New Condo

[newSGPCondo 0]

Hi All,

I bite the bullet and bought an expensive 3+1+patio condo in the heart of the city. This is an old place with 2700sqft. The inside is still original condition and now I need to renovate. However, I have no idea how much it would cost me, so your help would be greatly appreciated.

Here are some of the details:

- Living+dining ~ 1000 sqft

- Kitchen ~ 400 sqft

- 2 bathrooms

- 3 rooms

It is a 2 floor unit.

I have the following in mind:

- Hack the living room floor and change it with marble

- hack the bathrooms and change to a better design with marble and quality furnishings

- hack the kitchen wall and replace it with glass sliding door

- redo the kitchen completely (tiles and carpentry)

- Buy new appliances

- get new wardrobes done for the rooms (walk in for the master, rest is per normal)

- change the doors if necessary

- paint the whole house and also polish upstairs

- add a guard for the stairs (stairs are ok but definitely a guard is needed because of the kids)

I have couple of questions:

- Do you think I need an ID firm, I like to avoid them as I want really simple design. Nothing fancy.

- In terms of contractors, which ones do you recommend for this type of job

- What type of budget I should allocate (I know there is no end to this, but I am thinking of doing a nice job but not necessarily very expensive). The quality I desire would be similar to high end condos but not necessarily the top end ones.

Please let me know your thoughts.

Thx

B.

[sohck 0]

Hi All,

I bite the bullet and bought an expensive 3+1+patio condo in the heart of the city. This is an old place with 2700sqft. The inside is still original condition and now I need to renovate. However, I have no idea how much it would cost me, so your help would be greatly appreciated.

Here are some of the details:

- Living+dining ~ 1000 sqft

- Kitchen ~ 400 sqft

- 2 bathrooms

- 3 rooms

It is a 2 floor unit.

I have the following in mind:

- Hack the living room floor and change it with marble

- hack the bathrooms and change to a better design with marble and quality furnishings

- hack the kitchen wall and replace it with glass sliding door

- redo the kitchen completely (tiles and carpentry)

- Buy new appliances

- get new wardrobes done for the rooms (walk in for the master, rest is per normal)

- change the doors if necessary

- paint the whole house and also polish upstairs

- add a guard for the stairs (stairs are ok but definitely a guard is needed because of the kids)

I have couple of questions:

- Do you think I need an ID firm, I like to avoid them as I want really simple design. Nothing fancy.

- In terms of contractors, which ones do you recommend for this type of job

- What type of budget I should allocate (I know there is no end to this, but I am thinking of doing a nice job but not necessarily very expensive). The quality I desire would be similar to high end condos but not necessarily the top end ones.

Please let me know your thoughts.

Thx

B.

I suggest you get a couple of quotations from IDs and contractors. Get a few, at least 5 or 6, so that you will have a feel of the pricing (some will quote extremely high, some extremely low). You can also find the delta you have to pay between IDs and contractors to decide if it is worthwhile going with an ID / contractor.

You can find out some of the popular IDs / contractors by browsing through this forum.

Hope that help.

[faith_lim 0]

I suggest you should look for ID for the renovation of your place. Don't look for ID firms which participate in the exhibitions held in Singapore Expo, as they are eager to press you for signing up with them. As for the price they quote is not really cheap. The ID firms need to pay a huge sum of money to participate in the exhibitions and also to furnish their exhibition booth. Don't look for ID firms which have big showroom and branches too. Where do you think the money comes from?

Don't ever think of gettting a contractor to renovate your place. Contractor's price is really cheap compared to ID firm. Contractors only care about making money but they are mostly irresponsible. They don't bother about designs, they will propose you stuffs which are no different from neighbourhood furniture shops. Their prices are slightly lower than ID firms. Contractors to do renovation is a big NO NO!

Since you have spent so much money in getting yourself a condo. Why don't you consider spending money on interior designer who could make your place look grand and cosy? Don't ever think of getting a contractor to renovate your place, eventhough their prices is lower and you want simple designs. Don't ever let your place have the chance to turn out to be cheapo and a pain to stay in.

