Home Renovation Costs in Singapore: Dream Home on A Budget
Blk 107 Simei St 1, 5 Room HDB Resale
There is no denying that there are a lot of considerations that you have to take in when you are renovating your home. It can be to the point where it gets too overwhelming and you might start stressing out about whether or not you will exceed your budget.
Fret not as this is a guide that will better help you plan your renovation budget.
It is always good to have a rough gauge of how much your usual house renovation costs. This way you will have a better idea of the cost of renovation in Singapore. This includes the type of ideas for bedroom interiors or the floor space and housing type that you have.
When you are looking at a brand new house such as a BTO flat, which would be unfurnished, the cost of renovation in Singapore would be higher. This is because your renovation cost will then include carpentry, wiring, and flooring as part of the basic foundation for your renovation.
Whereas, if you are looking at housing such as resale, EC, or condominiums, your renovation cost could be lower as more often than not you can save on expenses such as flooring, and on carpentry.
Though, of course with resale homes, you will need to take into consideration the condition of your flooring, and other structural works such as electrical wiring and plumbing.
With older homes, there is the chance that you might have to replace your flooring, re-wire your electric wires or upgrade the plumbing system during the renovation of your bathroom. This will, of course, add to your cost of renovation and budget. These are features that you should not skimp on or ignore as they could cause more problems for your new home or potentially be a safety hazard.
The rough range for doing your flooring, rewiring, and plumbing would be around $20,000 to $30,000, but of course, with a larger floor plan, the expenses of these structures’ work will increase. So how much does a renovation cost in Singapore? Below is the rough renovation cost breakdown for the common features of home renovation.
If you’re renovating your kitchen, we also have a separate kitchen renovation cost guide.
Blk 353A Admiralty Drive, 4-Room Resale
Common Renovation Costs In Singapore
Do research about the various cost trends for the type of housing you are in and how many bedrooms and square meter/ square feet of the house.
If you have just received your new flat and it is a clean slate, then the chances are that you might have to spend more on your renovation.
As mentioned, you will notice that the renovation budget for resale homes is generally more expensive compared to HDB and condominium houses. The renovation cost that has to be factored in also includes the possible need to hack certain features down and other stuff that has wear and tear, but the main bulk of the cost is flooring and structural work, as aforementioned. Below is a simple table on house renovation cost breakdown.
As seen from the estimate given above regarding interior design styles, if you are looking to save a bit of money and possibly keep to your budget, the go-to choice for your design style would be to go with Scandinavian interior design.
Scandinavian styles could help you save some extra renovation costs because, with the Scandinavian look, you are using loose pieces to make up and add to the design of your living space.
The Scandinavian look also aims for simplicity and minimalist design. This helps you save on overly complicated and excessive carpentry and aims to use as little furnishing as design pieces. By going for the Scandinavian look, you are also maximising natural light to brighten up your living space. This will greatly help you to save on house renovation costs in the need to add more lighting and wiring to light your house, which is costly with the wiring work.
In light of better keeping to your budget or if you just hope to save those extra pennies, you can always consider choosing either vinyl or laminate flooring.
With technology, these days, vinyl flooring and laminate flooring have greatly improved their durability and have become popular choices of flooring material for many homeowners.
One of the benefits of getting vinyl and laminate flooring is that you are emulating the look of say solid hardwood flooring or even tile flooring but at a much more affordable price.
You can read up on the various flooring cost from this guide.
Grandeur Park 2 Room Condominium
Questions to ask to manage your cost of renovation in Singapore:
It is highly stressful to sort out the different budget plans for your new home, especially if you are a first-time homeowner. Whether you are solely renovating the interior of your kitchen or designing the interior of bedrooms, you will be overwhelmed by the amount of stuff that needs to be bought and sorted.
But do not panic; here is a guide to help you better sort your budget plan out.
1. Prioritize your renovation needs
What do you need?
- The features of the room or space you want to createHow much and what details are you willing to compromise
What do you want to/are willing to splurge on
2. Create a detailed plan that includes expected cost of renovation in Singapore
Planning is the first and foremost step that should not be eliminated; otherwise, the whole project will become challenging to pull off.
