Me Time!
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these 2 days food dont go well with kids. they dont like siew mai. they dont like frozen fish. I quickly went to CS just now bought a kampong chicken and 2 pandan cakes on offer. Going to cook ABC chicken soup first thing tomorrow morning. only I eat the chocolate cake with cream cheese frosting, so sad. dd is looking for spongy cake dont quite like the more dense cake now. I gotta learn making softer cake. today is my lucky day tho
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janet88:
When we got our new flat (20 yrs ago), we did a half-measure. We didn't get an ID but we also didn't want to liaise with all the various contractors ourselves, so we got a \"main contractor\". He coordinated all the various contractors, many of them his own sub-contractors. Although he didn't design things for us, he was very helpful in giving us advice or reminders based on his experience. We only did very basic stuff, though, less than Janet.What The:
Is getting ID expensive or should just DIY everything myself for my new home?
DIY would be cheaper I guess...but it's a big headache having to liaise individually with different contractors - when to bring in carpenter, air con guy, electrician, painter and plumber. having an ID solves all these problems. not only that, he would also have ideas planning the design of the flat. I had an enjoyable time planning what I would want in my flat...towards the tail end, I did got burnt out partially because of daughter's mid year exam. so I left it to the ID. he settled everything for me. what a relief. -
Estéema:
which contractor to come in and who starts work followed by the next...a reliable ID helps save a lot of time and stress of renovating. the masonry guy was stuck at a project when my flat was ready to start work since there weren't any major defects, so the ID arranged for the air con guy to do the trunking work first as well as hiding all the pipes before masonry guy started work. that whole week, nobody else can do anything.
ID indeed helps to coordinate all the sub-works. Without the ID, u cld be getting yr air-cond guy at the wrong timing, resulting the one contractor getting into the way of ano or necessitating either unpainted edges or pay for 2nd round of touch-up. The masonry may hv completed their tiling before yr air-con piping hv a chance to connect & hide unsightly pipings, etc.
Engaging the services for ID may not be cheaper, but a good ID can save u alot of headaches & regrets. On good months, an ID can earn more than 20K fr cuts fr every item u use (ceramics, carpentry, parquet or even vinyls, electrical works).
I was shocked to know my ID was juggling abt 13 projects at different scale & diff stages of completion!
clearing all the rubbish is a standardised charge - $250 for 3x. ID will arrange for the guys from town council to clear the rubbish
accordingly. when the masonry work was completed, carpenter came to take measurements as well as electrician. it is hard work coordinating all this. when the painting was completed, the air con guy would need to come back to install the units. -
That’s right, Janet. It’s the devil in the details why we engage IDs.
We can do the leg work (apply reno permit with respective authorities, arranging air-con works, disposing debris, etc) just to save some piecemeal works but saving tt little bit might costs us a lot more for mistakes or lacking coordination work.
Not experienced with need to arrange 2nd trip for air-con units to be installed is no big deal, if u’re not particular tt the painting works are not neat & some paints get splashed onto yr brand new units. All depends on personal tolerance level for imperfection.
@ slmkhoo It’s very long time ago when ppl use to renovate using main contractors & those days either no IDs or it’s not popular as yet. Now with accreditation of renovation contractors, a lot of coordination work are made into one-stop accountability. -
slmkhoo:
I knew the flat would come with just wall/floor tiles for kitchen, toilets as well as floor tiles for bomb shelter and service yard...but when we opened the main door, we were shocked to see such a bare unit. our first flat was a resale, so it wasn't that bad.
When we got our new flat (20 yrs ago), we did a half-measure. We didn't get an ID but we also didn't want to liaise with all the various contractors ourselves, so we got a \"main contractor\". He coordinated all the various contractors, many of them his own sub-contractors. Although he didn't design things for us, he was very helpful in giving us advice or reminders based on his experience. We only did very basic stuff, though, less than Janet.
my renovation isn't considered basic, since I had so much carpentry. the rooms are small, so wardrobes had to be customised and built in as those from Ikea do not last. my shoe cabinet with storage for other stuff as well as the matching study table and built in bookshelves is something we didn't get to enjoy in our previous flat. I am grateful I get to enjoy that now.
I wouldn't have survived the madness if i didn't engage an ID. in fact, if we were to move again to a smaller place, my condition is I want to engage the same ID again but I dread to think of the packing. -
Estéema:
esteema,That's right, Janet. It's the devil in the details why we engage IDs.
We can do the leg work (apply reno permit with respective authorities, arranging air-con works, disposing debris, etc) just to save some piecemeal works but saving tt little bit might costs us a lot more for mistakes or lacking coordination work.
Not experienced with need to arrange 2nd trip for air-con units to be installed is no big deal, if u're not particular tt the painting works are not neat & some paints get splashed onto yr brand new units. All depends on personal tolerance level for imperfection.
I didn't even have to apply for reno permit...ID arranged that for me as well as the city gas guy who came to switch on the gas. my flat doesn't have a palace or hotel design...that would have cost even more. i didn't have a tv console and shelving...the tv area is the one place we hardly spend time in. however I am particular about the air con pipes being laid properly as well as the colour coordination of the wardrobes. what I want is a comfortable and spacious feeling. I just feel very blessed the entire renovation went smoothly. -
Exactly as Janet highlighted. One benefit is having an experienced ID do space planning & seamless color match of entire home, rather than ad hoc & uncoordinated purchases.
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janet88:
Yes, yes. That's what u pay IDs for - do ALL legwork & advices incl application of permits.
esteema,Estéema:
That's right, Janet. It's the devil in the details why we engage IDs.
We can do the leg work (apply reno permit with respective authorities, arranging air-con works, disposing debris, etc) just to save some piecemeal works but saving tt little bit might costs us a lot more for mistakes or lacking coordination work.
Not experienced with need to arrange 2nd trip for air-con units to be installed is no big deal, if u're not particular tt the painting works are not neat & some paints get splashed onto yr brand new units. All depends on personal tolerance level for imperfection.
I didn't even have to apply for reno permit...ID arranged that for me as well as the city gas guy who came to switch on the gas. my flat doesn't have a palace or hotel design...that would have cost even more. i didn't have a tv console and shelving...the tv area is the one place we hardly spend time in. however I am particular about the air con pipes being laid properly as well as the colour coordination of the wardrobes. what I want is a comfortable and spacious feeling. I just feel very blessed the entire renovation went smoothly.
My BIL didn't do much reno to the terrace home except he thot, just get a small contractor to extend the backyard with concrete cover. He didn't realize need to apply for permit fr various authorities & ended up being issued a stop order, before the extension can proceed. Some permits takes more than 6mths approval! Derailed his plan to move in before Christmas. -
Estéema:
Exactly as Janet highlighted. One benefit is having an experienced ID do space planning & seamless color match of entire home, rather than ad hoc & uncoordinated purchases.
I did my share of homework by checking out designs of kids' rooms, hall, master bed room toilet and master bed room in qanvast. in the end, I realised it was a minimalist with a little Scandinavia feel I wanted.
for the whole flat to look coordinated, I couldn't have done so without the ID. I do not want a glossy finish as I have a phobia of finger prints...but I didn't want the matt wood surface to look so plain. adding some groove lines changed the whole feel. -
some contractors are good in carpentry while some are good with wet work. if I get a contractor to renovate, he would probably sub to this and that contractor…in the end I don’t know who is working or doing what. I may not even get to move in as planned.
I didn’t install window grilles, just had windows in the service yard in case the rain wets the clothes. the guy who installed the windows applied for hdb approval while ID applied for overall permit.
all the legwork involved is crazy, thank goodness I didn’t have to do it.
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