Monday, March 12, 2018
Here's the ultimate guide for home renovation
It's pretty satisfying to receive the keys to your new house because you’re halfway there for your dream house. So, what’s
the other half to fulfill the dream house?
It’s the renovation to transform your
‘raw’ unit into your liveable dream house.
Whether your house is a HDB
unit in Rochor or landed house in Bukit Timah, renovation is still needed
to transform your house.
Here’s some guides to home renovation.
Check your new house defects
Before renovation begins, be sure to check
your unit like the window panes, if they are able to properly close. Check the
paint on the walls as well to see if they are painted evenly. Also, do inspect the
water pipes if there are any potential leakages, you can trace it by looking at
the wall and paint with water streaks.
Locate your cable, wiring and water works
It is vital to locate and plan all your
points for your conveniences. Be sure to point and mark those points before
discussing with your contractors on your renovation. It would be rather
frustrating when the nearest point in your bedroom is far away from your bed.
As for water works, identify how many faucets you want to install because it
would be troublesome if you realized there’s shortage of water supply to your
washing machine or fridge.
Keep your budget in check
Often the renovation costs exceeded our
affordability could be frustrating and worried if we don’t keep track the
spending. This is why setting a
budget is really important, during planning your budget, increase your
budget by 20% to 30% for any unexpected charges. Survey and research before
engaging your contractors or interior designers. Share and discuss your
concerns or priorities with them to ensure they don’t overcharge you. Plan
ahead to avoid last minute changes especially when taking measurements or
choosing the right material for your renovations and furniture. Lastly, always
do research and reviews before making your decision.
Schedule your delivery items to arrive on
time
The delivery items that we are referring to
is your home furniture and electrical appliances. Be sure to set your delivery
to arrive before your move in date. It would be awkward and inconvenient when
your items arrive one by one after you have moved in. But arriving way early
before your move in date is also a risk. Whilst the contractors are transforming
your homes, your furniture may be at risk being ‘transformed’ or get stolen.
Engaging the right ID or contractor for
yourself
There are times you would curse and swear
your interior designer or contractor when they screw things up, regardless front
or back. This often happens when the briefing or communication is not clear or
focus enough. There are times proposals from them tends to set unrealistic
budgets or ridiculous timeline, like way overdue kind. To prevent these from
happening, you will need to often communicate with your engaged interior
designer.
It would be better to research and review
few ID firms before engaging the right one. Make sure your ID is someone who
you can talk comfortably with, transparent and reliable. Be sure to be present
during the materials selection process as this will make sure you do not overspend
your budget or get short change for what you have paid. Be as detailed as
possible when you brief your ID or contractor, so they will know your direction
and ideas of your dream house.
Car park permit application
If you are driving, be sure to apply for
car park permit before moving in to your new HDB unit. This will make your move
in process smoother rather than fumbling for car parks in the car park lots.
There are different
seasonal car park charges for you to choose from based on your monthly
affordability.
Friendly neighbours, harmony neighbourhood
Although contractors start their renovating
works during the day time where everyone is mostly out to work or school but do
be considerate and understanding your neighbours. Before renovation works
start, talk to your neighbours about your renovation works and let them know
the duration of the works. They will appreciate for the information received so
they can plan their schedule to stay away from noise (if it’s big renovation)
or helping you to keep an eye around the neighbourhood or home while you were
not around. This will form a comfortable bond between you and your neighbours
even before moving in.
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