What to look out for before engaging an Interior Designer or Contractor?

For many 1st time home owners, renovation is a very stressful affair, especially so if they have never managed projects beforehand. In case some of you might wonder, yes, renovation IS a project.

For many, it is a daunting experience and may be fraught with many misunderstandings if expectations between all parties are not aligned and boundaries drawn.

Therefore, please do your homework! Research, research and research! Make every effort to choose the BEST man for the job. Remember you deserve nothing but THE best. :)

So then, what should you look out for? How would you know whether if your Interior Designer (ID) or contractor measures up to your expectations?

1. Valid license

First of all, you should find out whether if the ID or Contractor is licensed and at least listed under the RADAC Singapore National Registry of Accredited Renovators 2011 site. 

2. Quality of Proposal and Contract

The following areas must be addressed in detail:

• Complete understanding of plans, specifications and requirements;
• Detailed time-table and schedule which details the entire work from beginning to end;
• Agreed milestones;
• Detailed payment schedule when milestones have been complete;
• Agreement to obtain all the required permits without additional cost;
• Compliance with safety requirements at work site;
• List of past customer references;
• Minimum of at least one-year warranty;
• Provision for change orders and the agreed charge rate;
• Agreed channel to settle disputes (if any).

3. Personal Qualities

Observe for the following traits of a professional:

• Excellent job supervision skills;
• Effective communication with own staffs and customers;
• Realistic in his or her expectations;
• Diplomatic and willing to resolve disputes in a WIN WIN manner;
• Gains respect and is respectful;
• Maintain excellent post-project customer relationship.

 Hope you find the above list useful. :)

Read the following related article: Questions to Ask prior hiring the Contractor/Interior Designer.

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Will Renovation Raise Your Property Value?

Will Renovation Raise Your Property Value?

This is really a hotly debated question. Some are pretty affirmative in their belief, while others insisted that money spent is wasted and could do little to help raise the property value. And the rest?

Well, they are undecided.

For me, which camp do I belong to?

Okay, before I go on any further, let us consider the following:

Before you sell your property in Singapore, you have to go through a valuation process to find out how much your property is worth. If I remember correctly, the 3 most important factors that determine the valuation price are the Location, Proximity to Amenities and the Age of the Property.

So, the most logical area whereby renovation can play a part in the property value would be the amount that property hunter is willing to pay on top of the property valuation price. For HDB flats, this is widely known as Cash Over Valuation (COV). However, do note that COV payments are not compulsory, though this is the typical practice in a robust property market.

Therefore, I believe that the 3 determining factors are:

1. Functionality and Practicality of the Renovation I believe that if there is any factor that would enhance your property value, then it would be a well executed renovation that is aesthetically pleasing, functional and practical. A well planned renovation could include relocating of an ill conceived doorway or wall, building of a partition or tearing down of walls to improve the flow of the traffic or lighting. The list goes on.

Since such renovation does more than just looking good, chances are that you would be in a more favorable position to ask for more than the valuation price.  

2. Intentions of Propery HunterTo Property Investors, they will most probably pay close to the valuation price as rental yield is what they are looking out for. An extensively renovated place with fanciful features is mostly avoided since it will mean more costly maintenance for both the owners and the tenants.

To Home Owners, they may or may not appreciate the amount of renovation that has been done for the property. So the situation may swing both ways:
- Home owners whose home design taste is in sync with yours; meaning that your Manhattan design is exactly what the would-be buyers have in mind and thus, they are willing to pay more - since they do not need to perform extensive renovation.

- However, it could also be a situation whereby the would-be buyers already have a design concept in mind; and therefore an extensive renovation is a turnoff since the cost for overhauling the extensive renovated place is much higher.

3. Market ConditionsLastly, do not forget that if the prevailing market is very bad, the property hunters will be unwilling to pay more for your property no matter how relevant your renovation is to the buyer.

Okay…so what should you do?

With these in mind, you should consider the following the general guidelines when performing your renovation:

1. Renovation should also be Function and PracticalFocus on renovation that is more than just cosmetic; brainstorm and think about ways that you can make your property more “liveable” and comfortable aside from looking good. 

