Hi everyone. I am writing this on behalf of a friend. She received her BTO in October 2018 and she engaged an ID in November 2019. Till date, she had paid about 80% and the carpentry is not even up yet. She kept chasing the ID and tried getting back the money but couldn't. Have anyone had such experience and what do you about it? She's at wits end and not sure what she can do about it. TIA!

wah really must be careful when engaging ID firms these days.. I have no experience with this but you may consider lodging a complaint with CASE (Consumers Association Of Singapore)...

mine is going to last up to 6 months by completion now

I'm afraid there's something wrong with that ID, Case and legal are my suggestions.. 

it's all very strange how could this happen?

I am facing the same issue too. Very irresponsible and bad ethics.  Mine is more than a year and they have yet to complete still.

Wah, that's seriously terrible! 😩 A year?! That's way beyond any reasonable timeline. Poor thing! It's so frustrating when you pour your heart and money into a reno and it just drags on and on.

80% paid and no carpentry? That's a major red flag. 🚩🚩🚩 Your friend needs to get some serious advice ASAP. Here are a few things she can do:

• Document EVERYTHING: Keep all communication (emails, WhatsApp messages, etc.), contracts, and payment receipts. This is crucial for any legal action.
• CASE is Your Friend: The Consumers Association of Singapore (CASE) can help mediate disputes with businesses. They're a good first step.
• Legal Advice: If CASE doesn't work, she might need to consult a lawyer. It's worth getting legal advice even if she doesn't plan to take legal action, just to understand her options.
   

For anyone else planning a reno, remember:

• Staggered Payments are KEY: Never pay a huge chunk upfront. Tie payments to specific stages of the renovation.
• Detailed Contract: Make sure the contract clearly outlines the scope of work, materials, timelines, and payment terms.
• Don't Be Afraid to Ask Questions: If something doesn't seem right, don't hesitate to ask the ID for clarification.