Monthly Archives: August 2012

Setia Sky 88

Setia Sky 88 is a new condo just getting set for construction to start. I haven’t seen when delivery of units is anticipated for, but one article says completed in 4 years. I find it hard to understand how they are going to take so long, but since the website fails to have any information at all I guess the best current guess is for delivery in 2016. I still find that so slow that I can’t believe they will really take that long but until I get updated information that is the only date with some evidence backing it up. As with all new condos planned for the CBD of Johor Bahru recently the developers are aiming for high priced units.

The location is nice, across the street from the New York Hotel. There is another highrise condo being built right next to the Setia Sky 88 (across the street – between the Sky 88 and Hotel Selesa), which is also just in the beginning stages of construction.

I would imagine the car washes that line part of the street now will be replaced with more upscale retail shops, but we will see.

Plaza Penagi is just 4 blocks away and the wonderful Chez Papa (French cuisine) is just 6 blocks away. KSL Mall is within 2 km. The KSL condos are getting close to being completed (also very high prices on these).

I am not really sure why they have to exaggerate (saying the CIQ is 2 minutes away), the causeway is 5-10 minutes away assuming any sensible driving and traffic load, in my opinion.

I think the nearest existing condo would be the Wadihana Condo which is likely between 1 and 2 km away.

What is a Reasonable Expectation for Service?

Moving to a new country offers many things you have to figure out and get used to. Really the idea of exotic locals is largely outdated. Most things are basically the same everywhere. It is the details that get a bit tricky.

I knew this so paid extra for my rental with the expectation that the extra payment meant I got the higher level of service expats expected. This made sense to me. It sure seems like I get as bad a service as could possibly be tolerated. I can’t imagine there is a level lower than this.

I don’t know if I am just being taken advantage of by my agent. Or if this is just the state of “customer service.” The condo had many issues to be addressed (it was known it had issues and hadn’t been rented out for years). I said I would go to Thailand for 2 weeks and return when we agreed the items would be taken care of. I returned, nothing had been done.

Numerous follow ups by me were required to get the minimum to finally be done to let me move in. The entire time I have had to ask 3-6 times for things to be done. Repeated request for status always failed to get a response.

People would not show up when they were suppose to, to fix stuff, again I had to manage this as the agent was missing in action. If people didn’t show up at all again the agent was missing in action and I had to tell him. This has repeated for everything. No matter what, I have to ask multiple times (actually there were maybe 3 times when I didn’t have to do so, but by and large I have had to).

Two of the ACs didn’t work (remember the house was not used for years prior). The one in my bedroom I got fixed. Another one I only tested and it seemed to blow out cold air so I went on. A few months later I started using that room and the AC doesn’t work (probably the freon is out – but maybe it is just broken). So it never worked, and they said I can pay to fix the AC that never worked in this unit they assured me was more expensive because they would provide good service and assure things were at an “expat level.” Again this seems like they are just either taking advantage of me of have a very poor standard of service but maybe my expectations are wrong.

The fridge has never been good, but I didn’t care that much. Now the ancient fridge died, ruining all my food. I told the agent. They said he would arrange for someone to fix it. So I cancelled my plans for the day and skipped lunch as I couldn’t leave… Noone came. After lunch I left a message asking what was going on. Still today, no response. As typical, failure of expected functions followed by requiring multiple contact by me. Lousy communication provided by agent. Leaving me stranded with no one showing up. Leaving me stranded without functioning equipment.

Is this just lousy service and response. Or is this typical?

Should I just go buy a new fridge and deduct that from my next rent payment?

I did know I was taking a risk believing the claims of the agent that they would provide good service. They seemed capable and seemed to have a business based upon service clients that would expect good service (so had a reason to build a business that provided it). And I was really tired and just wanted to be through looking for a place (I probably was a fool to just give in, but I did it so I have to live with it).