Planning includes everything involved during the renovation process, such as choosing themes for the rooms, selecting the colour palettes, and carrying out measurements of all areas so the selection of furniture and other elements can be made accordingly. It also includes creating timelines and deadlines for all the steps involved.
A well-laid plan helps keep things on schedule during the process and helps avoid mistakes and saves time in the long run. Setting a timeline is very important as it helps you keep on track.
Otherwise, renovation projects can linger on for quite a long time. However, setting an ambitious deadline can also backfire since it would not be possible to meet it, and it would leave you disappointed and frustrated. Always set a realistic timeline in consultation with your interior designer, so everyone knows how and when the project is to be carried out.
The most significant work in home renovation that possibly takes up the most of your budget is flooring and tiling, carpentry, and hacking.
Suppose you plan on mixing tiles, creating platforms, or having complicated carpentry designs. In that case, the chances of unintentionally raising the renovation cost are high and possibly inevitable.
This means including the estimated costs for labour and materials.
You can seek help from online resources such as HomeAdvisor to estimate labour costs for, say, a plumber, electrician or even a handyman to help you with your renovation.
Appliances that you will need
The materials needed for build-ins are also considered if you need/ want to demolish any walls, as this will add to your expenses.
There might be some structural issues in the house that may not be evident at the start, but once renovation goes underway, these issues might be uncovered and need to be addressed.
Such kinds of hidden house renovation expenses in Singapore need to be kept in mind while planning your budget. Experts suggest that when you estimate your renovation cost, add about 20% of it for unforeseen costs on top of your initial budget. That way, when the actual cost of renovation go up during a renovation, you will not feel stumped with the expenses over your budget estimation.
Of course, many of your worries will be sorted out if you hire a recommended interior designer to handle the renovation process. Swiss Interior excels in creating innovative and customized renovation solutions that will make our clients happy and satisfied.
3. Choose the right contractor or interior designer
One of the biggest things people make while planning a house renovation is to think they can do it all by themselves. They may have less budget that they might not want to spend on a professional or an interior design firm in Singapore.
However, hiring individual contractors by yourself and trying to get the work done will be very difficult, and it can jeopardize the whole process of renovation. You are spending a lot of money on renovation; if things go wrong, it can become a costly mistake.
Source and obtain different bids from multiple contractors. With a better idea of what you want and need done with the estimated house renovation cost for each, you can now source a contractor to complete your project within your estimated budget.
A good tip would be to look around your local company, read the various reviews and testimonies and ask them to create a bid for your project. Do get around 3-4 for you to have a more accurate idea of the cost of renovation.
Complete interviews and check their references.
Be thorough and transparent in your instructions, both your project and your design budget. If your contractor knows you’re sticking to a tight budget, they will be more likely to talk through additional expenses, time delays, and project changes with you.
Ensure the interior designer thoroughly understands your needs and knows how you plan to prioritize parts of the project.
Talk about how you will approach any unforeseen issues and how they will affect the project's budget.
Do not just go with the one with the lowest bid; cheap labour may sound appealing, but if the contractor is unreliable enough, it might open more doors to errors, which can increase the cost of renovation.
If you feel that none of the contractor estimates fit your renovation budget, then look through your list of wants and needs, possibly eliminating parts of your project that you deem less crucial.
Be sure to have your chosen contractor relook at your interior design plan and budget to ensure that what you have planned is visible and to safeguard any other costs you may have overlooked.
4. Choosing the Right Appliances
Look around for the best appliances. People often tend to forget that furnishing and decorating with other details apart from the design sets you back a massive sum of money.
Thus, it might be wise to either DIY particular furniture or look around for suitable alternatives.
Regarding electrical work, if you are considering rewiring, do consider the following:
Your electrical consumption habits as this will be a good gauge in determining how many power points you possibly need
Have a rough plan of where you would place/ use your electrical appliances
Check with your reliable interior designer and electrician if your plan is visible.
Blk 663B Punggol Drive - 5-Room BTO
Tips to Keep Within Your Renovation Costs in Singapore
Sometimes old is gold. You might not have to spend money to give your house a new facelift or to have a revamp. There are many possible ways and hacks that you can consider to give a makeover.