In short, a good designer is one who put himself/herself into the shoes of the house owner.

PM me if you need a patient, detailed and reliable interior designer.

[jaskel 2]

I suggest you should look for ID for the renovation of your place. Don't look for ID firms which participate in the exhibitions held in Singapore Expo, as they are eager to press you for signing up with them. As for the price they quote is not really cheap. The ID firms need to pay a huge sum of money to participate in the exhibitions and also to furnish their exhibition booth. Don't look for ID firms which have big showroom and branches too. Where do you think the money comes from?

Don't ever think of gettting a contractor to renovate your place. Contractor's price is really cheap compared to ID firm. Contractors only care about making money but they are mostly irresponsible. They don't bother about designs, they will propose you stuffs which are no different from neighbourhood furniture shops. Their prices are slightly lower than ID firms. Contractors to do renovation is a big NO NO!

Since you have spent so much money in getting yourself a condo. Why don't you consider spending money on interior designer who could make your place look grand and cosy? Don't ever think of getting a contractor to renovate your place, eventhough their prices is lower and you want simple designs. Don't ever let your place have the chance to turn out to be cheapo and a pain to stay in.

In short, a good designer is one who put himself/herself into the shoes of the house owner.

PM me if you need a patient, detailed and reliable interior designer.

I don't really agree with you that all contractors unable to do up a good job. I feel that my contractor had done up a good job for my penthouse condo and is responsible too. There are also a few recommended good contractors in this forum too.

[tsubomi 0]

i think the guy above is just trying to promote ID. maybe he's an ID himself.

I have been visiting contractors and ID..i feel that for conventional 'nothing fancy' design, a contractor should be reliable enough to do the job.

I myself am still deciding between ID and contractor...

But if you are looking for high end design, sounds like ID is more suitable for you...

[faith_lim 0]

I swear to GOD. I'm just giving my opinion, not promoting anything. Neither am I an interior designer.

These are all my experience when I accompanied my sis and mom for quotation regarding about their house renovation. My mom signed up with contractor as the price is cheap. Design and materials used, overall turn out to be cheapo. But luckily, my mom's house is HDB flat so still not so bad. Renovation period is chaotic, rubbish and other materials lying everywhere. The contractors also smoke as they are working. Contact the contractors for touch up of some areas, they always said that they are not free to drop by. If not, they will said ok, but didn't turn up.

As for my sis, she signed up with an interior designer recommended by her friend. This interior designer is so detailed, she will give suggestions and voice out if the things which my sis wanted is out of the design or porportion. On site measurement, the interior designer also pointed out things to take note or needed for the previous owner to touch up before the commencement of renovation. Some walls and ceiling have stains on them, the interior designer commended that they are stain marks of water/rain leaking in. The previous owner is so smart, he painted the affected areas with thick, fresh coat of paint to cover up. Luckily, my sis's interior designer pointed out the problems. Can you imaging how bad it will be if it's discover after the renovation. The materials and rubbish are on the floor in a orderly manner. The workers also clear the rubbish at the end of the day of work. They also smoke, but they smoke at the yard area and throw their cigarette butts in the rubbish bag.

See ... You guys can't blame me for praising the interior designer for doing such a good job.

[jaskel 2]

I swear to GOD. I'm just giving my opinion, not promoting anything. Neither am I an interior designer.

These are all my experience when I accompanied my sis and mom for quotation regarding about their house renovation. My mom signed up with contractor as the price is cheap. Design and materials used, overall turn out to be cheapo. But luckily, my mom's house is HDB flat so still not so bad. Renovation period is chaotic, rubbish and other materials lying everywhere. The contractors also smoke as they are working. Contact the contractors for touch up of some areas, they always said that they are not free to drop by. If not, they will said ok, but didn't turn up.

