The Best Journey Always Leads Us Home

[Ely1 0]

@friends78: Your 3D designs are very cool indeed! Did your ID come up with the ideas or did he/she simply follow your direction? Really looking forward to seeing how it all turns out, and I hope it runs smoothly for you!

@creatrixnator: Thank you! Will make the very far trip to IMM to check!

[El LoCo 3]

Nice spacious place! btw which ID did u choose? What the quotation like?

[El LoCo 3]

How many ID did u visited? also 55?

[friends78 0]

@friends78: Your 3D designs are very cool indeed! Did your ID come up with the ideas or did he/she simply follow your direction? Really looking forward to seeing how it all turns out, and I hope it runs smoothly for you!

Henry didn't do much spac planning for us. Cos prior b4 meeting him, my FM has already indicated the respective placement of the major items for the hse. We just told him here must put what and the colours to avoid for the rooms. As for the designs of the carpentry works, it's all Henry's ideas. I also praying my reno to be smooth as I need to move in by Mar 29...If not, the next available good date will be in May.... Your hse is so spacious... Envy

[Ely1 0]

How many ID did u visited? also 55?

Haha! No. Like I mentioned, very, very few IDs actually replied to me. I was quite upset that no one wanted to take on our project even though we were quite open to budget suggestions. Actually only met 3 - one was perpetually late (like 2.5hrs late each time! Managed to polish off an entire bottle of wine before the ID arrived, and would go home dog-tired after midnight) and I felt that was the deal breaker for me; another was strangely elusive and only spoke of life philosophies (no discussion of the house AT ALL) and gave me a ballpark quote of 100k without even working on it and no follow-up; we simply picked the last because he seemed reliable and openly honest, and we didn't have the time to go make appointments with more. (Do I dare mention the name?). His quotation was rather reasonable (abt 50k)and was very accomodating to our cost-saving by supplying some materials ourselves, but he's juggling several projects at a time and too busy to give us some undivided direction, which we sorely need as we're sooo new to this.

Now we're facing a little trouble, as we don't have a design and trying to work on a day-to-day basis is rather stressful for us, especially when pressed to make decisions like lighting points when we have no idea how/where something is going to be, or how much of a wall to hack because today is last day of hacking, etc. We're trying to be as fair as we can to our ID, but still expect some form of direction.

Is it normal to proceed with works without a 3D design and a project schedule or a discussion of it?

[froggy 0]

Haha! No. Like I mentioned, very, very few IDs actually replied to me. I was quite upset that no one wanted to take on our project even though we were quite open to budget suggestions. Actually only met 3 - one was perpetually late (like 2.5hrs late each time! Managed to polish off an entire bottle of wine before the ID arrived, and would go home dog-tired after midnight) and I felt that was the deal breaker for me; another was strangely elusive and only spoke of life philosophies (no discussion of the house AT ALL) and gave me a ballpark quote of 100k without even working on it and no follow-up; we simply picked the last because he seemed reliable and openly honest, and we didn't have the time to go make appointments with more. (Do I dare mention the name?). His quotation was rather reasonable (abt 50k)and was very accomodating to our cost-saving by supplying some materials ourselves, but he's juggling several projects at a time and too busy to give us some undivided direction, which we sorely need as we're sooo new to this.

Now we're facing a little trouble, as we don't have a design and trying to work on a day-to-day basis is rather stressful for us, especially when pressed to make decisions like lighting points when we have no idea how/where something is going to be, or how much of a wall to hack because today is last day of hacking, etc. We're trying to be as fair as we can to our ID, but still expect some form of direction.

Is it normal to proceed with works without a 3D design and a project schedule or a discussion of it?

Before reno works starts proper, we had a very detailed discussion with contractor on what we wanted. Our 3D was very simple, but we have pencil sketches of ceiling works, position of lighting points etc. Though we have not spelt out the detailed interior of the carpentry works, the exterior skeleton and measurements are all made. At least this was how the quotation was derived. Just curious how did you arrive at the quote is there is no such discussion done?

We did not have a day to day work schedule, but we do know the expected handover date.

