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HOME
46
January15
HOME HINTS
from Andrew Esmonde-White, chief operating officer at Kluje
GETTING THE RIGHT AIR-CON
CONTRACT
FINDING A GOOD, RELIABLE AIR-CONDITIONING SERVICE CONTRACTOR
CAN BE A MINEFIELD. HERE ARE SOME TIPS ONWHAT TO LOOK OUT
FOR IN A CONTRACT.
“Yes, Singapore is hot, and other than nice breezes and
open windows, the only way to get respite is to have properly
working air-conditioners. It’s much cheaper to have them
maintained than to get them fixed, so entering into a service
contract for quarterly visits is highly recommended.
Before looking for a service provider, make note of the
type of air-conditioners you have, including brands and
model numbers. Read the manual (if available) for specs
on maintenance. Ensure that the contractor gives a free
inspection with no obligation afterwards. Most will, but do
confirm on the phone in case there is a call-out fee.
Read through the contract carefully, and make sure that
parts and labour are covered in the warranty. There may
be exclusions like gas topping-up or chemical washing; get
these included if possible. If not, ask for pricing on these
services. Lastly, ensure that priority is given for all breakdown
inspections at no additional charges.
A contract should include:
• Checking of all settings
• Cleaning, checking and deodorising air filter,
front panel and cover
• Applying antibacterial spray
• Cleaning and checking indoor evaporator coil
and drainage tray
• Vacuuming of drainage system
• Checking and cleaning condenser, fan bearings
and lubrication
• Checking compressor suction and discharge
pressure
• Gas top-up (chargeable)
• Tightening electrical contacts
Andrew is a ten-year veteran
of the home renovation market
in the UK. He is now the chief
operating officer of Kluje.com, an
online marketplace connecting
Singapore homeowners with
“better quality contractors”.
HOME-BUYING HELP
Expats yearning to own secondary market
real estate in Australia are to be given a boost
with the Singapore office opening of
Global
Property Education
by Australian barrister
Dominique Grubisa. The company can now
assist non-
Australians to
buy property
other than
approved new-
build residential
sites, as well as
assist with many
other aspects
of property
purchasing.
For more
information, go to
globalpropertyeducation.com
or call
6422 7951
.
PROPERTY
PARTNERSHIP
A new partnership between
Property Guru
and Australian-based
Domain Group
will give property investors in Australia and Southeast
Asia better access to overseas investment opportunities, and aims to
give more value to home buyers and sellers. To find out more, go to
propertyguru.com.sg
or
domain.com.au
.