HDB Registered Renovation Contractors - How Important is HDB License?

Someone asked, "Can anyone advise.... ID offer quotation using name of firm not under HDB Registered Renovation Contractors, claiming is the same and advantage of not having need to charge GST. Can I still claim if anything happens during reno stage???"

I offer my 2 cents:

I've come across several ID firms with arrangement like these. Some of the reasons are: ID business just an arm of a parent company and HDB license under the name of parent company, ID company has several sister company to spread out businesses so as to avoid GST (GST not mandatory if turnover less than S$1m), company too new to qualify for HDB license...

With regards to "Can I still claim if anything happens during reno stage???" In my opinion, homeowners are not likely to claim anything "if anything happens", whether ID firm is HDB registered or not.

HDB license only comes into play when contractors breach HDB renovation rules/guidelines, eg. damage to building structure, carrying out work outside permissible timing, etc. These are usually NOT the cause of disputes between IDs/contractors and homeowners. Most contractors has no problem adhering to HDB rules.

Issues such as, delay of reno progress, promised work not delivered or not up to expectation, really bad workmanship, damage to properties (excluding building structure), etc. are those which cause homeowners most grievances, and which unfortunately HDB offers no aid at all.

I think the most HDB would do is to revoke the offending ID company's HDB license if there are too many serious complaints lodged against it with the authorities. However, this is not really a consolation to homeowners at all, cos the unethical businessman can set up another new company and continue bad business practice.

A Message to Atd Builder

Dear Atd Builder,

I refer to your comments on my blog post entitled "Reno IDs/Contractors That I Avoid". I am sorry that I did not email to you at  atdbuilder@gmail.com within 2 days (from 22 August 2102) because I was busy with work and personal commitment and had not attend to my blog for quite some time. Also, I am choosing to reply via this blog post rather than emailing to your gmail account because you have not identified yourself and I cannot ascertain whether you are a legitimate representative from Atd Builder or a spammer who uses scare tactics get email addresses from new homeowners.

With regards to your comment that my blog post is "totally untrue abt our company & it is defamatory in nature". I have checked my entire blog and confirmed that the only time your company mentioned before 21 August 2012 (the date you left your first comment) was in "Reno IDs/Contractors That I Avoid". Please forgive me for my naiveness because I thought if I I have a blog post that says:

I learned that eating fast food is very unhealthy. They are fatty and oily. Fat and oily food can make one fat and cause acne. Based on what I have learned, I will avoid eating at the following fast food restaurants:

• MacDonalds 
• KFC

I am simply stating my preference for not having my meals at MacDonalds and KFC. I failed to understand that my statement can be deem defamatory to the said fast food restaurant. 

I apologize for saying that I will avoid the list of 28  IDs/contractors, in which your company was included, based on what I have read over the internet. As you can read in my disclaimer "The listed IDs and renovation contractors are those that I personally would not approach for my home renovation and I have my own reasons for doing so but this does not mean YOU should avoid them like I do.... blah blah blah...", I  was not trying to instigate others to avoid your company. I have removed the list and I hope you are appeased. 

With regards to your comments on "the entry made abt our company in renotalk". I'd like to clarify that I am not active in Renotalk forum. I headed over to Renotalk forum after reading your comment and performed a search with your company's name but saw no results. I then performed a Google search and the only results about about Atd Building on renotalk is this: "Beware Of Atd Builder" (post removed from Renotalk but still available in web cache). If this is the entry you are referring to, I hereby declare that the entry was not made by me and it has nothing to do with me and my blog. 

Kindly perform due diligence before issuing warnings. Your false allegation has caused me tremendous distress. I am also feeling very disturbed by your threat that you will make report against me and my blog for failing to accede to your demand to reply within 2 days. Should you insist on further harassment, I may refer the matter to my legal adviser. 

Reno IDs/Contractors That I Avoid

I have read many horror stories from the internet about irresponsible home renovators that offer bad services, make a mess out of homeowners' home and creating havoc in their lives.

