what made me so inspired to send this message across , was solely of the handful of friends who will be getting their keys to their abode pretty soon . i found this article was so good to share , also snippets of my own experience dealing with the renovation throughout the few weeks .
Everyone who has renovated their home has a story to tell about their experience. Hidden cost , delays , poor workmanship are just some of the common causes of anxiety and frustration .Get your renovation to go as planned by working with a reliable and responsible renovation professional, and familiarising yourself with the process and its pitfalls .
Hope this guide that Im sharing will smoothen your path to that dream home .
GETTING STARTED
A. WHY RENOVATE ?
Tempting as it is to jump into space configuration and wall colours , take a moment to ask yourself what you hope to achieve with the renovation. Is it lifestyle benefits like more space or a financial return on investment if you sell ? This will determine the extent of your renovation.
Next survey your home-especially if it is a resale unit - for items that need to be repaired or replaced, such as old wiring and leaky pipes .
Also , have a realistic idea of how long the renovation is going to take and how disruptive it will be to you and your household . You may need to hire a temporary storage facility or look for alternative accomodation.
~ We have no other choice but to renovate our build-to-order house . We bought a standard house which HDB only provide us with kitchen and bathrooms wall and flooring tiles , also servie yard and bomb shelter flooring tiles . We did 98% renovation of the whole house .
B. DECIDE ON A DESIGN BRIEF
Now, think about your family's needs and preferences .How many users are there and what types of spaces will they need ? What is the ambience you want to achieve in each room (spa-like bathroom , industrial kitchen, cosy living room ?
Be very specific about style and themes . One person's idea of "contemporary" can vary greatly from another's. As taste and style may be hard to convey to your interior designer , gather as many visual examples as you can from magazines and catalogues.
And dont stop there - collect fabric swatches and samples , and visit show flats, furniture showrooms and friends' homes to snap photos of things you like. Giving your designer visual references and saying
" I want it like that " spells out what you want loud and clear .
~ As you have already known me by now , I am a magazine freak ! And they definitely helps me a lot in giving me ideas , tips and advise in making my dream home come true . Investing in about $5-$10 a month , was worth a cent . Through those visual pictures , I am able to show to my designer what I really want .
There was a time where our wall feature in master bedroom , wasnt much to our delight . The contractor kept telling the husband that what was designed to us , was what he normally do to many of his customers. But what shut him off was when the husband said this off clear right to his face , in a gentleman way . " I know this is what you normally do in most house BUT I want it like that " . ;) And voila , we love the outcome .
C. SET THE BUDGET
Have realistic expectationsand factor in all costs,plus a buffer for unexpected extras. Some seemingly minor things like lighting fixtures (and bulbs), door handles and decor accessories like curtain tie-backs add up substantially when you multiply them by the number you need.
Remember that renovation quotations do not cover items like loose furniture, built-in appliances, fixtures and fittingsand soft furnishings. Budget upwards of $20,000 for these, subject to selections .
CONSTRUCTIONS
A. SITE INSPECTIONS
Even if there is a project manageron site , homeowners should periodically drop in to check on the progress. Some firms dont expect clients to make site visits unless the conditions call for design changes . Design company Living Icon suggests making two visits ; after the wet constructions (when materials like concrete and plaster are applied ) and carpentry stages . If your designer has specified every aspect down to how high electrical outlets have positioned , you wont need to visit too often. However , if you are working with only a contractor , be prepared to make scheduled visits more regularly.
~ We make it a point to try and visit our home as often as we can especially when renovation works are being carried out . This comes handy especially when things that didnt turned out to what you want , can be rectified immediately or made to the attention of the interior designer , who was in charge and responsible for this whole project .
B. QUALITY CONTROL
Take the time to run through everything with a fine-toothed comb. Walk around barefoot , open and close doors and drawers and windows , and run the built-in appliances and air-conditioners. Some flaws, such as drawers thaat stick and window latches that dont align, only surface after youve moved into and lived in the house . These should be covered by the warranty usually a year stated in the contract.
Just before handover . a general cleaning including acid or chemical wash over tiling work, will be conducted . Some designers accessorise the home for that final touch .
~ We really thank my mum for this . She was so so so much particular in small little things , things that you couldnt even see with bare naked eyes . If theres a job application in jobstreet.com for this QC , mum would be the best person I voted for . She highlighted to us some of the minor things that needs to be touch-up and bring the attention of our interior designer , just to ensure that everything was kept up in good condition as we have paid for such a hefty price .
Your renovation is a personal thing . It reveals personal quirks and habits , fulfils a dream , involves a substantial amount of hard-earned money and stays with you for years . So , selecting the person in charge of your renovation is akin to making a romantic match . You meet several potentials , pick one with whom you have good chemistry , and entrust him (or her) with your money and some very intimate details of your life(in this case of renovating, it could be bathroom habits and sleeping preferences). Finally you both hope for a happy ending and not one that leads to a bitter divorce.
Choosing a designer
Know what your designer or architect will be responsible for before you even look for one . " An interior designer must be able to propose a concept/design direction for the whole project. His services should include space planning , lighting solution , colour scheme , cabinet design , site management and the final styling of the overall space , which could include soft furnishings and furniture ."
Designers are also responsible for liaising with the authorities on the permits required for your renovation and for managing sub-contractors such as plumbers and electricians . Architects hired to do extensions for rebuilding worls are further responsiblefor the safety and structural integrity of the home's design - not just for complying with government code .
Its usually the aesthetics that bring a homeowner and a designer together . You're drawn to the style you see in a particular designer's portfolio. A good designer , even if he is popular for one style, will be versatile enough to develop a home according to the client's preferences. He should listen to you, understand what you want in your home and propose a design that appeals to you .
" Your home should reflect your character , taste , background and preferences. Most times , we become good friends with our clients as we get to understand them better during the renovation process ." says Soh ,an interior designer in a firm .
Another major factor that you must consider when choosing a designer is your budget. Compare 3 to 5 firms to have an idea of the norm in terms of pricing and what's being offered . (which was what we did . Hamid and sons , Home Success , Design 36 , XXXX- dont remember the name actually and then Chew Interior)
Do not accept the cheapest quote as this may mean the designer cuts corners or ends up doing things you dont really want . If the highest quote is acceptable , find out what differentiates this designer from the others. Is it taste or design, better finishing or material ? there are some things that are measurable not by value, but by your own iundividual satisfaction at the end of the day .
Working with your designer
Now that you've found your designer , how do you maintain a good working relationship with him ? BOth Soh and Ho agreed that you shouldnt rush the design process- take the time to let your designer know what you need and what you're not comfortable with , and find a design solution within your budget .Communicate your doubts at this stage so your designer can clarify them . Having chose the designer , a certain amount of trust for his professionalism will be appreciated.
Try to avoid making changes once the renovation works begin as ammendments will result in delays and higher costs. Visit the renovation regularly , yes thats what we did , and let it be heard if you find something amiss- this will reduce the chances of mistakes being made and allow ammendments to be made earlier .
I AGREE so much !
Give your designer a reasonable amount of time to fine tune and rectify the finishes after the renovation is complete as minor defects are part and parcel of manual workmanship .
Finally , show your appreciation if you like the renovation,as designers feel a sense of ownership about their designs . Designers do remember difficult clients as well as those who are a joy to work with .
With these special post on renovation , i hope it does somehow help you in making your renovation a smooth one . Good luck !
