HDB Home Improvement Program - Stay in!

Recently, quite a number of HDB Home Improvement Program (HIP) cases are scheduled to change waste pipe and toilet upgrading, mainly in old estate.

Today is day 10 for our family. It's supposedly the end 😀

Next post will be dedicated for home owners, what to do. This post alone will be for parents. 

Firstly, what is involved? The program is a mass renovation of waste pipe (compulsory) and toilets/shower (optional). Lead time per flat is about 10 working-days (inclusive Saturdays). It's done in mass production style, so per HDB block, roughly about 2 months (depending on number of units).

During the 2 months, expect:

* hacking noise

* dust (comes with above)

* lift breakdown and jam (as a result of carrying pails of cement and the non-stop activity of the construction)

During the 10 days, expect dysfunctional kitchen, toilet/shower, and washing machine.

Sounds scary, right?

Before starting, there's about 6 months to a year involving voting, inspection, options, ... During this time, we prepared mentally, looking around for other living option and other alternative arrangements (laundromat, count no of uniforms necessary, ...).

During those time, we also considered:

* bunking in with friends or relatives

* economical hotel (something from 100+ per night)

* Airbnb apartment rental

However, by God's grace, something downed on me a few weeks before the renovation starts. We are having a pre-teen in the house. By law of nature, she complains A LOT. So I had an idea of staying in during the whole chaos to let them see and experience the discomfort. Cruel Mommy, right? Well, tens of other families with no other option did it. So I thought, should be do-able.

Now, after completion (sort of), I am really glad that we did it. We've grown closer and the kids perspective of life have opened up. They're more willing to accept less than ideal condition, and the experience has provided the much needed nudge towards gratitude for 'given' comfort.

If you're game, below are some tips:

1. Prepare everyone mentally. Mine happened right bang in the middle of exam time. So I've told them to revise earlier. With all the noise, concentration will be reduced.

2. We isolated two rooms. One for study, pantry (microwave inside), and dining. And another one for sleeping. Everyone wears slippers at home, with mats in front of the room. Before climbing into bed, use wet wipes to wipe off feet (of course, we also use the portaloo to wash feet, but the amount of dust is to-experience-to-believe).

3. Blocked entrance to these two rooms as much as possible by painter plastic sheets. It is a challenge to tape it to both ceiling and floors. But be patient and you're saving yourself lots of work, and protecting your furnitures too. Tips: tape both sides (in and out) at each top and bottom side. For top, at some interval, strengthen by having a perpendicular tape instead of parallel to the side.

4. Bring out all the unnecessary stuff from inside the two rooms. You'll appreciate the space. Mine, other than bed, I keep in only: land line, all children school books, enough clothes towels bedsheets for two weeks, medicines, first aid box, iPad and PC. We also moved the fridge to a good lesser-dust 

-exposure area.

5. Other than wet wipes, prepare disposable cups plates fork spoon straws, mineral waters (don't forget the 500-600ml ones for the kids to bring to school), cup noodles, vitamins, milk, snacks.

6. One consolation for my kids was the constant eat out/food delivery. So Mommy, get ready to keep your fingers crossed for the amount of MSG. 😝

7. In each unit, there'll be one portaloo (portable toilet) installed. But beware, contrary to the claim, there's no hot water. And, the water supply is small. So to keep it not smelly, prepare to have some wet area around it. Why? Use buckets and scoop to flush. Oh, and we also only used it for emergency wee in the evenings. When it just arrived, I wiped everything with bleach. On the second day, the worker steps on it everywhere (they need to do something). Oh well... A matter of adjusting expectation.

8. Kitchen sink can still be used for brushing teeth and washing face. I was even tempted to wash my hair there but in the end used the downstairs temporary toilet/shower all the way.

9. Be prepared to q to use the common temporary toilets/shower. See the positive side, all my neighbors commented that we've grown closer too.

10. Always try to see the funny side no matter what and be amazed at how adaptable human beings are.

All the best! 👍🏻