Good Harvest columnist Brian Ng is concerned with the number of the growing number of  huge bungalows kept in a sorry state-of-affair in exclusive housing areas on Penang island.
 

Here’s his concern:

I have recently noticed that there are many unkempt bungalows left unattended or to rot by their owners on the island.

They are mostly around areas in Tanjung Bunga, Jesselton Heights and Minden Heights in Gelugor.
 

Mind you, these are no ordinary bungalows but with values of over RM5 millions each – with  huge “For Sale” banner and signboard hung outside it. 

Drive around these places, and you will surely understand what I meant.
 

I had curiously  asked around about these properties and was told that they were left unattended for a long, long time. 

It is not uncommon for each these properties to have five to six rooms and the equal number of bathrooms.

However, over the years, these bungalows had since “grown” too big for their now ageing owners. 
 

The properties that I mentioned are normally  bought some 40 years back when the owners were probably in their mid-30s,
with two or three young children living with them at that time when they moved into their “new” home. 

By now, the children should be in their late 40s, with some, happily married, and moved elsewhere to work. 

Some of them even migrated to work permanently at the country where their parents first sent them to further their studies, and now. with no intention of coming back to Malaysia at all.
 

So, who is left staying at the bungalow?

Yes, their two elderly parents, who should be well over the age of 70s or 80s.

No worries, if they had cleverly planned their remaining days well by shifting to a smaller dwelling place much earlier to continue with their life. 
 

Now, the main point I am trying to ask here is whether the bungalow is being maintained well or not after the two elderly had moved out?

Well and good, if it is maintained by hired workers regularly.

Now, what happens if both the elderly is not in good health to even check on the condition of the property themselves some time on?

The building will surely ruin fast. 

With shrubs growing all over the place and many parts of the building damaged due to wear and tear over the years, it will be 
difficult for the owner or their children to sell it off now.

Talking about it, I have a couple wanting to sell off their 9,000 sq ft bungalow in Pearl Hill off Tanjung Bunga for RM5 million.
 

I had an instant headache when I viewed the building a few days ago.

It was such a run-down bungalow and unoccupied for at least two years.

Having assessed the bungalow, how do you expect me to persuade the owner to lower his selling price, which will then surely
be way below the market value for that size of the building?
 

Likewise, no buyer will pay for that amount for such a worn-out building.

Unless, the buyer likes the location and has intention to tear it down to rebuild a new one over it!

Still, if only the bungalow was well kept, the RM5 million price tag is certainly be a good buy for a property in the prestigious Pearl Hill enclave!