One of the most exciting things for a new homeowner is picking up the house keys at last. This makes that purchase real. The next thing that most people find themselves doing will be to begin planning how they can renovate the home and make it more suitable to their needs, style, and taste.
Generally, a home renovation in Singapore costs between thirty thousand and fifty thousand dollars for a BTO flat renovation. If it is a resale flat, the cost can run between S$50,000 – S$80,000. Usually, the interior designer’s fees will be inclusive. However, there are some interior designers who will charge between three thousand and five thousand dollars in design fees.
It is important to ensure that one has the necessary funds and has done the relevant homework before proceeding to look for an interior designer. This is to prevent any costly mistakes that might arise in the future. While it is understandable that one does not have S$50,000 at their disposal, getting a home renovation loan in Singapore might be a worthwhile consideration due to their flexibility and affordable interest rates. This allows home owners to have that much needed home renovation, without putting a strain on their finances.
Once the homeowner has sourced the funds needed for the job, it is time to:
- Pick a theme – Most people looking to renovate their homes have been poring over Pinterest boards and interior design websites and have an idea of what they want. Put together the various design concepts and aspects that you want to go into the home and share them with the interior designer.
- Source interior designers – It is important to do one’s homework on the various interior designers doing business in Singapore. Look for licensed and accredited companies with a reputation for timely delivery and high quality work. Look at several of these before narrowing down to several options.
- Interior design options – The options should be narrowed down to about 3. All three should be interviewed in order to see which one is the best fit for the work ahead. The one selected should fit one’s budget, work style, and even design theme. One should always bring their floor plan and concept to the meeting. Note that the design process can take anywhere between two and four weeks to complete.
- Start renovating. Pick a designer and start the process. This means working on the contract and once everything is ironed out, signing it. Flesh out the concept and allow the interior designer to do his or her work.
Home renovation in Singapore takes varying times to complete depending on the work to be done. BTOs can usually be renovated in eight to ten weeks when there isn’t any delay. A resale flat, on the other hand, can take anywhere between twelve and fourteen weeks. It is also common for the construction to go an extra 2 or so weeks when there are hiccups in the process.
It is imperative that every homeowner looking to use an interior design firm select one that best suits their needs. Here is criteria to consider when carrying out this selection:
Licensing – If one is looking to renovate a HDB flat, then it is important that they look for interior designers registered with the HDB. A registered interior designer has been thoroughly trained and therefore has knowledge of what can and can’t be done when it comes to HDB home renovation in Singapore. No one else is allowed to work on HDB flats other than licensed interior designers and contractors.
Area of expertise – A jack of all trades is a master of none. That is not the kind of interior designer a homeowner is looking to work with. Ask the interior designer where their strength lies. Some will be keen on contemporary home décor while other will be more traditional. It is also important to find an interior designer than fully understands the preferences and personal style of the homeowner so as to translate that into a design the homeowner can truly appreciate. Picking a designer that is comfortable with the style that one is looking to achieve is a great plus. As a homeowner, one should ensure that they know what they are looking for and not approach the process while blank. The discussion on the design should consider the homeowner’s priorities, theme, style, how feasible the design is and also if it is within HDB renovation rules.
Project management – Larger firms have a designer walk through the initial phase with the client and then hand over the project to coordinator at the site. It can be a problem when one gets along really well with the designer, but can’t get along with the project coordinator. It is therefore important that the homeowner get to meet the person who will be at the site since this is the person that he or she will be working with even more closely.
The payment schedule – At some point, the conversation will eventually come around to money. The discussion will center on the budget, but it is also important to find out what the payment terms are. Usually, an interior design firm will charge for management and design fees upfront. Others tend to work their profits into each item on the invoice. Some red flags to consider are:
- A firm that asks for a large down payment like 50%
- A firm that claims all fees have been waived. If they are in business, they should be looking to make a profit.
- Any firm that asks for 100% payment upfront is definitely not one to work with.
- The usual way of doing it is staggering payments through the different milestones of the home renovation in Singapore.
Project timelines – The homeowner should insist on a project timeline that is very detailed. This timeline should show details of the work and when certain tasks should be completed. That way, the homeowner will always know if the ongoing renovation is going according to plan or falling back. Of course this does not mean that the client should be out there micromanaging the project, but he or she has a right to ask why things are not going according to plan. If there is a delay, it is important to know when the issue will be resolved and whether the delay will affect the project deadline. This enables the homeowner to manage his or her expectations as well as assess the capability of the interior design firm.
It is important that one make sure that they get the right designer for the job and ensure that they have an enforceable contract before the job commences. Reading through the contract is a critical factor. One should make sure that they have read and understood every clause. If there are penalties for the homeowner, there should also be penalties for the interior design firm if they fail to meet their obligations.
Home renovations do not have to be a painful experience. With accredited and experienced interior designers, the process can be smooth and stress-free!