chilarvet

Hahaha.. Yah lor. Anyways can't wait to see your flat renovated. Do share your pictures of the renovation when it starts too.

My ID also BH. Totally agree with your points. Haha.

Thanks Ray! Sorry to hear that you had a bad experience with their experienced ID. I believe it's a blessing in disguise. Hope you'll find a good ID that can click with you and also provide you with a better experience.

Hi all, I just signed a package with Abslook with one of their "newbie" id. He's actually not new to the ID industry but new to Abslook company. I met him one month at the yishun showroom prior to meeting him at the open house on 29th Sep. on our first meeting, I had to postponed it due to an urgent meeting, and my second meeting with him the next day I was late for 1 hour too because of another meeting. All this time, he was very patient with me and all. I did write in to him before our first meet up on my requirements and my theme as I knew what I wanted. So when I fianally got to meet him, he had already done the quotation, space planning, and even the lighting planning!! I was very surprised of this because of 2 reason: 1. I've met up with 9 IDs before Abslook, and out of the 9 of them only 2 gave me the space planing and quotation without asking for a deposit first. Understand that it is sop for them to want money first before making any effort in doing the space planning. So you can imagine why I'm impressed when he gave me the quotation with the space planning and lighting plan too. 2. He had done the space planning and lighting planning based on exactly what I thought it would look like. It's as if he had read my mind! I had not communicated to him about the lighting and space planning I wanted before this btw. So finally when we were going through the quotation, he highlighted to me the package and my additional add-ones which were not covered in the package. He told me specifically that if this is what I truly wanted, this was the exact quotation I would be expecting. Furthermore, he said one more thing that I was impressed. He said... "If you confirm these are the items you want to renovate and not do anything more, I guarenatee you this is the max price you'll pay and maybe you will pay lesser at the end of your Reno. Why? Because along the way you may want to make changes to your Reno items and when you see your actual house, you will see that some of the things you want to do may not seem practical and you will forgo it. For now, we put the items in, and when the time comes you decide whether you still want them or not." Wah! Steady... I like his upfront and honest opinions. This is the kind of ID I WANT TO WORK WITH. hahaha.Btw the quotation he quoted me inclusive of electrical works too. So after our first meeting, I went to Abslook's open house at fernvale on 29th Sep to see their carpentry. Their carpentry was not bad.. (Based on my standards) and I thought that the Reno was done quite well. Btw, they have a lot of open house every few months. So when I was there they were having a package tied together with their new IDs whereby if we sign with their new IDs all carpentry comes with Blum soft closing mechanisms, $1,000 off aircom system, free samsung digital lock. There was also free 7-in-1 bathroom accessories, free mirror, free hood and hob, free instant heater in the package quoted to me also. So what I saw on that day was the quotation that my ID gave to me (who is a "newbie") with all the above. Basically I was quoted within my budget I requested for and was offered so many freebies (in which I can almost move-in condition, except for the bed, fridge, washing machine, aircom, TV, sofa and dining table), what else can I ask for right? Sign lah! Hahaha. Plus that fact that I can click with this "newbie" ID is a bonus of course. My thoughts are this after seeing the various comments and through my experience. 1. If you want an experienced ID, be prepared to face a busy person who may not have the time to meet you and discuss through your needs if he feels you are not worth his time. (Remember, he has a lot of projects on hand and probably can choose his/her client based on his/her gut feel on compatability and if the client is just "using" him/her or not) 2. Nowadays, there's very few new ideas to come up with to design a standard BTO flat. So if you want new ideas, it's better to do your own research and then ask for the ID views whether it can be achieved and to what extent he/she can contribute to your idea. 3. Going for a less experience ID may not be so bad, as with every experienced ID came an in-experienced one before. 4. Ask yourself what is it you want from an ID and match it to the actual ID you are meeting. Again, please be realistic and feasible in expectations. Don't expect them to give you everything when you have not given them anything either. (Though my ID did make am effort with his space planning and light set up designs and gave it to me to keep and though I never said I was going to confirm him as my ID) In a nutshell, this is my beginning of my experience with Abslook. So far everything is good and building up from here. The comments made above are solely based on what I think and experienced. Everyone has a different experience so depends on you.

Dear all, So Sorry for the late reply on this. have been super busy with the ID finding and contacting. Though I did not choose this ID, I feel they are efficient and sincere about their ideas for my renovation during our 2 initial discussions. You may contact Melissa or Eddie from Faith Interior Design @ 6250 1383. Wishing everyone good luck for your renovation!