As for my sis, she signed up with an interior designer recommended by her friend. This interior designer is so detailed, she will give suggestions and voice out if the things which my sis wanted is out of the design or porportion. On site measurement, the interior designer also pointed out things to take note or needed for the previous owner to touch up before the commencement of renovation. Some walls and ceiling have stains on them, the interior designer commended that they are stain marks of water/rain leaking in. The previous owner is so smart, he painted the affected areas with thick, fresh coat of paint to cover up. Luckily, my sis's interior designer pointed out the problems. Can you imaging how bad it will be if it's discover after the renovation. The materials and rubbish are on the floor in a orderly manner. The workers also clear the rubbish at the end of the day of work. They also smoke, but they smoke at the yard area and throw their cigarette butts in the rubbish bag.

See ... You guys can't blame me for praising the interior designer for doing such a good job.

So should I also praise my contractor that can do what your sis's ID had done? Or maybe my contractor is even better than your sis's ID you mentioned as she had done more than that.

Feel that you shouldn't condemn on all the contractors just because of an incident. What bout those owners having problem with ID? Don't seem them condemn on all the IDs in Singapore. Hope u can be more open minded and fair to those good contractors. And seriously, there are good contractors, bad contractors, good IDs, bad IDs....beside from word of mouths, luck also play a part.

Edited June 21, 2009 by jaskel

[Kartell 0]

So should I also praise my contractor that can do what your sis's ID had done? Or maybe my contractor is even better than your sis's ID you mentioned as she had done more than that.

Feel that you shouldn't condemn on all the contractors just because of an incident. What bout those owners having problem with ID? Don't seem them condemn on all the IDs in Singapore. Hope u can be more open minded and fair to those good contractors. And seriously, there are good contractors, bad contractors, good IDs, bad IDs....beside from word of mouths, luck also play a part.

I agree with jaskel, there is lot of good and bad ID, same goes to contractors, you just need to select the right one.....

I personally would prefer the individual specialist to do their best at ...like wardrobe specialist, lighting shop electrician, outdoor wood decking...etc

[davidfung 0]

Hi All,

I bite the bullet and bought an expensive 3+1+patio condo in the heart of the city. This is an old place with 2700sqft. The inside is still original condition and now I need to renovate. However, I have no idea how much it would cost me, so your help would be greatly appreciated.

Here are some of the details:

- Living+dining ~ 1000 sqft

- Kitchen ~ 400 sqft

- 2 bathrooms

- 3 rooms

It is a 2 floor unit.

I have the following in mind:

- Hack the living room floor and change it with marble

- hack the bathrooms and change to a better design with marble and quality furnishings

- hack the kitchen wall and replace it with glass sliding door

- redo the kitchen completely (tiles and carpentry)

- Buy new appliances

- get new wardrobes done for the rooms (walk in for the master, rest is per normal)

- change the doors if necessary

- paint the whole house and also polish upstairs

- add a guard for the stairs (stairs are ok but definitely a guard is needed because of the kids)

I have couple of questions:

- Do you think I need an ID firm, I like to avoid them as I want really simple design. Nothing fancy.

- In terms of contractors, which ones do you recommend for this type of job

- What type of budget I should allocate (I know there is no end to this, but I am thinking of doing a nice job but not necessarily very expensive). The quality I desire would be similar to high end condos but not necessarily the top end ones.

Please let me know your thoughts.

Thx

B.

hihi.. congrats on getting ur new nest... i understand that u need to redo ur kitchen and ur toilet.... i'm currently doing corian solid surfaces and i wonder if u are interested in doing ur kitchen top and vanity top with corian surfaces... maybe i can meet up with u for a non obligated talk and let me have a chance to show u my products and design....

thank you

[soduku 0]

hihi.. congrats on getting ur new nest... i understand that u need to redo ur kitchen and ur toilet.... i'm currently doing corian solid surfaces and i wonder if u are interested in doing ur kitchen top and vanity top with corian surfaces... maybe i can meet up with u for a non obligated talk and let me have a chance to show u my products and design....

thank you

Hw much is pfr?