APPROVED!

We finally, FINALLY got our MPSJ approval at 5pm yesterday. *Sigh of relief*

Anyway, our contractor already decided to go ahead with or without approval if not there's no way the deadline could be met. Good job our approval came that same day as well.

So, went to the house for a site inspection and there's been progress. I like progress.

This is the best sign: It means work is starting proper.


Supplies: Cement and rebar. Glad to see our contractor supplying fairly good quality cement.



Inside, things have been moving. First signs, the old kitchen sink has been demolished. Before and after:



Upstairs, the master bathroom has been partially demolished. Before and after:



This is good news. It means no unsightly concrete column to cause problems, and more open space :)

The P.I.T.A of MPSJ Approval Ep. 06

So I hauled ass down to our crib last night after a long day's work to get our neighbours' signatures as required. I had to stand outside each of their gates yelling for about 5 minutes before they'd even come out because everyone thinks you're a salesman. I hate salesmen.

Even when they do come out the door, they just come halfway down their driveways until I politely say "Hi, I'm your next door neighbour" and ask for a minute of their time. At least one of them was friendly and invited me in.

So I finally got their endorsement and hauled ass over to our architect's place this morning to pass them the signed documents. She said she'd go over to MPSJ today to submit, and hopefully everything will be done by this week. Tomorrow is by this week. After which it will be next week. BAH.

So, we shall see how that goes. I've been getting a lot of google hits for people searching for MPSJ related stuff, so something useful for you all... here's the MPSJ letter that you need your neighbours to sign, if you're renovating like us. Download and print. And yell at their gates.

The P.I.T.A of MPSJ Approval Ep. 05

The latest news from the architects is that we've got to do the dreaded neighbour's consent letters. Both neighbours left and right have to sign off that they're OK for you to proceed with your reno plans before you can start anything. This is full of bull.

The P.I.T.A of MPSJ Approval Ep. 04

I went over to MPSJ yesterday morning to dish out some harassment over my pending renovation approval. After getting bounced from floor to floor and counter to counter, I finally arrived at the right place to check. For readers who want to know, it's the OSC counter at the back entrance where the carpark is. So the lady went into the back room and I could see her checking everywhere high and low but couldn't seem to find my file. Which made me think: so this is why this darn exercise is taking so long. Finally she brought out the log book and told me the architect had taken back the file on the 3rd of this month.

I got in to office and called the architect who told me that she had just gotten back from MPSJ and tried to get it signed off, but the officer in charge wasn't in today and that she'd go back tomorrow (today) and get that done. I just hope it really gets done and that we get approved today.

So hang on to your seats, folks. The suspense is killing me. Updates as soon as I know.

The P.I.T.A of MPSJ Approval Ep. 03

I've been dishing out harassment to the architects until they've stopped picking up my calls. But this MPSJ submission thing is taking way too long. When I managed to get in touch with them today, I was told that the technical amendments were minor, and that my application would be approved next Tuesday, the 15th. I'm like... @#$%.

If it was minor, why should it take a whole extra week to get it approved? Get the bleedin' thing approved like now. Anyway, I shall get the file number and harass MPSJ myself, if that's what it takes to get this thing done.

The P.I.T.A of MPSJ Approval Ep. 02

It's now been 9 working days since our plans were submitted to MPSJ and today I got news from the architects that MPSJ requires some technical amendments to be made. I'm like What The?! I thought the last they told me was that the drawings were approved and they were waiting for some sort of document from Alam Flora to provide the dumpster?

This is highly frustrating.

The P.I.T.A of EPF Withdrawal

So I'm going to withdraw my EPF (Employees Provident Fund - FYI foreign readers) Account 2 to pay my dues for the purchase of our house. There is a veritable mountain of documents that they need to process it. Went to Jalan Gasing EPF office on Friday to get this done, but it was a wasted trip.

1. Sale and Purchase Agreement
(Don't forget to photostat the cover, not just the contents.)
EPF Counter Makcik: Mano cover? Turun bawah ke kafeteria pergi potostat.

2. Bank Loan Agreement
(In full as well, but this is a bloomin' thick document to photostat)

3. Photostat IC

4. Suratan Hak Milik atas nama penjual;
DAN
Surat Kebenaran Pindahmilik dari Pejabat Tanah (jika ada sekatan pindahmilik daripada pihak berkuasa);
ATAU
Suratan Hakmilik atas nama ahli;
ATAU
Borang Pindahmilik (Borang KTN 14A) atas nama ahli yang telah disempurnakan oleh Pejabat Tanah.
This mouthful of words is basically the title deed. Must be certified true copy by the lawyers. WHY DIDN'T THEY MENTION THIS ON THE BLOOMIN' WEBSITE? Would have saved me a trip to the EPF office last week just to find that out.

EPF Counter Makcik: Oh, ni kena bagi loyar sign nih... jangan lupa depan belakang pun kena potostat ye

5. Bank Statement or Bank Passbook
This is another pain. My bank branch is in KLCC. Why oh why do I need to go all the way there just to get hold of one piece of paper, with the bank stamp. Why can't they issue the darn thing at the nearest branch???

The P.I.T.A of MPSJ Approval

In the absence of any progress today, just thought I'd document the pain one has to go through to get your permit to renovate by doing everything above-board.

1. Contractor goes to MPSJ to try get a pre-approved plan for our house reno, which is supposed to take just one day.
   
2. Alas, no pre-approved plans are available for how we want our house done (but all the neighbours have done it)
3. Next plan of action: have to go for the full architect/engineer's approval
4. Contractor recommends us to an architect
5. We go see the architect to get our plans drawn up.
6. Pay architect RM800 upfront
7. Architect says 1 week to draw up the plans.
8. Harass the architect every couple of days.
9. Plans eventually get drawn up... 2 weeks later.
10. I go see the architect to sign on the submission plans.
    Me: So can you submit the plans to MPSJ today?
    Her: After this I will get the architect to sign the plans today.
    Me: So when can you get it submitted?
    Her: Maybe on Thursday we will go to submit.
    Me: What happens between now and Thursday?
11. Pay architect a further RM2810 for the balance of the fees and MPSJ deposit and other costs.
12. The plans finally got submitted... on Thursday. Grrr..
13. Architect says *maybe* can get approval within 1 week. Oh well... fingers crossed.