Here are some tips and tricks to help you reduce some of that house renovation cost in Singapore:
1. Doing repaint work yourself
Giving your home a new set of painted walls is not only equivalent to giving it a new facelift, but it could be majoring in revitalising the overall look of your living space.
If you are going for a clean look, you can consider going for neutral palettes. It can not only brighten up your living space as it allows the light rays to reflect off the walls but also gives you a classy and warm look.
If you want to have a new and relatively drastic look, you can always consider giving your walls a splash of colour. By painting your house in a bright colour automatically gives you the house's added personality. You might also feel like your home went through a massive overhaul.
You can carry out some other form of renovation in the living room but if you do not have the budget, just change the paint colour of the bedroom’s walls to change its outlook. Alternatively, you can change the wallpapers of the room for a different appearance, but this will be a bit more expensive than repainting the walls.
You not only save money doing the work yourself, but it is also easy to maintain, and you can switch up the look of your wall as and when you like. Who doesn’t love easy maintenance?
2. Choosing vinyl or laminate flooring
Blk 460A Bukit Batok West Quarry 4 Room HDB BTO
Choosing this option not only gives you the freedom and cheat code to make it look like you have marble or hardwood flooring but at a much lower price. Further, these options are also easy to maintain and highly durable.
Vinyl and laminate floorings are great options to overlay your existing flooring. This allows you to save more money as you avoid having to hack off your existing tiles, which can be expensive, especially when renovating bathrooms in your house.
You can also get the look of tiles such as marble flooring or solid hardwood flooring with the current technology that produces vinyl and laminated flooring, but without breaking the bank.
3. Avoiding complicated carpentry design
Unique built-ins make a statement but so do they on your wallet. Odd shape or circular carpentry requires a great deal of craft and thus amounts to a higher price tag.
Opt for simple linear work or fewer built-ins if you want to save those extra dollars. Those are not only friendlier in your pocket but can still make your design layout stand out.
4. Go for the minimalist look
Blk 308C Punggol Waterway 5 Room HDB BTO
This focus on clean, simple lines and carpentry work.
By keeping to the minimalist interior design look, you are also reducing the amount of excess carpentry and appliances that you possibly do not need.
The emphasis on loose furnishing and decor means that you need very little to decorate a place to get that wow factor.
5. Simple light work/ setup
Recessed lights can be costly due to the professional quality required and lighting components used by reducing the number of lighting points and swapping them for these tricks to bring in light naturally.
You can easily brighten up your living space without having too many light features with just these simple tricks:
Positioning mirrors or glass panels in front of a light source to the adjacent. This will allow the light to reflect off the mirror and further brighten your entire home.
Going for a light palette for your walls. Choosing light colours for your walls, such as white or light grey, means that the colours allow for better reflection against the light, making your room look brighter
6. Opt for paintings or statement pieces instead of investing in feature walls
Blk 788 Woodlands Executive Mansionette
Feature walls can not only be highly pricy, especially if you get a customised design, but you might even get bored of it after a while. Opting for just simple painted walls gives you the freedom and option to switch up the look of your room as and when you like, but lowers the cost of renovation as well.
Another way to give a splash of personality is by adding a few statement pieces. Your chosen statement piece does not have to be costly, furniture stores such as IKEA do offer a range of affordable art pieces that could add life to your living space.
A simple dash of colour could liven and change the outlook of your living space. Or if you feel like splashing out, you can always look for unique vintage pieces as statement pieces. If you like the retro theme, you can always hunt for old gaming pieces; it is not only a great entertainment piece but also a great attention-grabbing “furniture”.
7. Rewiring unnecessarily
Rewiring and adding more power points to your layout is costly. Not only must you consider the cost of hiring a professional electrician, but there is also the added cost of covering up and finding ways to map and lay out the various possible places for your wiring.
More often than not, when you are looking to add and rewire your house, you need to find ways to cover up the wires running around. The need to plaster and possibly add a false ceiling will add to the cost of renovation, which most homeowners are not prepared for and have taken into consideration.
Further, it is a safety hazard if you choose not to cover up your wiring work, and if you choose to skimp on that feature, it could cost you more money in the long run.