Hi, Love your nyatoh doors. Did you paint them white or they came in stain white? I'm doing my kitchen door with nyatoh door, but they only come in wooden colors.

The sad truth is yes! Most IDs will ask you for a downpayment or deposit(which you can offset) after signing with the ID. I've just been to 2 more IDs and they have both asked for deposit for 3D designs + Quote + space planning. I did not pay them of course, so I just requested for their space planning idea & quote according to the materials we required and discussed through. Most important when comparing quotes, is that the materials you are requesting from each ID has to be the same. Basically everything has to be the same. From the materials, to the design, to the amount of sqft of carpentry used. Then only will the quote be comparable fairly.

Mine usually gets back to me within 3-4 weeks, because my house is still 6 months ahead of finishing. Normally if you have your keys ready and are getting your id to do the 3D works for you, it should take 1-2 weeks. As for the number of amendments, depends on the ID and if you have paid the 10% deposit already or not. Usually they don't limit it if you have paid the 10% deposit..

Not too sure what is the exact right way.. But if I'm not wrong the sequence should be like this? 1. Ask for quote 2. If everything ok, Sign contract and pay 10-20% downpayment of contract price. 3. Get 3D designs from ID 4. Confirm 3D designs and start reno work 5. Pay the rest in installments of percentage( Depending on ID) 6. Pay final component percentage when works complete and handover. I actually jumped to number 3 first before signing contract with my ID. Haha.. Cause the quote and designs were not what I am satisfied with. Anyways I still have 5 more months to make changes so it's ok. But I've paid them the $500 for the 3D designs which will be offset from my final quote.

Wah.. Never heard of $3,000 but I paid $300 for my 3D drawings cause I have not signed the contract with them yet. I've got special requirements to the design, so like StevenNg said it's only free if you sign the contract with them. I've done 3 changes to the 3D drawings already and my id said I can keep changing till I'm satisfied before I sign the contract.

Hi, thanks for the list. Will check them out.

Sofa, dining table with chairs, tv console and display cabinets if the price is right.

Hi Serene, Just wanna check with you on the stuff you bought from Victorian Flair and Taobao. For the TV console you bought from Victorian Flair, was the quality ok? I went to their store and saw those on display, looked alright. They mentioned it can be customisable to the length and height you want to. (so quite interested in that) For taobao stuff, is the quality ok too? I am thinking of getting my sofa from Taobao. Saw a really nice looking blue Victorian sofa.

I am also thinking of whether to just purchase a TV console or get the ID to install a TV console cum feature wall. For my case as my theme is American Cottage style, the TV console to purchase has to match that theme too. These TV consoles don't come cheap and wondering if I should just get the ID to design and install them instead. However the dilemma for me here is I am not sure if my ID is able to replicate the style of TV console that I see in the shops.

Hi, Just pm you.

Hi everyone, In the end I decided to go ahead with the deposit, as she was very detailed and knew her stuff when it came to my theme (country style). Furthermore she has done several other projects similar to this theme too. Guess I'll wait 3 weeks later to see her design work and all.

Hi, yeah, saw their website. Definitely the fabric sofa type I'm looking for. Shall go look at their show rooms. Thanks for the advice.

Hi, True that. 3D designs are the designers hard work, but like you said they could be also recycled from other projects. Hmm.. so maybe like gemini and TengLiJun said, I should get their quotation first. Yup, going to ask for them to bring me to some of their sites that they have done similar themes to what I am requesting for too. Apparently, my this ID has done several similar themes before and under this same ID. Will update everyone after meeting her this Saturday. Cheers!

I see. Thats a good suggestion. Shall look through her quotation first before asking for the 3D design.

HI, Nope I have not received their quotation yet. I am meeting the ID this saturday and was told to prepare the $500 to give them after the meet up. The whole idea of the meet up is to see how they can meet our expectations, budget and choosing of materials. I guess $500 could be inclusive of all these services plus the 3D drawings too?

Hmm.. ok. They are quire reputable and maybe that's why they charge that sum of money.

Hi, More of looking for TV console, sofas and dining table. Considering buying sofa from Ikea with the flower fabric. Haha

Oh cool. Shall check out this too. For the Taobao purchases through 65Daigou, did all the items come packed and delivered with installation? Thanks!

Hi, Been to there, but the items are way too pricey. Of course it looks totally authentic, maybe the price too.

Hi, Thanks for the information. Yeah, I read about Victorian Flair but did not have time to head down to their site. Prob will do so and take a look. Thanks