Finding the right house renovation company in Singapore can be a daunting task. With so many house renovation services in the city, it’s easy to make mistakes. As you search for the best home renovation contractor in Singapore for your project, here are five things you should avoid:
1. Avoid depending too heavily on pricing
It’s understandable to want the lowest quote when searching for house renovation Singapore contractors for your project. However, alarmingly cheap pricing usually comes with some critical downsides worth avoiding.
An extremely low quote can be a sign of the contractor cutting corners in several risky ways, including the following:
Inexperienced Teams
Low fees can mean junior, unproven teams working on your Singapore home renovation. This severely risks poor quality artistry or incomplete projects.
Subpar Materials
Cheaper contractors may need to improve using low-grade, substandard materials that can negatively impact aesthetics and finishings in your house renovation in Singapore.
Limited Portfolios
Extremely budgeted renovation contractors probably have fewer completed projects for homeowners in Singapore to inspect and judge quality.
No Licence/Certifications
This brings us to the following licensing issue: extremely cheap contractors in Singapore often lack the licence and certifications required to carry out house renovation work legally.
2. Overlooking the importance of licensing and insurance
Home renovation is a regulated industry in Singapore. Contractors must possess relevant licences and accreditation from agencies like BCA or HDB before undertaking house renovation works.
Additionally, reputable house renovation companies should hold adequate insurance policies covering liabilities, damages and employee injury compensation. Otherwise, homeowners can bear financial loss in the event of an incident on site.
So, seeking a competitive, affordable quote is reasonable when sourcing house renovation in Singapore. You should also avoid choosing purely on budget considerations alone. Validate necessary credentials, portfolios and insurance certificates first.
3. Skipping the Formal and Detailed Contract
It’s easy to trust Singapore house renovation contractors and verbally agree to terms in excitement over a dream home design. However, without a proper detailed contract before works commence, homeowners leave themselves open to immense financial risks and disputes.
Remember that firm renovation contracts spell out terms like:
The precise scope of renovation works (areas, finishings etc)
Clear project milestones and expected delivery timelines
Warranty periods for defects, leaks, etc
Schedule of payments tied to project milestones
Liability and arbitration clauses
By investing time upfront with your contractor to define formal contract terms for your Singapore house renovation project, you set clear mutual expectations and have legal recourse options later if things go wrong.
4. Avoid paying 100% upfront
Eagerness to get started on exciting house renovation projects in Singapore means some homeowners disburse 100% of payment upfront without realising the vast risks inherent with this practice.
House renovation horror stories in Singapore abound from people who paid in total upfront, only to be left with unfinished jobs and contractors who disappeared.
By releasing all funds before work starts, you have zero leverage later if your Singapore house renovation company fails to deliver the project. Instead, always structure payments in tranches based on satisfactory completion of milestone inspections.
A reasonable deposit upfront, followed by staged payments, ensures your contractor remains motivated to correctly complete your house renovation in Singapore for the next payment.
5. Assuming that renovators will obtain permits
Singapore has strict regulations around home additions, renovations or remodelling works. Depending on factors like the age of your property, location, scope of renovations, etc, your chosen house renovation in Singapore may need to apply for the required permits before work can legally commence.
But here’s the issue - some homeowners mistakenly presume their contractor will fully handle securing the proper renovation permits in Singapore on their behalf. This is often not the case. Unnecessary delays happen when the homeowner and contractor think the other party handles the paperwork!
To avoid this, clarify the permitting responsibilities when evaluating prospective home renovation services in Singapore. Some key questions to ask:
Does my remodelling project require any permits from BCA, HDB or URA?
Is my contractor responsible for securing renovation permits, or am I?
How long will the permit application process take?
By proactively finalising the permitting details, you avoid unnecessary delays. Do check if any restrictions apply to your Singapore property before renovations begin.
Set Your House Renovation Singapore Project Up for Success!
Finding a great contractor for your house renovation project in Singapore takes diligence, but it’s worth the effort. Avoid oversights around pricing, licences, payments, contracts and permits. Do your homework to evaluate home renovation Singapore companies thoroughly. This helps set your project off successfully from step one!
You can also contact our trusted staff in how2design4u to help you decide on your house renovation. Feel free to call us. We will gladly answer all your questions.
