A Smooth Start to Renovation

The renovation works have started.  The cabling works were done, which we understood from the ID that it was done in a single day.  The workers were working on the ceiling.  We are not experts with the actual renovation work, but it seems to have moved on pretty well.  Painting works will be next and then the lights will go up.

We went to several shops to look at the lightings.  Looking up at the varied designs and price tags, literally, got our heads spinning after a while.  And looking at the curtain designs were really not easy when they were in small sample pieces.

A word of advice, never accept and pay any deposits on your first visit to a shop.  We went to a curtain maker that was recommended by our ID.  In the shop, we were shown some design patches, which was really difficult for us to imagine how the actual full curtain will look like based on the patches.  After a long deliberation, we eventually picked the designs, together with our waterproof roller blinds for the balconies.  We were quoted, haggled and re-quoted, but we didn't find the prices appealing, so we told the shop that it was not within our budget and we will go home to rework our budget before deciding.  Strangely, even when we said we will decide later, the shop still issued a tax invoice to us.  Perhaps, he was hoping that we will pay a deposit?

On the same day, we went to look for lightings and the lightings shop (Again, recommended by our ID) also has a curtain shop just next door.  We decided to look at the curtain designs here as well and found the same designs that were offered by the earlier shop.  This shop was much better stocked than the other and they have larger samples to look at, so it was much easier to imagine how the full curtains will look like.  We took close to 90% of the same designs and 10% of a higher quality than our selection from the other shop.  We were pleasantly surprised that the quote was 1K cheaper than the previous one.  Anyway, we went home happy that we didn't accept the earlier one.  We only wondered why didn't our ID recommend this shop to us, which is the same owner with the lightings shop that he recommended.

Seeing Sunlight for the First Time

We finally got our keys!!!  It seems things are also turning for the better.  Defects were minimal.  Either that, or we are too lenient.  We submitted our defects to the developer.  Got the ID to view our new and very small apartment.  In the following week, the ID got his electrician and carpenter to measure up the place and made some diagrams.  Two days later, we checked with the ID and he said the electrical works were done.  And he goes on to tell us that the ceiling works will start in a few days time.  The carpenter has also started fabrications off-site.  We thought that was really quick, although we don't know what quality of work they are yet.  If all goes well, the renovations should be done in about one and a half months.  My fingers are still crossed.

For now, we will have to hunt for the most reasonably priced curtains, blinds, lightings and appliances.  Guessed there will still be a lot of running around, but we are finally seeing the sunlight for the first time!

ID Gone with the Wind

We got a surprise call from the ID Company.

“Mr. *****?”

“Yes?”

“Your ID is no longer working in our company.  We will try to get another ID to work with you.”

Bummer!!

The company said the new ID will call me and they gave me a name.  We waited for a week, and no call.  We called again to enquire and they said they will get the ID to call me.  They gave me another name.  Fine, so we wait.

After a few days, the new ID called.  We arranged to meet in his office.  To our dismay, there was no hand over from the previous ID.  We basically had to bring all our own records, pictures, designs and agreements to show him.  It’s a good thing that I kept records.  What was more disheartening was the agreed quotation was not even there.  Now, this spells trouble.

We went through the whole darn process again, telling the new ID what we wanted, selected our colours, wallpapers and laminates all over again.  We then sat down to discuss the quotation.  Our problem was, the previous ID hadn’t giving us the official quotation before he left.  The agreed quote was scratched from a draft.  Now, the quotation ended up with an additional $3K.  Oh gosh!  What can we do?  Either we accept this or seek another ID company to go through the whole process again?  Can we still trust this ID to do a good job for us?  Will another ID company give us the same problems or more?  It will also mean we will lose our deposit with the ID company if we discontinue them?

We deliberated for a few days and eventually accepted the quote, as we were getting too tired to look for another ID.  We prayed that this ID will do a good job for us.  We will have to cut our budget from other furnishings.

We signed on the dotted line and now we wait for our keys to our new home.

The Stress in Design

They are a reputable ID company.  It was not the cheapest quote that we have gotten, but the ID’s willingness to provide information when needed and his follow up calls kept us interested in his proposal.  Nevertheless, we had thought the project would have gone more smoothly.  After selecting our wall papers and laminates for the shelves and cabinets, we paid our first K together with an agreement for them to work on our project and to produce the 3D drawings.  He will also work on some of the changes in the quotation.