2. Reconsider Extensive Renovation and adopt Classic Style If you have intentions to sell your property when the market is good, do scale down on the extent of your renovation. Should you decide on a design theme, go for “safe” style which will not go out of fashion. Remember “Industrial Look” may be the in-thing now but your future buyers (with a baby in tow) certainly will not appreciate it!

3. (For Flat owners) Use the Current Median COV as a Budget ParameterLook at the historical and current COV prices in your area. If the COV is low ($10,000 or lesser), your renovation certainly isn’t going to help you much in the property value. So how much should you be spending for your renovation? I would believe that a budget of 1.5 times the COV is reasonable, and remember that anything more is a luxury.

To conclude, I believe a renovation well planned and executed could most probably put you in a better position to ask for more than the official valuation price.

Keep in mind that any renovation you do is for your needs, and not necessarily the needs of your future buyers. Hence, it is certainly not wise to view renovation as a return on investment.  :)

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Glass that turns OPAQUE at will!

Imagine turning your glass panels opaque at the touch of a button!  How cool can this get?! Now, you can even use this for your home. So, what is this amazing product known as?

*Drum rolls*

It is the "SMART GLASS"!!

Ok, I know that that name doesn't mean anything. So, there is a video that illustrates what exactly a Smart Glass looks like.

Here is another cool one...see it "live" in action (only for those living Singapore)!

When I chance upon this at Privacy Solution, they refer this product as “Magic Film” or “Magic Glass”. I was like huh? Magic? Oh ya, anyway it does work like magic (Btw, I tried to look around for similar products that goes under this name and get nothing useful. Somehow, the term “Smart Glass” came up and I managed to dig up something) but nevertheless, I finally decided that the name “Smart Glass” is more catchy and appropriate.

Oh yes, in case some of the geeks out there want to know what other name this product is known as: Photochromics, Liquid Crystal,  Photochromatics, Thermotropics, Suspended Particle Displays or whatever-you-called-it basically are similar products. :)

Okay, back to the topic. You may wonder:

So ya, this "Smart Glass" thingy or whatever-you-called-it is really cool. But how does this apply for my home renovation?

They can be used for:

• Window panels;
• Substitutes for concrete walls;
• Substitutes for wooden doors;
• Table tops etc.

Why are they recommended?
Glass allows for more light penetration, and this makes your home appear bigger and brighter. Thus, traditional doors and concrete walls can be replaced by such products to allow more illumination or privacy whenever desired. Some people have used it for toilets, kitchen, study room and so on.

Okay, I am sold. So how does it work?

Basically, when no electricity is applied, the liquid crystal molecules in the specially built glass are aligned in such a way that they allow light to pass through. However when a voltage is applied, these same molecules will rearrange themselves in a way that blocks and obstructs the light.

Enough of how useful it is, any CONS for such a solution?
Obviously, this product is NOT cheap. Furthermore, they do add-on to your monthly electrical bills. I also notice that when in “clear” state, the glass appears a tinny winnie bit frosted as compared to a normal clear glass. In addition, as any other electrical products, they do get spoiled in the long run. So you should look out for the warrenty period, the longer the better.

Where can I find them?

Some international sites which offer such a solution:

• Spd-systems
• Prodisplay
• Polytronix
• Switchlite

Local (Singapore) site:

• Privacy Solution

The Verdict?
Overall, the “Smart Glass” is a worthwhile solution to consider. However, you should access on your needs, budget and lifestyle before deciding on whether to install one for your place. :)

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Ways to Save during a Renovation

 

 Ways to Save during a Renovation

1. Engage an Interior Designer or Contractor during “off-peak” (low-on-demand) seasons

Demands for Interior Designers or Contractors are usually high beginning of the year and end of the year since these are months which lead to festive seasons like Christmas and New Year. Hence, it’s best to avoid getting quotations and engaging their services during that period.

2. Compare quotations from a few Interior Designers or Contractors

Don’t be lazy and engage the first Interior Designer or Contractor which you have met. Do let them know that you are comparing their prices and will choose one that offers a good price with quality workmanship.