8. Avoid Hacking
Hacking is also another feature and added cost that many people do not fully comprehend just how expensive it can get.
This is especially so if you choose to do a partial wall hacking. Many people often believe that doing partial wall hacking is cheaper than having your wall wholly hacked off. Partial wall hacking can cost around the exact cost or possibly even more than hacking the entire wall. It takes more precision and skills to hack the wall to the desired level.
As such, you are paying more for the skills and effort to do a partial wall hacking than the act of hacking itself.
9. Complicated carpentry work
Kitchen carpentry projects that are complicated usually require more skills or more time, which translates to a higher cost. However, if you prefer affordable carpentry renovation in your HDB kitchen, go for more straightforward and minimalistic designs.
10. Simple and ready-to-install carpentry
Complicated or odd-shaped carpentry is one of the main reasons for your renovation cost. This is because of the skills needed to create such a unique carpentry design. As such, you are not only paying for the carpentry itself but also the cost of hiring a professional to create your furniture.
The best way is still to get simple and minimalistic carpentry. This ensures that your design will not only be classic but also possibly last for a longer period.
11. Get in as much natural light as possible
Blk 462C Yishun Ave 6 4 Room HDB BTO
When designing or renovating, it is wise to try and get as much natural light during the daytime. This will not only save you money in terms of adding and installing lighting to brighten up the area but natural light also looks more pleasing aesthetically.
By making use of natural light you not only save money in needing to consider electrical work and installing lights but also your electricity bill.
Having a neutral colour scheme as your wall and having open window areas will help to ensure that you get as much natural light.
12. Rearranging your furniture
This will make it look like you have a new home layout and design, but in reality, you not only did not spend a single cent but simply just shifted new major pieces of furniture to make it look like you gave your home a design overhaul.
13. Adding greenery
Blk 273D Compassvale Link 4 Room HDB Resale
Sometimes, adding a few potted plants around your house could change your home’s outlook. Potted plants are not only affordable decor pieces, but they do add a splash of colour in a subliminal way.
With potted plants, you can get fake or real plants. Of course, having fake plants will save you the trouble of needing to care for them.
3 Materials Used To Reduce House Renovation Cost in Singapore
How much do you think about the materials used in designing? You should put a lot of consideration into it. The materials implemented into a design are extremely important because they can either make or break the design of your home or whatever other type of space it is.
There are so many options to choose from when it comes to materials. In this article, we will focus on 3 inexpensive materials that top interior designers or renovation companies choose to add a lot of life and personality to a room.
1. Use of Metal Combinations
Many different types of metal combination materials can be used. Combining different metals in a mix-n-match fashion will ideally add a creative, beautiful, and welcomed complexity in terms of layers and design depth to the surfaces and the look of a room. It equally adds an element of texture to a space that essentially brings out the full character of the space.
Many designers approach this concept is to using a combination of different metals for the finishes in a room. According to home and decor, just over half of such designs implement this approach of a combination of metals, especially when it comes to designing HDB kitchens.
Stainless is an extremely hard metal that, when used in the kitchen or bathroom, is able to withstand a great deal of wear or tear. Kitchen countertops experience a great deal of use, rendering them vulnerable to scratches from blades and other hard kitchen utensils.
In addition, these areas are susceptible to moisture, heat damage, and frequent spills so it is important to decide on a material that can withstand high temperatures and highlights erosion obstruction, the two qualities for which stainless steel is known.
In case you're searching for an across-the-board solution, many interior design companies in Singapore are selling stainless steel products online. The completely treated steel, which does not contain any wood, presents a framework that is measured, so you can look over counters and drawers to cupboards and independent kitchen islands, which are altogether made of stainless steel.
Their strength and durability make them an incredible option for those with out-doors kitchen areas, as they can withstand even the brutal outside components.
Other commonly used metals to consider are brass and matte nickel. You can implement the combination of materials and metals in many elements, such as finishes, accessories, furniture, and fixtures.
2. Vinyl & PVC
Decorating couldn’t be easier thanks to the myriad of design options made possible by “vinyl” or polyvinyl chloride – better known as PVC. Whether you want to cover a floor, finish a ceiling or decorate a wall, a vinyl or PVC solution is available.