Edited March 4, 2011 by froggy

[Ely1 0]

Water wall feature:

So, does anyone know if it's easier to purchase from a landscaping company or easier to contruct? I'd like a water wall feature in my balcony, with a letterbox type containment, some uplights - simple. Something like this, but half the size:

[Ely1 0]

Before reno works starts proper, we had a very detailed discussion with contractor on what we wanted. Our 3D was very simple, but we have pencil sketches of ceiling works, position of lighting points etc. Though we have not spelt out the detailed interior of the carpentry works, the exterior skeleton and measurements are all made. At least this was how the quotation was derived. Just curious how did you arrive at the quote is there is no such discussion done?

We did not have a day to day work schedule, but we do know the expected handover date.

We were given the quote based on the barebone construction (hacking, tiling, plumbing, basic carpentry of kitchen cabinets/wardrobes etc), and now adding as we go along...

[froggy 0]

We were given the quote based on the barebone construction (hacking, tiling, plumbing, basic carpentry of kitchen cabinets/wardrobes etc), and now adding as we go along...

wow, I won't dare do that. Did not have a big budget to allow add ons as we journey ...

[May_dream1 14]

We were given the quote based on the barebone construction (hacking, tiling, plumbing, basic carpentry of kitchen cabinets/wardrobes etc), and now adding as we go along...

wow!! then how you know how much will be your total cost of reno?? what if keep on adding till over 100k?

[El LoCo 3]

Haha! No. Like I mentioned, very, very few IDs actually replied to me. I was quite upset that no one wanted to take on our project even though we were quite open to budget suggestions. Actually only met 3 - one was perpetually late (like 2.5hrs late each time! Managed to polish off an entire bottle of wine before the ID arrived, and would go home dog-tired after midnight) and I felt that was the deal breaker for me; another was strangely elusive and only spoke of life philosophies (no discussion of the house AT ALL) and gave me a ballpark quote of 100k without even working on it and no follow-up; we simply picked the last because he seemed reliable and openly honest, and we didn't have the time to go make appointments with more. (Do I dare mention the name?). His quotation was rather reasonable (abt 50k)and was very accomodating to our cost-saving by supplying some materials ourselves, but he's juggling several projects at a time and too busy to give us some undivided direction, which we sorely need as we're sooo new to this.

Now we're facing a little trouble, as we don't have a design and trying to work on a day-to-day basis is rather stressful for us, especially when pressed to make decisions like lighting points when we have no idea how/where something is going to be, or how much of a wall to hack because today is last day of hacking, etc. We're trying to be as fair as we can to our ID, but still expect some form of direction.

Is it normal to proceed with works without a 3D design and a project schedule or a discussion of it?

I feel that it is better to write down the works required in black and white. Better still to haf some 3d pics or drawings as a guideline. One of the problem I can foresee is the add on stuffs that is not stated. Yr 50K reno may ballooned to 75~100K if he noe that yr budget is ard 100K. The initial 50K may or may not be a gimmick to lure u in 1st. Sorry for being a wet blanket but I always tell my men to be cautious during ops before proceeding. Job hazard. Heh.

[JCase 0]

Congrats. Very spacious. Looks like Loyang Valley. Is it?

[marshmallow 0]

very big house!!

you were so stressed that time with the HDB rule, but what you've gotten now is way better than HDB, and get to keep the house for your brother it's a blessing in disguise ya~

you engaged an ID or contractor? if contractor, then most of them don't give 3D drawings....

[May_dream1 14]

very big house!!

you were so stressed that time with the HDB rule, but what you've gotten now is way better than HDB, and get to keep the house for your brother it's a blessing in disguise ya~

you engaged an ID or contractor? if contractor, then most of them don't give 3D drawings....

eh, marshmallow, you know Ely1 personally?

some contractors also give 3D leh.

[marshmallow 0]

eh, marshmallow, you know Ely1 personally?

some contractors also give 3D leh.

nope, but i remembered the story when she posted some time last year....

yea now some contractors get 3rd party to do 3D... as "value added services"