3. Plan ahead and determine which part of the renovation you can DIY

List down all the possible renovation tasks that you can do by yourself. You can also save money from your house renovation by doing such easy tasks like painting. However, be mindful that you should be confident or at least do some research before the DIY. Otherwise you might end up spending money to recover from your mistakes.

4. Purchase your own supplies for the renovation

If possible, buy your own supplies such as lighting bulbs, paint, switch covers and bathroom fixtures. You should be charged only for the labor and nothing more.

5. Consider the long term costs impact of your home renovation.

Think about the effort and money that are needed to upkeep an expensive sofa, or the high electrical bills due to an energy inefficient refrigerator. Be mindful of the maintenance costs and also by using energy saving products now, it will save you a substantial amount of money in the long run.

6. Reuse or purchase second-hand items!

The amount of money saved from reusing your existing TV, computer chairs, dining tables etc is a lot. So, look for your furnishing and electrical needs from garage sale or at places like thrift shops or internet sites.

7. Sell off stuffs which you do not want!

Similarly, get back some cash by selling off old clothes, furniture, electrical goods etc during garage sale, at thrift shops or internet sites.

8. Lastly, setup a gift registry or encourage your house warming guests to give cash (“Ang Paos”) or vouchers as gifts

Most house warming guests will not turn up empty handed. So instead of letting them go through the hassle of getting something which you already have or do not want, inform them in advance that you prefer practical gifts like cash or vouchers.

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Overseeing and Managing your Interior Designer/Contractor

You have finally signed along the dotted line and award your $xxxk worth of renovation contract to the Interior Designer or Contractor...aka the Chosen One.

Next, you entrust the Chosen One with the keys to your new home...So now.... what is next?

Should you deem your work complete, sit back and relax?

Do you wait for the Chosen One to magically turn your empty shell into your dream home?

The answer is a resounding NO!

You should never be passive and wait for disaster to happen! You need to oversee and manage the Chosen One, just like a supervisor overseeing a new employee on the job. You have to:

1. MONITOR and MONITOR every step of the renovation.

Okay, so what do you exactly look out for?

• Walk the site daily, if possible. Why?
By keeping tabs of the site closely, you are able to spot mistakes and rectify them early. Even though the Chosen One is supposed to be doing this, by having an additional set of eyes on the site ensures that nothing has been overlooked.

• Check everything - make sure it is to specifications. Why?
This is to make sure that the Chosen One has not accidently or deliberately "cut corners". Remember to keep a copy of the contract and the specifications which you have discussed with the Chosen One prior the contract signing. Keep checking and cross reference to your contract!

• Communicate as much as you'd like. Ask questions! Why?
You are definitely not an expert in renovation so do ask questions! There may be good reasons why something is slightly off the specifications and it may be in your best interest.

2. Maintain a good amicable long term working relationship.

Errh, you might wonder what?? why?! Aren't they paid for the job to do everything that you have discussed? They should be your slaves right?!

First of all, the Chosen One and his or her workers ARE HUMANS too. They have good and bad days like you do, and sure, things might get a bit heated if you do not see eye to eye but remember, it is still to your best interest to maintain an amicable working relationship because:

• They are the ones doing the job, NOT you. So do be kind and resonable. Why?
By showing some consideration (like offering drinks, snacks etc), their moral might get a boost and will probably be more dedicated in carrying out their duties and be more open to listening to what you have to say. I am sure you have heard horror stories of unauthorised works (stuffing rubbish behind walls, pouring cement into toilet bowls etc) and you don't want that to happen right? Get their names and contacts becoz...

• You probably will need their assistance again in near future. Why?
3 or 5 years down the road you need some minor touch ups (like repainting of old walls or repairing a chipped worn cupboard) and its usually the best to look for the same bunch of people who did your renovation. It's also cheaper to directly approach them instead of through a company.

Nonetheless, keep in mind that there is no perfect renovation. But if you monitor and communicate regularly, whilst maintaining a good relationship, your renovation should end well. :)

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