First Home: Project Reno

[chocolatechipmuffin 0]

Update on my reno:

14th nov:

Went down to my hse to supervise the remaining work to be done as per ID's request. Was told by my ID that the people coming to fix the aircon trunking problem would be there between 9-10am. I was there at 9am. They came at 10.30am. nevermind. at least this time all the holes underneath the trunking were sealed properly.

called my id at abt 11pm after the aircon guys left to ask when the electrician/plumbers were coming. told me 'after 1pm' initially. After I asked for a more specific time, he said '1-4pm'. After I made more noise, he followed up with saying that i can go off first & he'd call me when the next batch of workers arrived. Good thing I didn't listen to him. The painter came at abt 11.20, electrician soon after. No one called me. Pointed out all the outstanding. Only a good 1-2hrs later does the ID call me to tell me the workers are there already. I tell him I'm already there.

Tilers came next to fix the grouting problem. I pointed out some chips to them & they echoed my ID's past words, saying that the tiles were too close to the door frame + solid surface, so might damage them, should not change. So I said fine. They settled the grouting & left.

I carried on supervising & even plastered some of the dents & uneveness in the walls on my own while waiting for other workers to arrive. At 4pm, my ID comes in, asks me if the workers have done the work so far & does a general walkabout. He asks me if everything is to my satisfaction, I said ok la, just that some of the defects still existant, we'll negotiate a sum to take off the bill coz I consider them to be shoddy work. He gets angsty. Asks me 'take out how much?'. I told him i don't know, but will be happy to discuss it with him/his boss. He asks what I'm not happy with & I point him the chipped tiles. He asks if I don't accept it. I said I will, because changing it might damage other things, but they are still considered a defect, which is why I want to negotiate a sum to take off the bills. He then says that it means I dont accept it. He then calls the tilers to come back. The tilers come back, & he tells them to change the chipped tiles. They are not happy, and I tell mike that if changing the tiles will damage other things, I do not want them changed. I don't get an answer from him regarding my concern. He just tells the tiler to change the tiles. And lo & behold- after alot of dust & work on the tiler's part. all the tiles which had chips, and which i was previously told could not be changed due to potential damage to other things were changed- without any apparant damage to either the kitchen solid surface of my toilet door frame (chiped tiles were very close to them)

At about 5pm, the ID leaves. during which time the plumber back to fix up the sink at my vanity. He takes a look & asks if I'm expecting a mirror. I said yes. He says then the mirror has to go up before the plumbing as it will not be able to be fixed up once the sink is up. I call the ID to tell him. He asks to speak to the plumber. I put the plumber on loudspeaker as his hands are dirty. ID swears for abit, then gives instruction for the plumber to do the periphery works first. Ends with him telling the plumber that the homeowner (me) is 'tamade sibei ngiao'. the plumber looks at me apologetically. i just stare at him & shake my head slightly.

wow. i have been supervising for the whole day, he just rocks up for less than an hr & he calls me names? granted he doesn't know i'm listening into the conversation (though i thought he knew), but the fact that he thinks I am NGIAO with all the defects in the house is AMAZING to me. i am still wonderimg whether he would take all the defects as is if he was the owner of my house. rusty nails on taps, chips on tiles, grouting out, aircon trunking holes 'fixed' with masking tape. Does he REALLY think it's ok?? If so, maybe then that's just his standard of reno. just my luck loh.

ID rocks up again at my home at about 5.25pm. I ask him what's the deal with the vanity & he said it will be done tomorrow. I go home at abt 6.30- the tilers & ID are still there. ID promises to clean up my home due to the dust that's ballooned due to the tiles having to be changed.

15nov- saturday:

i get a call in the afternoon saying that there's been an accident. the guy who fixed the mirror dropped it, and the mirror broke. he was injured & would need to be taken to the hospital for stitches. Luckily the guy is fine. However, my vanity top broke as a result. it will have to be replaced. my reno is moved for the 4th time. I ask the ID how long it will take to replace as i have furniture coming in the next wk. He says he will get back to me. He promises to get someone to clean out the extremely dusty house the next day as well. He doesn't get back to me on the schedule of work for the next wk. Kena smoked.

16th Nov- sunday:

I call the ID at 12.15pm to check what time his workers will come in to clean up the mess. He says by 3pm they will be there. We go to our home at 10pm to check out our home. It's still in a mess with dust everywhere. ID smoked us yet again. bf & i removed the large pieces of broken glass sitting outside our gate as we deemed it a hazard to others. I write yet an email documenting everything that needs to be done to him. cc'ing the * interior enquiry line. No respose as usual.

17th nov- monday:

try to contact ID to get a picture of the timeline. no sound despite repeated sms's. when i manage to get him, says he will get back to me 'later'. 'later' does not happen.