PVC is one of the most widely used plastics in the world with a wide range of long-life applications such as window frames, pipes, flooring, cables, sports equipment, furniture, and a range of life-saving medical devices. PVC can be recycled multiple times, and Vinyl Plus works to do just this.
PVC wallpaper, for example, can be created in any colour of the rainbow and any design imaginable. Even embossed finishes are possible.
Vinyl chloride, better known simply as vinyl, is the precursor to PVC but is used in many of the same applications. One of the most common uses for vinyl is as a flooring material – particularly for institutions such as schools and hospitals. It is an ideal solution for industrial flooring because of its cost-effectiveness, cleanability, and durability in high-traffic areas.
Vinyl composition tiles (VCT) are also used in commercial and industrial premises. Made from coloured vinyl chips, the tiles can be formed into different thicknesses. For example, thicker tiles might be used in areas where impact damage or noise transmission is a consideration. VCTs have a distinct advantage as they can be stripped and refinished repeatedly to maintain their appearance. Like their PVC counterparts, individual tiles can be removed if they become dirty or worn.
With chlorine chemistry, there is a design solution to suit almost any interior application. Making a choice might be the hardest part of the process.
Blk 70B Telok Blangah Heights - 3-Room BTO
3. Stain repellant materials
There is a wide range of stain-repellant materials that can be used for interior designing. Some are better than others in terms of aesthetics and some are better than others in terms of functionality. Not that many have both a high level of aesthetics and a high level of functionality.
The good news is that some materials that may have a high level of aesthetics but a low level of functionality can be pre-treated in certain ways to improve whichever aspect of functionality you wish to improve. For example, materials that are highly prone to stains can be pre-treated to reduce their likelihood to stain.
This would be a great implementation for furnishing items such as sofas, which you would not want to easily pick up stains and dirt. Such an implementation would use stain-repellent fabrics to ensure the materials do not get affected.
There are also stain-repellent finishes that can be used for certain kinds of materials for your furniture to achieve the same effect. Another example of pre-treatment is the approach of coating veneers with lacquer.
This can then be added to a wide range of items such as cupboards, doors, wardrobes, furnishing items, accessories, and more. This leads to a much more appealing design. It is also evident that coatings are becoming more and more popular for walls and floors because of how much you can alter the texture, look, and durability of that surface by doing it.
Other materials to consider for this design tactic are different types of tiles and different types of wood. The idea of mixing different kinds of materials is one that lends itself to high levels of creativity. The possibilities are endless.
Things To Keep In Mind While Renovating
A Beautifully Designed House at Blk 954 Hougang Ave 9, 5 Room HDB
Choose A Particular Theme That Matches Your Personality
You will come across many styles and themes when renovating. You may like some of them on the internet or in the pictures, but you might not feel ready to adopt them.
That’s entirely normal! When choosing any particular style or theme, remember to incorporate some aspect of your personality into the theme. You might like a few elements of one design style and other features from some other manner.
Don’t be afraid of mixing and matching different elements from different methods to create a theme that best defines your personality. You have to spend your time at home, so it should be according to your comfort, preferences, and requirements.
A beautifully grey-themed apartment designed by us, shown in the following image, depicts comfort and style.
Living Room Design at Blk 303A Punggol Central, HDB designed by Swiss Interior
Add Some Trendy Elements
If you think you like some classical or traditional theme and want to incorporate it into your design, don’t be scared to add a few trendy elements to that same style.
Choosing a conventional theme does not limit you to using any modern and stylish elements. However, when using trendy elements, be cautious to avoid selecting any element that might look trendy for that particular time but a few years down the road may look oddly placed. You must think long-term when choosing the then-trending elements so you don’t get bored with them after a few months.
Consider as an example the following 3-room HDB interior design project. This is an industrial theme house designed by us. The exposed ductwork and raw architecture of an industrial design may be trending in those days but do consider their feasibility in the long run of whether you would still be happy with such a theme or get bored after a few months.
Related read: Achieve the Look of Timeless Interior Design
An Industrial Theme Living Room at BLK 63 Telok Blangah 3 Room HDB apartment
Utilize Space Efficiently
When renovating, pay special attention to each room and pathway. You may think that the living room, bedroom, bathroom, and kitchen are the ones that need to be renovated, but what about the laundry, storage rooms, and entry pathways?
