Hi guys, welcome to another episode of Life at TSL
As y'all know, a lot of people in TSL are adulting and getting their own houses.
Today it's finally my turn to intrude someone's privacy!
That is Zhin. I'm going to ring his doorbell.
There is no sound.
(Amanda) Is it broken?
Is it (the doorbell) not working?
Ding Dong.
- Hello, what's up- - Your (door) bell doesn't work?
Ah don't.
- Welcome! - Thank you!
- Hello. - You know we have been doing a lot of kay-poh (nosey) episodes right?
I'm very happy that I finally get to intrude your space, for real.
Okay yay!
I have been waiting for you to intrude my space.
So I can open every cupboards?
Can!
You say one ah?
I say one.
I never tell her to do that.
This is actually a two bedroom apartment,
I think it is about 743 square feet.
No, it is sort of about- It is 743 square feet.
So basically I am renting it (the apartment) with my friend,
but the thing is, some of my friend's stuff are not here yet.
I think for now, I'm just going to show you some of things that I've actually used at my space.
Okay. I have to say, that the first look (of the apartment),
it looks like a resort.
- Even you are dressed like you are in Bali resort. - No no
Yeah, I mean the entire concept of the house is more of minimalistic, resort type of vibe.
Like modern but Bali wood texture design.
So when we walk in..
Yeah so this furniture, later I will show you (individually) one by one,
but we bought it at this particular place called v.hive.
We saw that they were having a sale, closing down sale.
The more I looked at the sales, I go in,
then they were like, 'okay, this grey piece is $100! Take take take!'
So I took all and all these 4 pieces were $600 plus.
So I think it's not too bad.
- So cheap? - Yeah, $600 plus.
So we bought this table to welcome people into the room (apartment),
with a very big mirror so we can check ourselves (in the mirror-)
- I like that. - before we go out (of the house)
I also liked that when I come in, I can make sure I look good enough.
Because I saw a design technique, they said, 'if you want to design your house with some stuff, things must come in three.'
One, two, three. It is one set.
- Oh the home spray is considered as one (part of the set)? - Can also.
Okay.
You walk into it.
(Laughter)
I felt like my nose was slammed against a tree trunk!
When you first come in, this is an inbuilt storage (for shoes).
This is my shoe closet.
It looks like that, I mean it is a basic (design).
They came with only two shelves so we wanted to maximize the space,
so we bought this little amazing thing (shoe organizer) from Ikea.
It helps to stack one pair of shoe into one height (compact size)
- I don't know, I guess it is like that. - It saves space.
Yeah, to save space.
These are all my shoes that we regularly-
We regularly...
- We... - I help you.
You say 'we'.
- We. - Regularly.
Use.
Yes, nice!
Here is the messy part; it's just the internet (cables).
Messy?
This is messy?
It is (messy), I don't know.
This one is all the cleaning tools.
Like.. The mop..
I don't know... Spray, I guess..
You know, the first part of adulting is that you must to get your own internet.
And I had no idea what all these internet cables are (meant for),
So I had to call all my engineering friends and ask them,
'So what is what panel, what is what?'
Because this is a condominium, when you rented (this space), it does not come with this (Internet)
It came with all different plugs.
But then it's like, when you go and apply at the internet place, (and) they will ask you,
'Where is your optimum cable? Where is your optimum fiber cable?' Then I was like..
But what's that?
Then I said, 'I'm sorry, I'll come back tomorrow.'
Then even for Internet, you must be strategic about it.
If not, later your room will have no wifi.
- Correct! - Yes!
But I didn't know this (back then), you know? I took it granted.
Okay, so this is your dining area,
Yeah, so I think one of the things that you need to know when you are renting is,
whether you want it to be furnished, unfurnished or partially furnished.
So mine was unfurnished.
The first thing that I thought about is, 'how can I utilize this space?'
Because if you want to place the dryer here, your butt will hit the cables, that kind (of situation) you know?
It's very stress(ful)!
That's how we got the dining table.
- This one is actually quite pricy - How much?
This table is about $800 something...
Can we...Can we sit down?
- Yeah yeah! - $800 plus.. Ohhh!
The cushion will sink down a bit, you know?
So right, you go to this favorite place of mine, it's called Oven and Fried Chicken. They used the same chair!
Our kitchen is relatively small so we have very little space to play around with the table top.
We don't utilize the oven so we kept it as storage.
Oh there is a hack to this.
I think Fairprice or Giant sell the airfryer at an expensive price.
But there is this shop that sell it half the price!
- I do not know why I'm whispering - Yeah, I was about to ask!
But we were like, 'oh my god, this costs only $49.90?'
