BTO Journey - Part 1

It took a few days of waiting for our appointment dates since my last post on 26th September on our BTO Journey. I received a SMS and an email from HDB on 29th September morning to inform us of the appointment for selection date. Our appointment date is on the 13th October at 8.45am! So early!

And being a not morning person, I kind of feel abit sian max plus I have to apply leave for it 😿.

Just follow the instructions listed in the email, print the documents listed in the Annex 1. 

In our invitation package we are listed under Married Child Priority Scheme. However, I could not find the page whereby the parents have to sign. I search high and low and even getting my friends to proof read the letter incase I miss out on it.

Thankfully I posted this question on the Green Opal telegram chat and a kind soul (Joyce thank you so much!) helped me by telling me which page to find it....but guess what! I have a missing page! So she told me maybe my case was similar to another couple, ours is under a public queue instead of MCPS queue and advised me to call HDB hotline to clarify, which I did. The HDB officer also very chill, they told me just follow what is indicated in the letter, and everyone's is different. Wow 😒.

As I didn't have a printer at home, I have to go to a printing shop to have them printed. 

$4.75 invested.

Time flies, and it's 13th October. Being kiasu, me and Mr Ng woke up super early so as to not be late for our appointment. And we arrive at about 7+am? And we had to deposit the money as HDB only accept Nets payment. 😑

We had a quick breakfast at the foodcourt before heading for our appointment. 

The HDB are really strict on the timings, you can only enter 30 mins before your appointment timing. There was already a group forming up outside but they could not enter yet. 

The reality slowly sinking into me, I am now very aware how much this is going to cost me.

Anyway since we have 30 minutes, we went to look at the 3D model of the plot and the Optional Component Scheme (OCS) samples. But long before that, me and Mr Ng already agreed to to opt-in as we are poor af and not going to do much renovations, a ready to moved in conditions would be sufficient. We only have to worry about the furniture and appliances. 

 

Fun fact: The stack that we selected was actually not our first choice. We consulted the opinion's of our friend who knows Fengshui. After hearing her advised we decided to go ahead with that stack as that stack was actually part of my 2nd choice. 

Anyway being a visual person, I could not see the directions of where the house is facing. Thus I have resorted to use a diagram of the compass to "see".

Quick tip: Do use the BTO buddy app to monitor the selection process. 

Soon our number was called, and we headed to meet the officer to process our selection. Right after we sat down, she goes "Mr Ng you have an outstanding grant yea?". And I'm like defug? Who did he BTO with?! Turns out the HDB officer mix up with another queue number ._. Almost strangled Mr Ng right there and then. The officer procced to explain the finance, the loans blabla and after many pages to sign (I didn't sign any papers that I printed, was afraid that I sign wrongly) she took out the Nets machines and we were SGD$2000 poorer that day!

We went to have a few good meals after that, since we are feeling "Rich" that day as for the next 5 years we have to scrimp and save as much as possible. Living frugally. 

Total damage so far: $20 + $4.45 + $2000 = $2024.45