18th nov- tues:

finally managed to get ID on the phone. he tells me the pending works will be done by saturday 22nd nov, but that he's unable to give me a schedule on when things will be done as the contractors will only tell him on the friday night (21st nov) because that is how they operate. i am obviously dubious & ask if his contractors are lying to him about not being able to give a set timing. i then ask why if * is the one who hires these contractors that they are not willing to coordinate in a better fashion. am told that it is the way things are done. i smell a **** smelly fish, but accept it as i am tired of trying to reason with my ID.

20th Nov-thurs:

Decided to put everything that's gone on so far in writing so I have proof should I need to complain to CASE/ get a lawyer to settle for me. I again write out a list of what has been corresponded between my ID & myself in email format & send it to my id's email, cc'ing the * enquiry email at about noon. i ask that he give a better schedule to me before 'night time' tomorrow so that I can make time to supervise the work again (by this time, i know that its probably the fastest way to get anything done- to be there & literally watch while they're doing the work & point out stuff that should/should not be done.) Miraculously i get a sms response from my ID at about 10pm telling me that all of the workers can complete the work the next day and if I wanted that. I said ok. Will take time off work again to supervise.

21st Nov- fri:

supervised all the work with my bf. big sigh of relief after the last worker left.

22nd nov- sat:

started cleaning up the hse. found more defects. started taking more pictures.

23rd nov- sunday

got an sms from the ID asking me when I want to settle the balance of the payments. i msg back with a list of new defects that i found after giving the home a good wipe down. asks him when he wants to settle them first? get no answer. i decide to do the email route again. compiled the pictures of defects and put a written description on the location & type of defect found. Asked when the defects will be settled. Predictability, I didn't get an answer

24th-27th nov (mon-fri)

continuous sms's & calls to ID. He does not return my sms's or my calls on when the remaining defects wil be done. I give up. tried to do some diy work by plastering up some of the groutings that were exposed & carried some of the large piles of debris outside our gate to the refuse centre downstairs. Wrote a last email on 27th Nov detailing what happend. cc'ed the same * enquiries email. Gave them a final deadline of 5th Dec to make good all defects. Wait.

28th Nov:

Got a call from Mr. Aclester Lin. Says he's the finance director of *. Asks whether I have been having problems as he's noticed that my reno has gone on for longer than usual and that I have not paid up. I air my grouses. He listens & apologises for his ID's behaviour. After some conversation, he tells me he has actually already seen the emails that I have sent & that he agrees that the defects should be rectified. He also tells me that he knows of my forum postings on renotalk (THANK YOU RENOTALK!) and that he hopes that my blog will turn positive if he is able to successfully close my reno chapter smoothly for me. He promised that my present ID will no longer be involved in my home reno (he will), and that he will do his best to resolve all outstanding problems. We are meeting at my home on 2nd Dec to go through whatever is outstanding. I see a potential light at the end of the tunnel.

And for the nth time, I can't wait for my reno to end. it's been too long a road.

Edited November 30, 2008 by chocolatechipmuffin

[Angel81 1]

Wao... I hope that ur ID gets a good knock on the head for all his nonsense. Great to hear that some1 else will handle ur reno from now on. Hope tat ur reno is smooth sailing for the rest of the journey.

[tower 0]

Better for ur ID to wake up before he gets FIRED the following day for such "BIG F**K" attitude. That's why I say that Big ID companies doesn't mean good service. It's thru recommendation and viewing of those completed units that he has done, then u have clearer resolution who to choose as ur ID.

[pinkpetter 0]

YAY posting here has done you some good!!!!

Actually I approached * before and they even went to my house before to take measurements and finalise the quotations But when I saw your blog... I emailed them the URL and told them I don't want anymore.

I'm really glad that things will be rectified for you soon. That Mike is REALLY horrible.

[alan26 2]

YAY posting here has done you some good!!!!

Actually I approached * before and they even went to my house before to take measurements and finalise the quotations But when I saw your blog... I emailed them the URL and told them I don't want anymore.

I'm really glad that things will be rectified for you soon. That Mike is REALLY horrible.

Lucky I didn't went to * for quotation. But the ID Mike attitude is really too jialat liao.

Now their name become stinks liao

[Angel81 1]

YAY posting here has done you some good!!!!

Actually I approached * before and they even went to my house before to take measurements and finalise the quotations But when I saw your blog... I emailed them the URL and told them I don't want anymore.

I'm really glad that things will be rectified for you soon. That Mike is REALLY horrible.

Yupz, same here. My hb and I went to Weiken @ Tradehub to look through a quotation, and my hb saw NW. He asked how come we didn't go and try NW, and I told him about the bad reviews.

Renovation should be a very happy time, cuz it's dressing up our home the way we like it. But such terrible IDs sour the mood. At least the pblms are gg to be rectified and everything will be nice nice.