The entrance is the first image you see when you enter the house, so it should ideally be the most inviting and warm. Similarly, the storage rooms and the laundry should also be functional and feasible after renovation so you can benefit from them.
Also, keep an eye out for all the hidden nooks and corners where space is just getting wasted. Try to incorporate them into the design by using them for storage or decoration. You do not want any space wasted if you have a small HDB apartment or condominium.
Don’t Overcrowd!
Having told you about using space efficiently, it is just as crucial that you do not overcrowd the place. The less clutter in any room, the more comfortable and inviting it will be. Instead of crowding the area with several elements, keep things simple and incorporate lots of hidden storage in the house, so your things can also be stored away while keeping the premises neat.
Consider the following project of a living room designed by us. Notice how many elements are seen in the living room, indicating how well space has been utilized. However, there are no overcrowding elements, and the place looks well-maintained and decluttered.
A Living Room Design at Blk 115A Alkaff Crescent, 4 Room HDB
Add Complementing Accessories And Decor Items
Do not downplay the importance and significance of small accessories and decor items that complement the overall design theme and style.
Whether it is upholstery, cushions, rugs, curtains, wall hangings, or other decor items, they can play a significant role in further enhancing the design of any room. You have to select the right accessories and incorporate them into the design to bring all elements of the room together without making things overcrowded and cluttered.
Notice in the following condominium interior design project done by us how the use of plants and wall hangings help uplift the room’s mood and complement the calm and subtle interior.
A Beautifully Designed Living Room at 31 The Lakeshore
Understanding the Stress and Disturbances
When you plan to renovate your house, you should be prepared for all the stress and disturbance it is going to cause. It is a time-consuming and stressful task. Things do not go as planned. The cost of renovation and time estimations might turn out to be wrong.
So, if you are already prepared for them, it will be easier to accept them during the process. A good option is to start renovating stepwise. Start with one room, when it completes, then move on to the other.
That way, most of the disturbance will be focused on that particular room and you can go about your daily routine in the other rooms. The kitchen and bathroom renovations are the toughest.
You should properly plan how you are going to manage stuff during the days they are being renovated. That way, it will be easier for you to accommodate yourself to the renovation process.
Spending Too Much On Relatively Unimportant Stuff
During the renovation, some people spend more on furniture and lighting while not spending enough on the structure of the house, flooring, wiring, and plumbing. One thing which you should keep in mind is that the cosmetic stuff can be changed without much hassle even after renovation is complete.
If you are going through the complete hassle of renovation, be sure to fix all the structural issues and flooring. Once the structure is complete, you can always add decorative items, furniture, and appliances gradually. Of course, if budget is not an issue, you can do the structural renovation as well as the cosmetic renovation in one go.
Changing Plans Along The Way
Another mistake that normally people make during renovations is deviating from the initial plan that they had made. Of course, you can make small changes along the way but if you incorporate big changes in renovation plans, it will disrupt your budgeting as well as timelines.
The new proposed changes may not go along well with the other specifications which might cause further problems. Try to stick with the original plan as much as possible and make minimum changes along the way.
Timeline Constraints
When thinking about the timeline for your renovation project, some people keep it open whereas others assign unrealistic deadlines. Both are wrong approaches. Setting a timeline is very important as it helps you keep on track.
Otherwise, renovation projects can linger on for quite a long time. However, setting a really ambitious deadline can also backfire since it would not be possible to meet it and it would leave you disappointed and frustrated. Always set a realistic timeline in consultation with your interior designer so everyone knows how and when the project is to be carried out.
How Do Design Firms Earn Money From Your Renovation
House renovation costs in Singapore are already hefty by themselves, and more often than not, most people will hire top interior design firms in Singapore. As such, it is always a good idea to have a rough gauge of how firms charge you so that you can have a better idea of not only your rough renovation cost but also how much you want to keep your renovation budget too.
This is not an exact guide to how every single firm will charge their customers, but more of a rough estimate and general trend of how most firms do.
