Dream Home, Renovation Nightmare

[zhiz 4]

LAST year’s unexpected property boom has delivered an unwanted side effect: a spike in complaints against renovation contractors.

Already, the Consumers Association of Singapore (Case) has charted a 20 per cent jump in the last year, and it says it expects the situation to worsen further this year.

The rise in complaints came on the back of a spike in resale property purchases, which prop up the renovation business.

Resale transactions for private homes more than quadrupled between the first and third quarters, while those for Housing Board flats went up by 80 per cent.

The number of complaints against renovation contractors rose in tandem, going from 189 in the first quarter of last year to 226 in the third quarter.

Although the final figure for the fourth quarter is not yet available, the number of complaints had hit 832 by the end of November.

Mr Seah Seng Choon, Case’s executive director, said: ‘We expect the number of complaints to increase as the improving economy results in both the number of home purchases going up and more consumers embarking on renovations.’

He said some cases involved contractors who cheated their customers, while others delivered poor quality work.

Whatever the reason, the results were the same: work that fell far short of customers’ expectations.

Among last year’s complaints, a number arose out of contractors promising to use quality materials, but settling for inferior fittings instead.

One complainant’s doors started warping after a week; another had flimsy wardrobe shelving that collapsed shortly after installation.

Other complaints included long delays in renovation, failure to honour contract terms and, in a few cases, contractors making off with their clients’ money midway through the works.

Mr Seah warned that as the renovation business hots up, contractors would stretch whatever resources they have, which may make matters worse.

They will also find it hard to hire and keep their good workers.

‘Because of the high turnover in workers, the skills won’t be there,’ he added.

Air-conditioner installer Brendan Tay said finding skilled workers was part of the problem.

‘The local ones don’t want to do this kind of work any more, and those from China want to go back after earning enough money,’ he said.

But some homeowners feel that contractors are choosing to hire cheap labour rather than pay for skilled workers, with predictable results.

One homeowner, who wanted to be known only as Mr Woo as he is planning legal action against his contractor over a botched job, said: ‘Comparing my latest renovation to the previous one 10 years ago, the quality has really dropped because of cheaper workers from China. Their work is not so good.’

One recent victim is marine manager Michael Chong, who bought a semi-detached house in Seletar Hills and had planned to move in by September last year.

First, his contractor demolished more than what was agreed upon, causing a legal headache for Mr Chong as his permit allowed for only alterations and additions.

Then the project was mired in delays, and the contractor became uncontactable. By then, Mr Chong had already paid out $55,000.

The house remains unfinished. Mr Chong, 50, said he intends to take the contractor to the Small Claims Tribunal.

‘I shouldn’t have trusted him so much,’ he said.

Case’s Mr Seah noted that the renovation business has consistently been among the industries attracting the most complaints.

Hoodwinked homeowners interviewed by The Straits Times called for tighter legislation, such as requiring renovation contracts to follow a basic template and drawing up a blacklist of dishonest contractors.

But Mr Seah said: ‘Regulation will not stop people from shutting down and popping up under another name.

‘At the end of the day, it must be the consumer who ensures the contractor complies with requirements.’

Source : Straits Times – 7 Jan 2010

[Echo 0]

I'm first time doing renovation, somewhere in Aug 09, without checking the price and read the forum, I sign the contract with ID at EXPO hall, and paid $1000 deposit. After that, I start to do research and ask for another ID quote and realise the price quoted to me was on high side. But since I don't want to lose out the deposit and ID promise their services so I carry on with the ID, but had withdrew certain items and engage air con, electrical, laminate flooring contractors myself.

When renovation started 7 Jan 10, there was briefing with ID and my contractor, ID was late for half an hour, it seems they are not interested and take lightly on the job. And the manager who signed the contract with me did not turn up since my reno start, only his designer who is doing the co-ordinate work, and he seems a lot of things un-sure, even procedures of work flow also kock up, and I have to remind him, since the manager had brief me earlier on, and I did some reading on reno forum. The work arrangement was really a horrifying, last week ,work on Mon to Thur, Fri and Sat no work done at all, this week also the same! installation of cornice delay for 3 days, painting delay for another 3 day, and had to keep on reminding him on what to do. Seldom see him come up supervise the job, and can't give advice and solution when the job cannot be done as planned, only ask for amendment and top up! what a terrible ID I'm engage! thousands of regaret, not only high price and lousy services. I would rather do my co-ordination myself which I did for air con, electrical, flooring and ceiling work.

[zhiz 4]

which company?

[bigeyedfish 0]

Share the company's name. I think this kind of companies are just unscrupulous. Ultimately, they're still being paid and making profits. I took electrical works and painting out of my original quotation too, after I've signed it. Glad that the reno co I contracted was ok with it and the site manager even helped to coordinate certain things with my electrician/ painter.

[samdolmat 0]

I'm first time doing renovation, somewhere in Aug 09, without checking the price and read the forum, I sign the contract with ID at EXPO hall, and paid $1000 deposit. After that, I start to do research and ask for another ID quote and realise the price quoted to me was on high side. But since I don't want to lose out the deposit and ID promise their services so I carry on with the ID, but had withdrew certain items and engage air con, electrical, laminate flooring contractors myself.

When renovation started 7 Jan 10, there was briefing with ID and my contractor, ID was late for half an hour, it seems they are not interested and take lightly on the job. And the manager who signed the contract with me did not turn up since my reno start, only his designer who is doing the co-ordinate work, and he seems a lot of things un-sure, even procedures of work flow also kock up, and I have to remind him, since the manager had brief me earlier on, and I did some reading on reno forum. The work arrangement was really a horrifying, last week ,work on Mon to Thur, Fri and Sat no work done at all, this week also the same! installation of cornice delay for 3 days, painting delay for another 3 day, and had to keep on reminding him on what to do. Seldom see him come up supervise the job, and can't give advice and solution when the job cannot be done as planned, only ask for amendment and top up! what a terrible ID I'm engage! thousands of regaret, not only high price and lousy services. I would rather do my co-ordination myself which I did for air con, electrical, flooring and ceiling work.

ya please tell us the company name... so that this kind of company is banned for life

[kruncho 0]

I guess the poster disappeared.