SL76

I tried Home Vista before, ID is Martin. He pours zany ideas and thinks out of the box. To me, he seems to like challenges, and doesn't cookie-cut. On the other hand, I fired my ID from Rezt & Relax. Poor attitude, and very dishonest. Before I even got my keys, she posted the 3D drawings of my apartment on her profile on Rezt & Relax without my permission, and claimed it was completed at half the price and half the time on my quotation, obviously to deceive people and to give a false impression. The 3D drawings were never once on time (you have to ask for it after due date). Prices of add-ons had been jacked up on final quotation vs the one on Day 1. I have since found another ID, at half their price. I have lost complete faith in mega size ID firms, like R&R, because they seem very topline driven at the expense of creative works. The smaller ones seem hungrier for business and are more passionate about creative designing. Just my two cents worth, and sharing of experience.

Just to share my recent experience with R&R. Signed up with them at an Expo exhibition, with ID Angel** W**g. On the spot, she gave a quotation of what I had required, and even signed a piece of paper stating that the prices of my add-ons will not change with time. Months later after a few rounds of revision, I compared the latest quotation with that piece of paper, the add-on item prices had been jacked up (she probably thought I don't check). Then she was never available on weekends to meet, kinda questionable when I tried to even book her in advance. On one occasion, I asked if she was too busy for me. She replied she was 'waiting for another customer to reply' first - concluded that I wasn't 'on par' with her other clients, maybe theirs was a bungalow? Then the 3D drawings never once came on time, I had to constantly give her a reminder past deadline to ask for it. Her creativity was only so-so, very run-of-the-mill type. Then without seeking my permission, she posted the 3D drawings of my apartment on her R&R profile as a completed job, costing only $20K taking a total of 3 weeks to complete. Today, I have not even been issued my keys, and her then b&w quotation to me was $50K, with estimated 8 weeks renovation time. This is tantamount to pure dishonesty and deceit to consumers. When I called up R&R to lodge a complain, I could only reach as far to the company's personal assistant. No official apology was ever given by R&R management. Since then, I had met up 5 other ID firms for a quote with same specs. They responded with prices half of what Angel** W**g had quoted, and with unique designs. IMO, large commercialized firms tend to be topline driven with less creative juices. Most of their ideas are just 'copy and paste' from previous jobs. In fact, one of the concept images that Angel** W**g had presented to me, was an original job done by my current ID. Through my experience with these other ID firms, I feel smaller firms are hungrier for business, more customer-focused, and definitely full of creativity and zany ideas. Never mind lifetime warranties - if my TV console should ever fall apart, I should be concerned about the workmanship of that ID firm rather than the free patchwork!