We were like, 'take!"
Yeah.. See, there's crumbs because yesterday I cooked nuggets
You never washed?? Your housemate didn't see?
Never...
- But okay later I will wash! - Yeah
Actually I did not know what was this, but I was at Giant and was like, 'hey,'
'Can we buy that "lady Susan"?
Oh it's not lady Susan, it's lazy Susan.
But the reason why we put it here is to maximize the space and easier to find things.
Especially when it is so high and deep in (the cabinet).
Yeah. So this is our little pantry area.
Let me just... Because I cannot reach (the shelf), so I must do this.
Because the shelf is actually quite high, so we want to cut (the space) into half, we can use both shelves instead of one shelf here
But I tell you, this snack is very nice.
It's from Don Don Donki.
- Sweet ah? - Very nice!
Oh come, I make for you tea!
Wow I'm so excited.
I must boil the water first.
Aiya... See, this is why it is so hard to live alone you know?
Sir, may I get a royal milk tea?
Sure sure no problem. Anything else?
No... Hot please.
- Hot? - Hot Hot.
- Okay. - Thank you!
Ok it's here.
Thank you sir!
You try first, this is from Don Don K.
This house was actually... They have already planned properly because,
this one, you can pull out!
Like that!
So this is to maximize the space.
I think, let say if you are renovating your house, you can request for this type of shape.
So this one (shelf) is organized in a way where the top layer is mine.
If I want to cook samyang, then I'll use this one. And if I want to cook curry maggi, (I can use) this one.
I cannot even cook maggi.
Okay...Huh?
Everything here (cabinets) doesn't slam.
So no matter how much angry (you are), you also (can't slam the cabinets).
(Amanda) Both of you reenact an angry housemate scene
Zhin!
Why did you not clean the nuggets again in your airfryer?
I clean??
I CLEAN?
CAN YOU-
- First Aid Box! First Aid Box, right here! - Okay okay!
Okay then sit on the $800,
$800 bench.
So what do you need?
I also don't know...
So this- Because our kitchen is very small, we want to elevate and utilize the space better,
so we bought this together with the rest of the furniture. To keep our dry store goods, (that's what) they call it.
And then, this one is a microwave that my parents gift me for my birthday.
So you know that you are adulting when your parents give you home appliances for your birthday.
This is where we kept our medicine.
It is very organized. When people are injured, we can attend to them like paramedics.
First Aid Box. First Aid Box.
Okay so, this is my vacuum.
We want to get a Dyson but it's too expensive. So we got this one.
(Amanda) Zhin, do you have anything to say to Dyson?
If you want to sponsor an vacuum in my house,
it will be right here where everybody who enter, can see it.
Then when I do my Instagram Story, 'hey guys, I will be going out...' It will be seen also.
So we can replace this little vacuum if you want to.
This is the fake plant area.
So all these are fake.
This plant is actually very short.
So to elevate it, we use one of my curry paste
Otherwise it will look like this.
Like, very sad right?
Then this is our living space.
These ones were given to us by my housemate's brother.
Oh my god, I know this is inspired by who!
Mos Burger.
M. O. S.
You know what you are lacking of?
What?
You need the LED light that says 'burger' right here.
This is my relaxing area. So when I come home,
I will on this switch at the back, which will vibrates.
It's not the chair, but it's this little machine called U Pebble.
Ahh
- (Amanda) This is a very unflattering angle. - Oh!
Okay so now we are in our little planter.
I wouldn't call it a balcony because it is very small, especially it is the size of you.
Oh no!!
So this is where we usually hang our clothes to dry here.
So these are the plants that my housemate (owned)
Because my housemate likes to plant and take care of plants.
This is his area and he has names (for his plants).
Some of them I forgot.
But I know this one is Mika...
Or is this Mika?
This is lavender. Smell very nice.
Okay, this is the corridor to the bedroom.
This is the...my housemate's bedroom
It is not fully furnished yet, so I kind of use it to store my stuff.
So currently the whole house is your house.
Ish la (yes).
Okay, this is the storage area for now before the bed comes.
And because the house has no storeroom,
but it came with this.
- Tada! - Wow it is very deep.
It's a storage space so that we can put-
- I think you can fit for sure. - I also think that I can go in.
Please enter into the world of unknown.
It's legit... Goodbye.
- Bye. - How do you-
Oh!
Oh no! Amanda is sitting on it.
(Sew) Hey!
(Sew) Move your butt away!
So you have to be smart about how to organize your house I guess
So this is our guest toilet.
We like the space because we can actually put all these cleaning tools behind this mirror,
to keep it organized so you can find things easily.
