We were at HDB for our first appointment last Tuesday and since its all systems go now, it is time for us to nail down an ID. The seller was willing to give up the initial request of 2 months extension so we could start our renovation immediately after getting the keys in July. This also means we are 'late' in selecting our ID and need to make a decision in the next couple of weeks.
Originally we have been working with the same ID Jerry that did our current home. We already had 4-5 sessions and he was always very accommodating, traveling to our home and working late from 8-10pm. I appreciate how he tries to keep the renovation within our budget. He quoted some of the items at cost. For example, for the false ceiling he ask that we pay directly to the contractor as he has 0% margin on it and typically there is little risk or need for warranties on ceiling works. He also tried to keep our cost down by advising cheaper alternatives of getting a renovation item down. Like for the window ventilation fan, he asked that we engage a window supplier ourselves and we can get a better deal on the fan as well rather than going through him where he is mandated by his company to markup on all renovation items.
I'm keen to engage Jerry for our next home as the current one was done up pretty ok by my standards. I like how he is accommodating to our sometimes whimsical ideas and questions. However it seems I'm the only one who thinks he is the right ID for our next home. It's clear from the get-go that Meimei has her doubts about him and has been seeking for other IDs to replace him.
She has a number of gripes about the quality of renovation of the current place. She doesn't like that a few (and it really is only a handful of small pieces) of the laminate pieces have came off. She complains that the wiring wasn't done right and that's why we keep getting trips, she has a point here but I don't think its purely his fault since he wasn't the one laying the wires. Her point is that his recommendation of electrician is questionable. And then there is the infamous aircon contractor which made a whole mess of everything.
Although she has her point, I'm of the opinion that any renovation would have some imperfections given our limited budget. 'You get what you pay for' is the common saying. If we have a limitless budget I'm sure we can ask for the sky.
That said, there is the other factor of family opinions which we have to respect as well. My father-in-law thinks Jerry only seeks to satisfy our wants without really giving us good advice on whether some things are practical or not. To me, this is a toss-up and something hard to judge. If you ask another person looking for an ID, an ID who listens to a client's ideas and getting what he ask for is a prime criteria.
So how do you judge? Choose an ID who listens to you and tries to translate your ideas into reality. Or someone who has his own ideas of what is best and makes you go his way?
Originally we have been working with the same ID Jerry that did our current home. We already had 4-5 sessions and he was always very accommodating, traveling to our home and working late from 8-10pm. I appreciate how he tries to keep the renovation within our budget. He quoted some of the items at cost. For example, for the false ceiling he ask that we pay directly to the contractor as he has 0% margin on it and typically there is little risk or need for warranties on ceiling works. He also tried to keep our cost down by advising cheaper alternatives of getting a renovation item down. Like for the window ventilation fan, he asked that we engage a window supplier ourselves and we can get a better deal on the fan as well rather than going through him where he is mandated by his company to markup on all renovation items.
I'm keen to engage Jerry for our next home as the current one was done up pretty ok by my standards. I like how he is accommodating to our sometimes whimsical ideas and questions. However it seems I'm the only one who thinks he is the right ID for our next home. It's clear from the get-go that Meimei has her doubts about him and has been seeking for other IDs to replace him.
She has a number of gripes about the quality of renovation of the current place. She doesn't like that a few (and it really is only a handful of small pieces) of the laminate pieces have came off. She complains that the wiring wasn't done right and that's why we keep getting trips, she has a point here but I don't think its purely his fault since he wasn't the one laying the wires. Her point is that his recommendation of electrician is questionable. And then there is the infamous aircon contractor which made a whole mess of everything.
Although she has her point, I'm of the opinion that any renovation would have some imperfections given our limited budget. 'You get what you pay for' is the common saying. If we have a limitless budget I'm sure we can ask for the sky.
That said, there is the other factor of family opinions which we have to respect as well. My father-in-law thinks Jerry only seeks to satisfy our wants without really giving us good advice on whether some things are practical or not. To me, this is a toss-up and something hard to judge. If you ask another person looking for an ID, an ID who listens to a client's ideas and getting what he ask for is a prime criteria.
So how do you judge? Choose an ID who listens to you and tries to translate your ideas into reality. Or someone who has his own ideas of what is best and makes you go his way?
