The ID/Contractor Search. Part 2

It was a tough fight for us. Wants vs Needs. But who doesn’t love a pretty house to stay in?


Apart from realising our tight budget will never fit us into any IDs, we realised most of the ID seems to be only following my exactly layout. We know exactly what we want and I dictate very much the space planning. At end of the day, i realised i didn’t need to pay someone at a higher price to do all these planning for me.


Reading the reno forums gives much idea and recommendations to IDs/contractors. That is one very powerful channel for research. Otherwise, proceed with caution at Expo Home Fairs and IMM - there are lots of very intimidating sales personels. It is always gd to find out who are the highly raved IDs/contractors before approaching them. Speak direct to the person you wanna work with, at least u know for sure he/she is experienced and not some designer-wannabe fresh from schools.


The list of IDs we’ve approached and their brief review:

1) Unique D*sign (ID) - Extremely horrible hardselling and refusing to let us leave their showrm without paying the $1.5k for them to do up six 3D rendering. Price is high, but with lousy quality. No surprises abt that, i’ve been seeing their -ve reviews everywhere online.


2) Menag* Dzign (ID) - Dealed w a initially-nice young chap who turned extremely boastful abt his own designs eventually. Cunning to left out the wardrobe in his quotation so that it will meet my budget. When i say i have a budget, i expect everything to be done within that budget.


3) InnerRm (ID) - One of the more true blue designing house, which i’m really comfortable w. Sadly, that came w a high price tag too.


4) A&D (ID) - Gd reviews online, reasonably priced for ID range. Sincere ID attended to us (he’s one of the boss of the family biz anyway). But still abv my budget.

5) GPlan (ID) - Supposedly gd review online. Called me to complain abt his company’s problem, his fellow coll who absconded w customers’ payment for a WHOLE 30mins! And never came back w any quotation even after mths. Absurd.

At this point of time, my dearest decided to increase the renovation item list!
More things to do but w the same budget = TIGHTER BUDGET! So the list goes on…

6) Ideal House (ID), Impress21 (Contractor) - Gd reviews online as well, but never met up at all so no reviews 1st impressions. Unable to match my miserable budget.


It boiled down to last 3 candidates:

7) JGH (Contractor) - Recommended by coll n i even went up to view the two completed houses. Disappointed w the carpentry finishing, but if prices were to match, i could probably close an eye.

8 ) Relative (Contractor) - Family pressure, we had to approach him. i’m the least comfy w this arrangement because it is always harder to do things with relatives. Esp when i’m a fussy person by nature.

9) Ah Soon (Contractor) - Superman contractor who won my deal. His carpentry’s better than JGH and cheaper as well. The only minus point - he’s a super busy man that i have difficulty catching up w his speed over the phone. Our conversation never lasts for more than 1min.


Apart from the budget bursting, there are always 101 possibilities that things can go wrong in renovation. Go with someone that you feel comfortable with, talking n working. Extremely important!