House repairs, painting and renovation
When I was young, life was simple. I longed for a home. I told myself one day I would buy a house, raise a family and then let out some of the rooms. You have to understand my background mooted in poverty to understand the aforementioned stance.
Now,I am an adult raising a family. I haven’t rented out a single room and my house is so badly in need of maintenance and care. You can’t just live in a house and expect it to take care of itself.
The sun and the rain weathers down a house fast enough. All these repairs on the house are gong to cost me a fat bundle I should think 
Not to mention the costs of employing the workers. A house is a drain on my resources but it is a necessary expense. It keeps me rooted to a certain spot on earth. With the diminishing value of money, this is one investment that hasn’t gone down in value. Mrs Bengbeng cannot of course be counted as an investment. 
bengbeng, it is not the house that buyers want, it is the land. That will make ur property valuable. if ur land is large and in a good area of town, it will be profitable over time.Large plots of land will become very scarce in future. many people spend too much money making their house look grand and full of expensive fittings. it is a mistake.Maintain the house so it is in good repair, but dont spend too much money over it. I found this out with my father’s house. in those days, no one wants to live so far from kl. Now KL has come to the area, and the land is sought after because it is so big. People buy the neighbours’ property just to pull down the old house and build big mansions.
Anthony it is more like maintenance. my house is terribly run down. due to the sun, n rain and the last big flood. a task like this will keep it in serviceable condition. Otherwise it may reach a point where it may need big bucks to repair it. I am not doing anything major. Just protecting my investment. I wont retire in this house.Too much work. It is my wedding gift to Benghui. The land is not big as far as Sibu houses go.But within walking distance to town. Expensive fittings? Not Bengbeng. I cant afford that.
I prefer to retire in a condo with swimming pool etc and I have purchased it. It is let out at the moment. I am having problems accessing yr website. I have to work out why.
That looks like a pretty nice house!!! U should look at mine - no repainting, no renovation…since I moved in 20 years ago! The ugliest looking thing in the area…but I can go on long vacations with peace of mind!!! No burglars will give it a second look!!! Hah…with my miserable knowledge of Economics, I know there are assets…and there are liabilites. Investments will contribute towards increasing the assets, so if Mrs Bengbeng cannot be counted as an investment, then she’s…..!!! LOL!!!
heehe Mrs BB may not like you if u post comments like that hehe. On second thought I better ambil hati you as u invited me for supper or was it dinner. Bernard said his message to you was abt not coming for this trip with Joshua. He will be coming though only God n Bernard, Joseph n his patients n his colleague who will stand-in for him will know. i think my house had its share of burglars. I lost count maybe 5 times in the past 10 years? Latest was late last year.
See! Do as I do!!! Let the house look ugly and run-down!!! Burglar-proof! Save money…and later when bengbeng wants to kahwin,then u can make nice-nice for him!!! Kids these days are so lucky! Old days, the parents just threw them into the streets and let them work their own way up!!! I’m also saving for my daughter (too bad too old for ur bengbeng or we can “phuek chin”)…but must “kahwin masuk” cos she only child!!
oh cannot kahwin masuk.mine oso only child
whichever it is, i feel u all really lucky to be able to get a house cheap in malaysia. i hope someday when i am in my mid 40s, maybe if i am married and all, i will throw my future kids in singapore with my parents for their education, and get a house in sabah or penang and enjoy life slow. maybe i will make a guesthouse out of it so travellers can find a cheap accomodations when they need it.
yup, its really sad when one comes from poverty. i live in a shophouse last time in singapore, rental is only like 40sgd a month, cheap electricity and water bills. it was a good childhood experience. sadly, when i was 13 we have to moved out from the shophouse as the government intend to demolish it for better usage of land. sometimes when i passed through the CBD area and saw trees replacing the land the shophouses used to be, it saddens me very much.
its amazing how my parents can afford to send me overseas for my education. china, well, not the best of place, but it is the only place they can afford since the school fees is almost the same to study in singapore.
i have to say i am not a good student. i spend most of my doing part-time job to keep myself alive. whatever savings i made, i am proud to say sadly, maybe i am saving more than what my parents can ever save.
but beng.. owning a house is a joy you know. i see those paintings you decide to do, seem like gonna be fun for your family to do. keeps the bond together. all the hassles to do it touch up will be good experience for family bonding
thank u for sharing. this comment of yrs is almost a post
. I used to share a room 8ft by 10ft and I slept on the upper deck of the bed. If I sat up straight, I could hit the ceiling 
I was poor but i didnt realize it. most of us in the 70s and 80s experienced poverty. nowadays people r more affluent
DIY to the rescue for saving costs!
That’s what they do here anywayz…
I am no good with DIY unfortunately. lazy too
At this particular moment there are 7 workers around the house
Thats good that you have the determination to paint your home…not only does it make you feel good, it adds value to your home and the surrounding properties as well, oh if a house is well maintained, buyers look at that and also you dont want to spruce it up too much,only if your contemplating to stay permanently..there are ways to increase the value but you have to void the extremes…..you know..