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. 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 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.