I have been asked times and again to post pictures of my renovations, and the nightmare with my renovation contractor. I had been rather reluctant to post my experience as the son is also in the renovation business and operating in the same office at Beauty World. I never had any dealings with him hence would be unfair to drag him into the whole saga.

But ONE conversation with him today changed everything. Why should we be so nice to him if he's such a jerk!!!

This renovation contractor was recommended by my MIL. He has previously worked on one of our relative's tiling, and they were very pleased with the workmanship. Hence we decided to engage him after seeing a few IDs, since we already have a design in mind and pricing was somewhat the same. He was not the cheapest nor the most expensive.

I admit I was very pleased with how the renovations were advancing initially. He started works and applied for permit even when we were unable to pay him as the Bank were processing our application then. He knows very well we were in dire needs in having the house ready and in move-in condition by end November 2008. We have stated our stand very clearly that we are getting married in December 2008, and he acknowledge that renovations would usually take a max term of 1.5 months to complete.

We signed, and paid him a total of $24,000 and that was when the nightmare began…

Everything he had said and promised before, were now all words. The works he said he'll do, he never did. The amount for additional works he quoted, were all well forgotten after we asked him to go ahead without the proper paper-works. The refunds he promised if we choose something of a smaller value, he will say it's for GST. The works we ask him to do, he didn't do. The works we ask him to do, he never do and even said we didn't ask him to do! Ask him do A, he will do B if he thinks is nice. Then when called to confront him, he will say it's nicer and if we want to change, it can be done. No need to make a big fuss.

WHAT IS THE POINT OF TELLING HIM HOW TO DO IT, AND THEN HE WILL DO IT HIS WAY AND AFTER THAT WASTE TIME TO CHANGE WHEN WE ALREADY SPOON-FEED HIM WITH EVERYTHING HE NEEDS!!!!!

I will indicate each and every incident and words he promised but did not honor along every pictures I post. Now that Henry is taking over, I feel more at ease. I don't have to go back for site inspection every other day, cuz I know my house is in good hands.

Through this, I would like to share my experience with everyone here at Renotalk, hopefully no one would have to go through the same kind of **** and to be careful of renovation contractors who may seem very sincere and friendly at first. These are usually the more dangerous ones!!

And above all, if you are in the same situtation as I am, I want you to know that you are not alone. We are all victims of unethical contractors.

Edited December 12, 200817 yr by Ami

oh man.... sounds super bad...

Well, even with Henry, you still have to take note as he may forget to inform his sub-con or his subcon may forget to do... but of cos, the defects is lesser than other contractors lah...

Still waiting for your carpentry pictures... keke

Edited December 12, 200817 yr by Deepwhite

mmm.. just curious.. meaning that the contractor didnt able to complete the renovation in time as what he promise to you which is end of Nov?

My friend did taught me 1 thing.. to ask the IDs/contractors for schedule, give 2 - 3 days grace period and lock them in the contract which by this date they didn't complete will have penalty..

In this way, they will go all out to finish the project on time.

Well, even with Henry, you still have to take note as he may forget to inform his sub-con or his subcon may forget to do... but of cos, the defects is lesser than other contractors lah...

Still waiting for your carpentry pictures... keke

Yes indeed but he won't deny and will ask his workers to rectify if any problems. But my renovation contractor is not! He will try to push the blame to our sub-contractors, if not to us! Where got like that one!

He will nag and nag, and if really no choice then will come down and do. But still very sub-standard loh he.

mmm.. just curious.. meaning that the contractor didnt able to complete the renovation in time as what he promise to you which is end of Nov?

My friend did taught me 1 thing.. to ask the IDs/contractors for schedule, give 2 - 3 days grace period and lock them in the contract which by this date they didn't complete will have penalty..

In this way, they will go all out to finish the project on time.

Nope, he didn't. He just said the completion is max 1.5 months. He started work on 3rd October, but only handover in end November. But even now, I am still having problems with the house.

He is one of a kind. He is also the "director" of this whole saga. He will simply shun the responsibility by saying it's not in black and white. So we shouldn't hold him responsibility if he cannot complete the works on time.

Edited December 12, 200817 yr by Ami

If you can post many picture fast now, maybe we can spot all detail that has gone amiss and ask them to correct according while it is still early. There are so many owner here so many eyes to help you check.

yup yup. post that ID name also. i intend to do that this evening with his photo to warn everyone.

Before we were officially named owners!

MBR

MBR Toilet

Overview of Living

Common Room

Towards the Kitchen

Storage Room

Kitchen Tiles

Left Behind by Previous Owners

Kitchen Sink

Common Bathroom Door

Common Bathroom

View of Kitchen from Living

Main Door

77suns - That's very kind. I am in the midst of uploading the pictures and will update as soon as I can!

ahockz - I very wish too! But I don't wanna "hai" his son lah.

EH? the kitchen.. only got that cement sink thing ah? cabinet le? they leave behind the hanging poles but didn't leave the cabinets??

Then the living dun have tiles ah.. cement look? ......

Yep! Everything also don't have. They didn't renovate, so this is original-original "design".

Hacking Works Commerce

Common Bathroom

Kitchen Sink Hacked

Original... but Don't have kitchen cabinet a bit hard right?? But they actually go and install that nice nice clothes hanger thing... *amazed* The first house I see no kitchen cabinet........

Preparation for Plastering

Storage Room Removed

MBR WC Removed

pinkpetter - Yeah, I also don't under why. They don't have any built-ins one...

With the kitchen wall hacked, your place don't look like a typical 3 room leh, something diff.

everythin will look just nice and new after the whole renovation is done!

Its good that you found another contractor to start your reno... Most impt thing is communication.....

Will you be doing up the whole place?

Edited December 14, 200817 yr by mafia_lim

Mm with the storeroom taken away really very different ... makes the whole place bigger.