S’poreans share home reno horror stories that made them go, 'What the heck?’

I am far from having my own house.

Like, so far you couldn’t actually fathom it unless I showed you what’s inside my bank account.

Honestly? It makes it hard to hear my friends talk about their home renovation plans and what not (don’t come at me Crystal, I am still very happy that you and boyfriend number eight got a BTO).

Which is probably why, on occasion, I glean some sort of morbid enjoyment in hearing about people’s botched renovation works.

Jokes aside, I understand how having your dream home wrecked can make both the heart and wallet ache.

So to help others (not you, Crystal) have a smooth-sailing renovation experience, I shared some horror stories — such as getting scammed, hiring an ID with questionable taste, or having your ID go MIA — with an industry expert from HomePay.

Here’s what they had to say.

Horror story #1: When things don’t go as planned

One of my friends might have jumped the gun when they entrusted a relative with their renovation.

“Family helps as you know the person, but precisely because you know them, you tend to bend over backwards when they suggest changes or additions that you didn't plan for,” she said.

All her family had wanted was a “simple” kitchen and toilet revamp.

Instead, they ended up with unsightly additions to her home, such as bulky cabinets and shelving.

“I grumbled about it but as the relative is very close to my parents and rather assertive, my parents just accepted the reno as it was,” she lamented.

Advice: “Date” your ID

This doesn’t mean you get romantically involved with them.

Just use a “dating” approach to assess if your ID is the right fit for you.

According to HomePay, “you wouldn’t want to get married” with someone you’ve just met.

“You spend time understanding the person, their values and vision first. You might invest some money in your dates and over time, that’s when you decide whether you want to spend the rest of your life together.”

So go ahead, “date” your ID.

Set up preliminary meetings to lay down expectations and align your timelines.

Clarify the types of materials that will be used, as well as visit their showroom to get a good gauge of their workmanship and style.

You might also opt to engage your ID based on individual design services first before jumping into a full contract with them.

HomePay allows IDs to collect an "Initial Deposit" so that they can produce 3D renders first.

Homeowners can decide if they like a particular ID’s design based on the 3D renders.

Should they decide to hire the ID for the full project, this initial fee will be deducted from the full construct sum.

Horror story #2: A missing fan and ugly floors

Another friend noted that her ID had appeared “very enthusiastic” at the start but went MIA after she signed the contract.

“The workers didn't have clear instructions, so they kept messing up. They gave us the wrong doors, left paint splashes everywhere, and on one occasion they just removed our perfectly functional ceiling fan.”

When she asked “what the heck happened to the fan”, the worker said he brought it home to store it there "temporarily".

She added that her family had asked for electrical wiring on the floors because they liked having hotpot dinners.

The wiring ended up being "concealed" like this:

Advice: Speak now or forever hold your peace

“If something doesn’t sit well with you, call it out,” said HomePay.

While workmanship “might differ in the case of each individual worker”, flagging issues as and when they arise allows them to be rectified as soon as possible.

If your ID is uncontactable, try reaching their boss through the company’s hotline.

Companies working with HomePay allow bosses to step in and delegate the work to another ID if needed.

In a worst case scenario where an ID firm closes down midway through your reno, HomePay's assurance policy, HomeProtect, lets another vendor complete your home reno at no additional cost.

Horror story #3: The S$28,700 scam

The last horror story comes from a Mothership reader.

She and her husband paid a S$28,700 deposit to a renovation company they found on Instagram, only for the work to be perpetually delayed.

At their wits’ end, the couple requested for a refund.

But the refund was also delayed.

The company’s boss later told them he had used their money to "tide over his company" during a hard time.

Anyone reading this story can easily pick out a handful of red flags.

Then again, the flags are always more visible in retrospect.

Advice: What are the red flags?

According to HomePay, an obvious red flag would be an ID asking you to transfer the fees to their individual bank account.

“Ensure the company is an ACRA-registered entity with a proper UEN number to make payment to,” they cautioned.

Familiarising yourself with an ID’s portfolio by checking social media and online Google reviews is also recommended.

This can give you an idea of their reliability, communication style, and ability to meet client expectations.

You can also check for accreditations such as those from Housing & Development Board (HDB), Building and Construction Authority (BCA), or bizSAFE.

Another way is to sift through HomePay’s ID directory, which includes verified and onboarded MAS-compliant ID firms.

If you don’t wish to “gamble”

If paying upfront sounds too much like a “gamble” for comfort, HomePay recommends turning to them for “satisfaction guaranteed”.

Like many ecommerce platforms, HomePay uses a renovation escrow payment system.

This means that it holds on to some of the funds while you and your ID are in the process of renovation.

How it works

A homeowner will only pay half of the payment amount upfront to the ID, while the other half is held in a DBS custodian account.

Once the ID completes the work, the homeowner can assess if the quality is up to par and highlight issues, if any.

While they will still need to dole out progressive payments according to the renovation timeline, the remaining half of the fees held in escrow will only be released to the ID if the client is satisfied.

So if you don’t want to be another addition to my list of horror stories, maybe try out HomePay.

You’ll probably sleep better at night knowing your ceiling fan won’t go missing.

This sponsored article by HomePay made the writer consider moving out (perhaps a long time in the future).

Top images via Mothership reader