Confused!

[jackng1982 0]

Ok i've been reading RenoTalk daily but there's still some stuff i'm pretty confused about. Let's go with the perpective i'm going with a renovations contractor instead of ID.

1. I see some you talking about buying parts like switches, sinks, taps etc. This is factored as additional costing on top of the contractor's work?

2. How is the actual flow of work? Let's say you walk into a Renovations firm with a floor plan and get a quotation on whatever is to be done. Are those inclusive of materials? What happens next?

I'm sorry for being a noob and if this has been posted countless times but i've been filtering through posts and the mroe i read the more confused i'm getting :/

[zirhk3355 1]

1. Sinks, taps, etc are considered toilet fittings and usually not included in the quotation because the owner tend to want to choose the brands/designs. But for electrical switches, some electrician will include it.

2. Usually the fittings will include materials. Eg quotation for built-in wardrobe will be inclusive of the wood, laminate, glue, etc other materials. Things like waterproofing, cement, grouting, etc usually won't be charged separately too.

As a general guide, items that does not require you to choose the brand/design will be included, unless otherwise stated. A standard quotation for full renovation will always include EVERYTHING except:

a. toilet fittings,

b. curtains,

c. lightings,

d. electrical appliances like washer/dryer/aircon/microwave/oven, etc.,

e. furnishings like sofa, dining table, beds, etc.

All above would add to your additional costs on top of the renovation itself.

Edited May 21, 2008 by zirhk3355

[jackng1982 0]

Thanks alot zirhk for clarifying this, now i can get better picture i feel my headache subsiding lolx.

[yokine9a 1]

Can I add something to qtn 1?

The switches in my contractor's quotation are those plain and simple switches used by HDB in the old days. I wanted some better-looking ones, so I told him I wanted those rocker switches. He said that would be extra charge as he could only afford cheaper ones in his quote. He went to Choo Chiang and bought what I wanted. He passed me the invoice from Choo Chiang and I just needed to pay him for those switches. Some IDs do mark up a bit if you want them to buy other switches not listed in his quote since he needs to spend time and petrol to do the buying work or go thru his supplier for the stock.

The truth is, if you go thru a middleman, you always have to pay more for the same piece of item. Hence, some owners here take the trouble to run around Jalan Besar and buy stuff that they need for their flat, without going thru their IDs/contractors.

[hihihi 0]

Yup. Just to add.

In renovation, all prices u see in shops are all FAKE prices. All had already been marked up artificially: sink, hobs, tiles, taps, lights... etc etc. Partly is to deter competitor checking out your price and under-cut you.

Basically when u really wanna buy, then u can start to negotiate for a lower price. If any shop simple say u pay the price displayed on the price tag, don't waste your time, simply goto next available shop.

That's why home-owner tend to go shopping for their own stuff to cut off the middleman (i.e Contractor, ID).

[h4happy 1]

Yes, be wary of 'Contractor Price' and 'Walk in Price', drastic different.

Yup. Just to add.

In renovation, all prices u see in shops are all FAKE prices. All had already been marked up artificially: sink, hobs, tiles, taps, lights... etc etc. Partly is to deter competitor checking out your price and under-cut you.

Basically when u really wanna buy, then u can start to negotiate for a lower price. If any shop simple say u pay the price displayed on the price tag, don't waste your time, simply goto next available shop.

That's why home-owner tend to go shopping for their own stuff to cut off the middleman (i.e Contractor, ID).