I also came to learn that unfortunately, many true but negative reviews in reno forums were taken down because the renovation firms or contractors in question complained. Some genuine homeowners who complained about their ID were even banned from the forum. So, new homeowners like me will never get to know which IDs to avoid.

Also, there is this threat that homeowners who write negatively and post photos to show defects or bad workmanship produced by their ID can be sued for defamation. This is so unfair! Bad contractors and renovation company continue to prosper while their customers suffer in silence.

I was fortunate to learn about a private Facebook group which was created to allow homeowners to discuss and share freely about their experiences in home renovation. I learned and benefited a lot from it: which IDs to avoid, what to look out for in a renovation contract, what precautions to take as the renovation progresses, etc. There are even discussions on which brands for air-con are recommended, which shops to go to for cheap toilet accessories, etc.

Based on what I have read in the internet, below is a list of home renovators that I would not approach for my own home renovation (in alphabetical order):

-----------------------------------------------

Edited on 28 August 2012

< List of Reno IDs/Contractors removed >

Although the intention of sharing my list was nothing malicious, I decided to remove it avoid future allegation of defamation. If you are a genuine homeowners who is concerned about your choice of renovation ID and contractors, you are free to contact me via the contact page.

-----------------------------------------------

Disclaimer

To cover my backside, I must declare that I do not have any experience with any of above-mentioned. I have no evidence to prove that they are good or bad.

The listed IDs and renovation contractors are those that I personally would not approach for my home renovation and I have my own reasons for doing so but this does not mean YOU should avoid them like I do. In fact, some of these firms are well-established and popular in the industry, and they have good and responsible designers / consultants who are highly recommended. You should do a background check on the contractor/ID company you intend to engage and find out more about the person who is going to run the show for your home renovation.

Bye Bye, Benzdesign Studio!

This is not a negative review of Benzdesign Studio. Just sharing our experience with the company and why we dropped them from our shortlist of IDs.

BenzDesign Studio is the very first interior design firm we approached when we decided to start planning for our new home. We were not experienced in any way, we went to them simply because their shop is right at our doorstep.

Our first meeting went well. Johnson, the design consultant, told us he would email us a quotation about a week later. After the meeting, we went home to do research and checked out the company. We were delighted to read many extremely positive reviews from Renotalk Forum.

We waited patiently for Johnson to get back to us. In the meantime, we also shopped around and asked for quotation via Renotalk Forum. Time passed, we were contacted by various ID firms and have even gotten quotations from several of them, except BenzDesign.

Since forummers sang praises fervently of Benson Lo, the owner of BenzDesign Studio. We decided to contact the "Legendary Benson" himself. When I called his handphone, it was picked up by a lady who informed us that Benson was with a customer and she would get him to return my call. So, we waited.

Whenever we walked pass the shop, we would take a curious peep. According to my father-in-law, their business is pretty good. He sees them work until very late every night. They must be very busy. After waiting in vain for the return call from Benson, we sent Johnson a reminder email. The young chap replied promptly, explaining that he had been tied up with several project lately and would get back to us with the renovation quotation.

Another 2 weeks passed, we still hear no news from Johnson. I think it's time to give up on them. Frankly, my husband and I were quite ready to sign with BenzDesign because they were highly raved. Their location is also a very attractive factor. Just imagine, if we were to need rectification for anything during the renovation process, we could just go downstair and pop into their shop anytime. So convenient.

However, our very brief experience with them suggests otherwise. I suppose we can pop into their shop again and demand a quotation but what is the point? If they cannot even deliver a quotation within a reasonable period of time, what can I expect if we were to work together on our home renovation?

Ironically, it seemed that we are more desperate about giving them business than they are to get our business. True but no more. We prefer IDs who value professionalism by delivering what they promised and show sincerity in taking care of their clients.

Bye bye, BenzDesign Studio!