I have to say, your toilet is sparkling clean.
This is the laundry area, and also to air the smelly shit smell out.
So if you can shit here, and then people can see.
Yeah.
So you must decide to be able to tahan (endure) the shit smell first before you open (the door),
or you just let people see?
What do you choose?
I choose to tahan (endure) the smell first then I wash,
- then I open. - Okay.
- And this is the bedroom. - Finally!
It's more personalized because it has my paintings and stuff.
And because this house, we cannot actually drill anything.
So this one, we actually got a 3m sticky Velcro tape and we paste this behind.
Yeah.
This side table, I got it from Carousell for, 2 for $20.
And actually, she was selling 2 for $40
Then she said, 'alamak, look. The back panel don't have.'
Then I said, 'it's okay, I will take it 2 for $20.'
Then she said, 'okay sure, come take.'
- So it's one for $10? - It's one for $10.
Then, here is my T-shirts in color coded, like I preferred it to be like that.
So this is a side of the room that I really like because it is parapet.
Because I don't want to dirty it, I put the carpet (over the seat)
(Amanda) I thought you're scared of heights.
But this one no.
But there's this one time that I was supposed to close the window,
but I was scared, so I did this.
Then I cannot.
So I must always do (position) like this.
And close (the window).
Thank you very much for the house tour and the milk tea!
Thanks for letting me know that my house is MOS Burger inspired.
Yes, and they just need to add the LED lights over here.
Okay but I have some questions regarding how you go about renting this place,
because I have not look into renting my own house yet.
How long did you take to find this place?
Okay, I wouldn't say it is very long. It's about maybe 3 to 4 months?
Because the first thing that I want to know is how many bedroom do I want.
So it took me awhile to settle on it, because budget plays an important part.
Because the time when I got it, the market for rental is the highest in the (past) 60 years.
The previous tenant actually only paid $2,500
- And you are paying? - But I'm paying $2,900.
Wow.
Because right, what I heard is that Covid (hits).
So what happened is that, there's a lot more demand for them to rent.
And I was very lucky because, within 5 minutes that I came in,
I look around and said, 'okay can, I like and I'm gonna put the price.'
In the next couple of weeks, I got it already.
Oh, so fast.
So do you think you deciding on this quickly, play a part in getting it (rental apartment)?
Not really. Because it's more of the profile.
So when you want to rent right, you need to make sure that you have your profile.
What a profile is, it's basically how many people are renting?
What is your age? What is your race? What are you working as?
So these are the things that the owner will care about.
They will scan through your profile first.
If they see that your profile fits,
then they will say, 'okay, how about you come for viewing?'
Then they will meet you, and you have to give your first good impression.
Because your relationship with the landlord has to be good also.
There's this thing called the tenant agreement when you are renting.
That tenant agreement, the moment that you signed, it is done deal.
It will comes with this thing called inventory list where it will tells you all the things that the house come with.
If the house got hole, (it tells you) which hole is it.
So in the inventory list, it actually put washer and dryer.
So I was like, 'oh okay sure,' somemore when we come here, we never check.
So we eventually moved in, we realized it is not a washer and dryer. But it's just a washer.
- Okay. - Then we were like.
Then how are we going to dry our clothes?
Of course we have feedback to the landlord.
Then the landlord was like, 'oh ya, I'm so sorry about that.'
'Let me get it replaced for you,' so she replaced the washer with a washer and dryer,
Because she has already signed and promised us that there is a washer and dryer.
So always check your inventory list before you signed your tenant agreement.
So far, are you happy living here?
I think, the first night I was scared.
Because there was no furniture yet. Every sound made, I was like...
Oh no.
Alert... It took a while to adjust to living alone.
One tip to give, when you wanting to rent is-
make sure that you have the finances to pay for the full 2 to 3 years of your lease
What if anything can happen, you can get into accident or you can lose your job,
you have to always prepare for the rainy days.
I think the safest bet for me is to always plan ahead of time, make sure you have the finances to do so.
If you are not able to do so, go for something smaller. Go for a smaller square feet.
Don't be so ambitious, just because it's your first rent.
Always make sure that you tailor it to what you are comfortable with.
Always have a certain amount of money that you are comfortable with first,
to cover all these including the miscellaneous cost before you actually go and find house.
Thank you for watching this episode of Life at TSL.
And thank you Zhin for letting us into your house!
Thanks for coming yes!
And if you like this video, please remember to like, share and subscribe!
Remember to ring the notification bell over here, and watch our other videos over there.
Bye!
Now Zhin need to go and wash his airfryer before his housemate come back.
Yes. I don't want to get scolded.
Yes.