yowetan

Hi Bros and Sis Please dun get fed up. Stay cool. There is nothing wrong here. Everyone just wan to have a happy renovation. Like I say, Uncle Soon wont get into trouble if he is innocent. There's no need to worry and fear if he is really good as what most of you describe in your T-blog. I am a guy who is from humble background, I am just taking this opportunity to check out Uncle Soon profile and ensuring I get good service and product. I may looking for cheaper source, but that doesnt mean I am willing to compromise quality and compliance. Cheers!

You are welcome.

Hi, the answer is simple. If Uncle Soon is to be found innocent, then all forumers can be put their heart at ease and get ahead employ uncle soon in all the future renovation work lor. This may turn out to be a good thing and Uncle Soon business may prosper. Huat Ah!

Hi, I will quote the above message, and printed out the documentation, doing a cache saving, as well as jpeg capture. I will follow up with the HDB authority to investigate this in fair manner, though I cannot gurantee it will be equal. I just wish to let you know if Uncle Soon's is innocent and clear of any possibilities of evading the laws, he will be fine. If you have the faith and trust in him, you shouldnt be emotional and worried. I understand where you coming from, and I expect the same from you too. Thank you. XIE XIE.

Hi Guys and Gals, Karma Karma is very subjective. Let's us be objective. I am trying to help. Peace!

Hi Guys and Gals, There is no need to debate or argue over something which has any conclusion. Relax.... Let's my letter to HDB and my appointment with Uncle Soon's be a conclusive and informative one. We will then evaluate if there is any miscommunication. I am just worried if those friendly forumers will be responsible for their own mistakes/defects if they hire non-license contractors. Let me get to this case I will check with HDB on Uncle Soon, and I will fix an appointment with Uncle Soon together with HDB then. Of coz, please dun tip Uncle Soon's my action for it will influence the outcome of the findings. Meanwhile, let's us have an open mind and see how the situation develops. End of the day, I just hope everyone have a happy renovation with a reliable and quality contractor. I havent renovate mine, but I definitely trying Uncle Soon's. I am very fair and I will consider his offering together with the HDB authority. peace no war.

All bros n sis I am intending to get Ah soon, together with HDB officer to meet up. I am also intending to write to CASE and HDB to query on this Ah Soon's contractor company practise. Watch out for here!

Hi rdnest, I believe this Alan is just trying to catch up the super hot status of "Ah Soon"; coz they (contractors) knew very well that jobs are harder to find, and usually such renovation company (I dun even call firm) are usually fly-by-nite operation. (Sorry if I have offended any one here) I just wan to let everyone knows (though I believe many might know that as well) that contractors are usually unrealiable at most times, who knows they will be around for business for many years to come. Some renovators are exist for a period, and they will disappear into thin air. Same goes to the ID firms as well. Good luck to all prospective home owners.

I just like to highlight one more point - whichever contractor we use, and whatever things turn out in the end, and many years to come; we will know if that Uncle soon/ Uncle Yeak/ and whichever IDs are producing good job and material for your renovation. No one can guarantee anything after 1-2years when all things start to settle in. Only then, we shall see Yeakers/Sooners/IDers/ABC supporters would be still around to give their testimonial. Overated is given to Uncle Soon's for his workpiece are not really excellent; workmanship; service quality are not up to expectation (Data and information extracted from Uncle soon's clients through their T-blog) Overated is given to Uncle Soon's because the price offered by him is not necessarily cheap or cheaper than other contractors (I have yet to get a quote, however I am keen to get a quote from him) Overated is given to Uncle Soon's because he is definitely not the only contractor available, and not the only contractor who can give and take. Overated is given to Uncle Soon's because its already 31th May, Aubrey - you have yet to move in. Dun flame me, because the above comments are of my personal perspective and opinion.

I agree Uncle Soon's is not the only good contractor in Singapore. I am also agree with ncy that Uncle Soon is overated, in fact extemely overated in my honest opinion. Initially, my wife mentioned Uncle Soon to me when she chanced upon this forum. I read all of your t-blogs objectively. I am also a prospective home owner, and would love to do my reno simple and within budget as well. Based on the pricing from Uncle Soon, I dun think he offers the best package and I believe his assistants (jason, if I am wrong or forgetful) do have a trait of mark up the quote. This is very disappointing. Anyway, one person's meat is other person's poison. All the best to Soon's clan.

Hi Aubrey, This is the prospective concern that I always wanted to address since my very first post. You will need to ask yourself, why most of the IDs or contractors are not able to meet your budget etc. Supervision granted - you love to take in charge. Quality - it is something that requires additional supervision and eagle instinct to prevent people from shortchanging you. Having said that, budget is the key word. Fast, efficient, effective, good cost - they never comes together as an equation. Uncle's soon needs to earn, he cannot be doing charity work and nice work just to please all. Good luck! Thanks.

Can I visit your place when your renovation is up? I like to steal some idea, as well as witnessing Tau Design workmanship.

Hi Big Cat, Is your new home at Hillview regency? I am staying near you, but mine is a resales unit.

