet polishing, parquet varnishing, house moving, house movers, curtain laundry, dry cleaning, carpet tile supply & installation, renovation, interior design, air-con servicing & repairs, house & office painting, lawn mowing & grass cutting, high pressure water jet cleaning & spraying.  Email: alphalht@singnet.com.sg now! Pls also visit 1st website: A-cubemicro.com  2nd website:  www.house-office-carpet-cleaning.com now!