Home Renovations Anyone?
815 days agoWith the housing market booming like nobody’s business these days, I am sure that couples getting their first flat from HDB or if they are buying from the private market is all eager to start renovating their dream home. I mean, who wouldn’t? You have paid a lot of money for that new home and I am sure you want it to be the best. The problem nowadays is that there are a lot of contractors and renovators whom are there just to make a quick buck. They want to ride the housing boom and are not there to help you create your dream home. But luckily, in Singapore, we do have a lot of competition among contractors. However, you will have to make the extra effort to find them in the midst of so many contractors. I would recommend getting established renovators but avoid big ones as they might not give you the same concentration as they do for their bigger clients (unless of course if you are a major client).
And getting the right contractor can really save you a lot of headaches and heartaches down the road. I have read tons of horror stories from first timers who were tricked or hoodwinked by contractors. Poor quality materials, wrong type of materials, poor workmanship, late delivery, wrong colour of painting and worst, those contractors who overcharge their customers. In Singapore, you will not get any help from the authorities, so it is better for you to help yourself. First of all, get information from your friends or relatives who have done renovations before. Look for the pitfalls of getting contractors. See what your friends and relative recommend. Go visit showrooms and the contractors themselves, especially those flats or houses that they have done before. It gives you a good idea of what type of quality they provide. The next would be budget. Find quotes yourself. It is not difficult to do so. Most civil supply shops also sell to individuals. And now we have the Internet to help you along. Next, discuss things carefully with your contractor. Do not “assume”. Get everything down in writing and make sure the quotations they give you are in detail. Talk with their subcontractors as well.
Of course, using a interior designer would be more costly, but sometimes it can really help. I would recommend first timers to go for a professional interior designer but make sure you know what are all the processes and on-goings. As mentioned, interior designers are not mind readers, make sure you tell them exactly what you want and approve all designs yourself. It requires some effort on your part, but it is sure worth it. And finally, good quality products cost more. So be prepared to pay more if you want a higher quality workmanship and result.
If you are interested, please take a look at list of Singapore Interior Designers and Contractors. At the same time, try out our listing of Singapore Furniture Retailers. You might be surprised to see what you could find.