Meeting Sean from Connectix Interior Design

We went back to Connectix for our quotation on a rainy day. The meeting was a pleasant one. The interior designer who served us, Sean, is a pleasant guy. He had his partner, Johan, with him on that day.

Personally, I was impressed by some small details that caught my attention. 

• They did two drawings (instead of one): one for the carpentry works and the other for the lighting.
• They allowed us to bring the drawings back.
• Both drawings as well as the quotation were printed on the company's letterhead.
• The quotation was printed on slightly thicker paper (120gsm, I think).
• They offer two 3D designs for free, even before confirmation.

Although such minor stuff are of no importance or relevance to home renovation, I think they convey a message that the company value its clients.

The total quotation comes up to almost $29k. More than that from Beaux Monde but that was because Sean and Johan proposed the hacking of wall to accommodate our wardrobe and more kitchen cabinets. We expressed that this amount is beyond our budget and Sean offered to re-do the quotation. 

Compared to our first meeting, we have better idea of what we want now. So, we were able to tell him what to change. Sean got back to us very quickly through email on the next day. The revised quotation is now $22,500, more in line with our budget.

Nevertheless, our concern is that Connectix is not a registered HDB renovation contractor. Frankly, I am still not very sure how relevant HDB registration of interior designers is to home owners. Think I will need to check it out soon.

Glass Dining Table Shattered Mysteriously

A friend posted this on his Facebook status:

"came back home to find the entire glass dining table shattered #areacleaning grrr"

Then someone directed him to this video:

Glass Tables Can Shatter Without Warning

There's a pattern of problems with glass patio tables because many are made with recycled tempered glass, 

meaning even the slightest nick can cause them to shatter.

I like glass top dining tables but after learning this. I am having second thoughts. I think I will go for wooden dining table or those with granite top, just to be safe.

How to Get More Renovation Quotations Fast

Admittedly, looking for qualified interior designers (IDs) is a very tedious and time consuming task. Since most of us are working full-time on a day job, we only have the weekends for the search.

When we started to look for IDs, we only approached those in our neighbourhood. In order to meet more IDs, we went to Dream Home 2012 at Singapore Expo. However, due to time constraint, we only managed to talk to two of them.

A very fast way of getting more quotation from IDs is to send your request for quotation through Singapore home renovation websites such as Renotalk, RenoQuotes and iCompare. These websites helps to forward your request to the inbox of the various IDs in Singapore. This allows IDs who are keen to pitch for the job contact you directly.

We have sent in our request via Renotalk a few days ago and quite a number different IDs have responded.

Juliana Lee - Design Consultant
Colourbox Interior Pte Ltd
Blk 47 Toa Payoh Lor 6
#01-140 Singapore 310047
Tel: 6352 2820
www.colourboxinterior.com.sg

Simon Beh - Director
Lamidoor Pte Ltd
10 Arumugam Road #01-00
Lion Building A Singapore 409957
Tel: 6743 3362
www.lamidoor.com

John
Brilliant Design Works
144 Upper Bukit Timah Road #02-31
Beauty World Centre Singapore 588177
Tel: 6465 1152

Geraldine Tan
Ideal Design Interior Pte Ltd
161 Lavendar Street
#01-11 / #01-09 Singapore 338750
Tel: 6842 5542
idealdesigninterior.com

Mey Low
Premplas Interior Pte Ltd
No. 2 Woodlands Sector 1 #03-18
Woodlands Spectrum 1
Singapore 738068
Tel : 6482 9946
www.premplas-interior.com

Shawn Lee Sales - Project Manager
A2Z Interior Design Pte Ltd
No. 241 Joo Chiat Road
#01-01, Singapore 427498
a2zinteriordesign.com.sg
Tel: 64470668

Edwin Foong
Baroque D.zign Pte Ltd
1 Kaki Bukit Road #02-20
Enterprise One Singapore 415934
baroquedesign.com.sg

We have arranged to meet with Juliana from Colourbox this Sunday.