Edited December 1, 2008 by Angel81

[chocolatechipmuffin 0]

Hey guys,

Yeah.. you're right- the fact that NW's finance director is taking the time to focus on my reno is to me at least tells me that he is taking this seriously. and i am really thankful that someone from NW is at least showing some concern & agreeing with me that the defects that i've highlighted ARE unacceptable.

i think i definitely agree in that the ID definitely makes your reno what it's gonna be...

since Aclester is promising to resolve all the existing problems for me, i will definitely keep my end of the bargain & blog about how good their follow up service is if they do as they promise. as i told aclester- my reno t blog started out being positive about NW, & was also positive about my ID too. i would never have wanted to air any grouses on this blog if i had my way. if i had my way, i'd be posting pretty pictures of my home & waxing lyrical about my amazing experience with the ID! i'm not a negative person to begin with ma

anyways-- hopefully now that my id is no longer handling my reno, i will have a much better & pleasant experience with NW.

will keep you guys posted.

Yupz, same here. My hb and I went to Weiken @ Tradehub to look through a quotation, and my hb saw NW. He asked how come we didn't go and try NW, and I told him about the bad reviews.

Renovation should be a very happy time, cuz it's dressing up our home the way we like it. But such terrible IDs sour the mood. At least the pblms are gg to be rectified and everything will be nice nice.

[alan26 2]

After reading chocolatechipmuffin blog, i'm gonna put them in my barred list.

Let all my friends, colleague and relatives see this thread.

Then they lagi jialat liao.

[pinkpetter 0]

Hey guys,

Yeah.. you're right- the fact that NW's finance director is taking the time to focus on my reno is to me at least tells me that he is taking this seriously. and i am really thankful that someone from NW is at least showing some concern & agreeing with me that the defects that i've highlighted ARE unacceptable.

i think i definitely agree in that the ID definitely makes your reno what it's gonna be...

since Aclester is promising to resolve all the existing problems for me, i will definitely keep my end of the bargain & blog about how good their follow up service is if they do as they promise. as i told aclester- my reno t blog started out being positive about NW, & was also positive about my ID too. i would never have wanted to air any grouses on this blog if i had my way. if i had my way, i'd be posting pretty pictures of my home & waxing lyrical about my amazing experience with the ID! i'm not a negative person to begin with ma

anyways-- hopefully now that my id is no longer handling my reno, i will have a much better & pleasant experience with NW.

will keep you guys posted.

Exactly.. no one wants to be unhappy one hor. everyone also hope for a good and happy reno experience one. *keeping fingers crossed for you!*

[chocolatechipmuffin 0]

thank you all so much for your good wishes!

am looking forward to meeting aclester today to see how he can help. the problem is most of my furniture+ electronics is in already, so i'm hoping for a solution that will not involve me taking everything out again.

will keep everyone informed!

Exactly.. no one wants to be unhappy one hor. everyone also hope for a good and happy reno experience one. *keeping fingers crossed for you!*

[alan26 2]

Aclester, How's yesterday meeting going? How they intend to solve?

[chocolatechipmuffin 0]

updates:

2nd Dec- tuesday

Met with NW's finance director- Mr Aclester at 4pm in the afternoon. He's on time & seems quite nice. I take him through the various defects in my hse & after inspection, he tells me it can all be resolved.

my sink with a dent & deep scratch will be changed. he will try to clean the dirty tiles, failing which, he will change them. he will get someone to patch all the scratches on my window frames. he will get someone to clean out the strange white patches on my wardrobe, failing which he will change the laminate completely. my stained kitchen hood will be cleaned.

he also tells me actually they are all easily resolved problems. in fact, he says can probably settle everything in a day. at most 2 days. i tell him abt the 2 times that i had to supervise the hse. he say he gave my ex-ID a good talking to abt that, and that it definitely should not have been allowed. he seemed quite indignant when i told him tt i was called names. we agree that the rectification work will be done next wk on tuesday. i am a tentatively happy & definitely hopeful person. what a difference a person makes.

3rd Dec- wed. today:

my tv is delivered. but got no signal! courts guy tells me that my reception is not there, but that he's set all the channels. tell me to check with hdb/starhub.

i call hdb & they send a guy down to take a look. he is disgruntled coz he finds out the problem & is 'not his problem.' he tells me that my contractor did not connect the cables in my home to the tv cables at all, and that i wasted his time. says the connection from the main cable outside my hse is perfect. no problem. not his problem to begin with. grumpy old fart. he tells me to call my contractor to settle the problem.

one point against my ex-ID again.

i call Aclester to tell him about the new defect. He tells me he'll send his guys down on friday to fix the problem. one point for Aclester for being responsive.

Edited December 3, 2008 by chocolatechipmuffin

[pinkpetter 0]

Feel happy that someone is actually looking into everything for you.

I think as homeowners all we want is to be heard and a nice home to move into... Spend so much money also want things to be fuss free...

I really do hope this guy will resolve everything for you and we'll have nice pictures to look at!!!

[CybNoX 0]

yea! may this be the beginning of the end of ur previous unhappiness!

[rdnest 0]

OMG!! U hv gone thru so much!

Glad tt it is turning for the better now.

Keep us updated, k?

Pictures pictures