A week passed and there were no drawings.  The second week was ending and still no drawings.  We decided to give the ID a call and he made some excuses for the delay in the drawings and promised to give us the drawings in a few days.  At the end of the third week, the ID finally called us that the drawings were done.

So, eagerly off we went to his office to view the drawings.  To our horror, the concept design was completely different to what we had given him.  He agreed that it was different from what we had discussed and said he had already asked the 3D artist to redraw them.  So, why in the first place did he tell us that it was done for viewing if he knew they were wrong?

And the revised quotation was way higher than the original estimates given.  We had to make further adjustments to the items to bring the cost down to earth.  The ID told us that he will make preparations for the new 3D drawings and new quote based on our agreement.  We questioned how long this will take and he said it shouldn’t take longer than a week.

We just couldn’t fathom how he can come up with a drawing that is totally different from what we had discussed.  So, I sat down with my own pencil and paper and with the aid of my trusty powerpoint, I made my own, albeit rough, sample drawings and send it over to the ID together with many other sample drawings and pictures for his reference.  Hopefully, he was able to grasp our concept in his mind, this time.

So, a week passed and again no drawings and no quote.  The second week we called him and he told us that the drawings can only be ready on the following week.  The quotation, he will email to me.  Oh, the quotation.  Although the pricing was very close to what we discussed, there were just too many missing items, which is more than what we had discussed and agreed upon.  So, we rejected the quote.  He apologized, which is fine.  The following week he called us and told us the drawings were ready.  We went to check out the drawings and at the same time review the new quotation.

To our relief, the drawings came out alright.  But, the quotation was still incorrect.  After making the corrections in pen and paper, the ID agreed to prepare another formal quotation.  So, we need to wait for the new quotation again.  What went on next was more distress….

The Hunt for the 'Right' ID

It’s a brand new DBSS.  Almost everything will already be done up for us by the developer.  Floorings, build-in wardrobes, kitchen facilities, toilet facilities, etc.  So, there should be very little for us to add on and should save us on renovation costs.  So, we thought.

So we start on our adventure to seek for a reasonably good and reliable ID company.  That was about three months ago.  We posted a request on one of the renovation portal sites in Singapore and within the next couple of weeks, we received short messages and phone calls from something like 12 different ID companies.  We exchanged messages, phone calls and I provided floor plans and our requirements over emails.  We get quotes ranging from as low as S$9K to S$35K, although I suspect the S$9K quote is from a contractor rather than an ID.

We eventually shortlisted 5 of them and for the next couple of weekends and some weekday nights, we travelled round the island to talk to these chosen 5.  Little did we know, this can be such a tedious task.  By the time we talk to the fourth ID, we were loathing to even go to the last one.  Anyway, we managed to finish talking to all 5 of them, telling them what we want, giving them our budget and our expectation.  It all went great.  Well, not really!  They all came back with a quote that far exceeded our budget that we gave.  Some left out items that we want and some added items that we don’t want.  There was even one that tried to double-charge us for haulage.  Of course, this one got struck off from our list immediately.

After comparing all the quotes, we decided on the one that fit closes to our request.  We went down to meet up with the ID and spent 4 hours discussing in detail, telling him the concept we have in mind.  A week later, he sent us a new quote.  We had to visit him again to make further adjustments to his quote.  Finally, we agreed on a number!  We went on to select our wall papers and laminates.  He promised to send us an official quote and we paid a deposit for the 3D drawings to be done.

And we went home feeling satisfied with what we have accomplished so far.  Sadly, this was really the beginning of our problems…. 

A New Beginning

We are just so excited.  We have waited for almost three years and now we see a new beginning of a new home for our family.  In here, we just wanted to share our joys and sorrows in our journey to creating our new home.  Hopefully, it will turn out the way we wanted it.

The path to picking out the 'right' Interior Designer (ID) and shopping for the nicest furniture and fixtures that we can afford are already stressful, but also enjoyable at times.  I hope to jot the entire affair down as much as I could.  And, I shall begin with how we started our hunt for the 'right' ID in my next post.