grace_chua

Hi everyone, I thought I would share my thoughts after being in this industry for years. Most people ask me about whether they should engage an ID or a direct contractor. The difference in the choice of whether to get one is whether you know what you want to do and whether you need someone to do the designing for you. Direct contractors generally charge less than IDs because after IDs design, they then give the work to direct contractors to carry out and charge a premium for their design work. Even if you contact the direct contractor directly, they will still mark it up as it is not b2b. In this industry, normally it is either ID to Main con to sub con. Or main con to sub con. So if you don't need design, you can opt for direct contractors. However, you cannot also assume that the direct contractor will give you a good price so it is important to get several quotations. Also, if you can get a referral from a person who did with them previously, it is better because renovation is carried out through a long period of time. Some firms appear nice at the beginning and then don't deliver at the end. I visited several ID firms and realize that their portfolios are all about the same so I don't think it's worth paying so much more for designs that a direct contractor can carry out. I felt that there is too little transparency in such a big decision home owners make and often, my friends tell me that they are not satisfied with the ID or contractor's service.

The difference in the choice of whether to get one is whether you know what you want to do and whether you need someone to do the designing for you. Direct contractors generally charge less than IDs because after IDs design, they then give the work to direct contractors to carry out and charge a premium for their design work. Even if you contact the direct contractor directly, they will still mark it up as it is not b2b. In this industry, normally it is either ID to Main con to sub con. Or main con to sub con. So if you don't need design, you can opt for direct contractors. However, you cannot also assume that the direct contractor will give you a good price so it is important to get several quotations. Also, if you can get a referral from a person who did with them previously, it is better because renovation is carried out through a long period of time. Some firms appear nice at the beginning and then don't deliver at the end. I visited several ID firms and realize that their portfolios are all about the same so I don't think it's worth paying so much more for designs that a direct contractor can carry out. I felt that there is too little transparency in such a big decision home owners make and often, my friends tell me that they are not satisfied with the ID or contractor's service.