Hi Pinkpetter, Thank you for your insight, I appreciate that. I must say you are very lucky few to enjoy the service rendered by Uncle Soon. The purpose of my 1st post wasnt directed at Uncle Soon, however I just hope to bring across a message to the fellow forumers who wish to renovate their house in near future. There is no free or cheap lunch in this world and I am well assure everyone knows that very well. Frankly speaking, I am somehow motivated to engage Uncle Soon's service for my newly purchase home. However, I decided to scout and learn more before I venture into something that may potentially set me 20k to 50k poorer. The reason why I quote you being lucky is - you are the first few to recieve good service from Uncle Soon. When there are overflow of order and jobs, there bound to have delays and hiccups along the way. This is something which everyone needs to understand and accept it. BUT, there is something which I could not convince myself. Its the project management portion. Yes, this is our house. We have the full responsibility of it. However, why are we paying for? We need to understand why are we paying and what are we paying for. This is accountability and transparency. If we spend a hefty sum for a renovation/contractor job yet we need to perform the project management/foreman supervisory role, I will feel sad. My role will be a potential client who expects the contractor/IDs to do to my specification and requirement, and my requests are not to be ignored. If I gone spend my time, take annual leave to supervise the renovation work regulary I will feel very worried and it is a big concern. Please remember you are paying someone to perform a job. You are not taking advantage of them. You pay for their workmanship, service and quality. You dun pay and do free supervision job for them. Your family time and your job matters most - for the former gives you the strength and motivation, and latter gives you the financial muscle to carry on. I am sad to know that most of us have neglected that and spent most of the time in supervising the renovation work which dutifully belongs to the scope of work for the renovators. There are many forumers here, whom I believe feel very "paiseh" or "shy" away from renovator's mistake and problems, for they felt the renovator/contractor already did their best. Granted this reason as vaild, but I seriously find aubrey has been shortchanged. If its something irritating warrants an attention, I personally feel Uncle Soon should turn up instead his assistants. As a consumer, we shouldnt take such things lightly, becoz the renovation done will be with us for some time. This is something we cannot "chin chai" and take for granted. You are paying in tenth Ks, not just a few dollars. How much a contractor being paid a day, I believe most of you will roughly know. We are definitely not shortchanging them. Thanks.

Hi aubrey, This is my first post here. Alrite, I have been reading most of the T-blogs and you are one of them. After reading all the red hot renovators/contractors or even IDs, I realise those who tag along with uncle soon bound to have some unhappiness. Please do not mistaken I am here to create trouble; I just curious why most of you who engaged Uncle Soon needs to manage your project together with him? I do understand his package is competitive, however I realise the competitive package comes with a price. Most of you who chose Uncle Soon usually ended up spending most of the time "supervising" and "managing" the mistakes rather than the progress of the projects. Project management is no easy feast, and I am very surprised most of you are pretty tolerance to Uncle Soon's style and approach. We all can be understanding and be mindful Uncle Soon is busy and really well-accept/recieve by many forumers here. However, if you think paying 20K SGD and above as well as playing a supervisory role yourself. I would say it is a very bitter pill to swallow. The experience is very bad for project management really exhuast most of your private time, and most importantly affecting your work indirectly. If you are just paying 10k, I would say you deserve it; however this is not the case. Most of you spent almost 20k minimum with Uncle Soon, and this is the type of service rendered. I can only say busy is not an excuse; however those who decided to go with him despite knowing his tight schedule really deserves a spank. With regards to aubrey renovation experience, I can only fully sympathize with your awful experience. Most of the contractors are behaving such, and usually they have several "projects" on a singular day. They got to rush to their timeline, and they usually dun commit unless there is someone "Foreman" or "Supervisor" (Some wld call the project coordinator on site to make the call; coz all jobs/items are chargable). In this scenario, you are the foreman most of the time, supervising them. Hence, these group of contractors regardless electrician or carpenter would not bother with your request, unless you have the paper documentations. 1 piece of advice - whenever you decided what needs to be done/carried out; please get jason/uncle soon to counter sign on that piece of drawing together with yours; to verify and confirm they have read, and understood your intention and idea. I understand this may be too fark up in a sense, however you need to document it black and white; so as they will not chut pattern with you. This is to safeguard yourself against such "busy" contractors/renovators. The many blogs I read, and the countless experience from most of you have somehow and somewhat revealed the quality of service. The service quality rendered is questionable without doubt, though the workmanship is average. I wouldnt say Uncle Soon workmanship is good, nor his design ideas are fabulous. There is still a noticable gap in design knowledge from the professional IDs, however it can be easily offset by the competitive pricing package he offers. However, the level of service rendered is questionable and it is certainly not worth the money. I believe aubrey has suffered mentally and physically running this project management show, and your initial happiness has slowly evolved into pool of unhappiness and doubt. I would strongly advise you to call up Uncle Soon, buy him a tea with a BIG bao sit down together with him spend a good worthy 1-2 hour have a good talk with him. Bring all documents (drawings, specification as well as your Le grand switches set) with you, have an ambicable discussion. Please make sure your discussion will concluded to something; and let him sign on the paper once discussed and confirm. Last but not least, I certianly urge the rest of the people who are keen in engaging Uncle Soon, please think twice before you award the job to him. Uncle soon is afterall a man, not a god. Thanks.