1. Design fee
Some designers could include and charge you a design fee. Think of this more as a service payment. This is also similar to when some designers charge a creative fee. It could happen if your renovation is uniquely yours and it is more of payment for the design that was created specifically for you. Do be sure to clarify and confirm with your designer or the firm if they do have this fee so that you can factor that into your budget.
2. Handyman-work services
You can think of designers and the firm as a middleman or coordinators as well, most of the time, they will help to arrange for a plumber or electrician to help do the fixing work or rewiring if need be to work with the renovation design or layout.
They can then earn from charging you for coordinating and getting these professionals in to do the work and the cost that they charge you could be higher than the market rate. Do check if this service is already accounted for when your reliable interior designer gives you the cost estimate or not.
3. Materials
One another common way in which the design firm or the designer could earn your money would be from the cost difference between how much you are paying for the materials procured and the price for which they actually procured it.
4. Project management fee
This fee can be thought of as paying the designer to give you their expertise on what furniture, appliances or materials to choose to best fit the design you are doing. It is usually between 20%-35%.
Areas where you may be over-charged
A good and trustworthy interior designer will usually give you a close estimate of your renovation cost breakdown based on your floor plan, design and renovation needs. Of course, it is always wise to factor in sink cost as, during a renovation, you will never know if there might be hiccups along the way. At least with a sunk cost that is also factored into your budget, you know that all the costs are accounted for and kept to your budget.
If you plan to hire a design firm or interior designer, you do need to go with the mindset that you are hiring them for their expertise and to help coordinate the necessary arrangements and procurement.
Of course, you can choose to do it yourself and find a direct contractor, given that you are determined and have the relevant contacts to make it happen. Also, it could be hectic and stressful as you are now taking over the role of the interior designer and the main coordinator.
Every firm and designer might have a different way of charging and quoting for their service. Thus, it is always good to have your requirements, agreements and house renovation cost breakdown written down legally to ensure that there is no misunderstanding. It is always better to play it safe than to be sorry.
Here are some tips on how you better protect yourself from possibly being ripped off (if so):
1. Do your research on the company
Let’s say you have plans to renovate the toilets. Then, just so happens, you come across a sweet renovation package online. It is advisable always to take your time to look around to scout for more and hopefully better deals, also, making sure that the firm and designer are reliable and trustworthy is also really important.
Ask around and read the various reviews given by customers of the firm to get rough sensing of what you are getting yourself in for.
One of the best ways to get a good recommendation would be to ask your family and friends.
2. Have every detail and arrangement regarding the handling of the renovation to the handover of the keys to your home written in black and white legally.
Having every detail regarding the procurement of the materials, defect handling, renovation design, and handover is written down and made into a legally binding agreement is crucial. This not only ensures that you will not be ripped off or be at a disadvantage but also make sure that there will be no conflict and possible misunderstanding or miscommunication.
3. Be present
One good tip would be to always be around and present during every step of your renovation journey. Why this is important because this is to ensure that you are in the loop and know-how of every single detail of what is taking place and going on during renovation.
This way, you cannot only do a quality check but also make sure that you know if any additional cost needs to be incurred because of an unfortunate hiccup and if it could be avoided.
This is important not only to help you stay within your budget but also so that you can do quality control with renovation works in your house.
Swiss Interior is a top interior design firm in Singapore. We also provide home renovation, condo interior design, and HDB interior design services for homeowners in Singapore.
Contact and schedule an appointment with us today!
About Swiss Interior
Swiss Interior is a leading interior design company in Singapore since 2012. Led by founders Jason and Ronnie, the Swiss team serves customers from all walks of life, delivering bespoke and dream interior design and renovation services to all homeowners in Singapore.
Accreditations & Awards:
- Singapore outstanding enterprise award (2013)
- HomeRenoGuru Most Trusted ID (2019, 2020, 2021, 2022)
- First ID firm to win 1 Week Kitchen Challenge by HomeRenoGuru (2019)
- Featured in NOC RenoKing (2020)
- HomeRenoGuru Top 10 ID Firm (2020, 2021)
- Featured in CNA Lifestyle Making Room (2021)
- Qanvast SuperTrust (2021, 2022)
- Featured in HomeStyle Magazine Year End Cover Page (2021)
- Featured in Sheikh Haikel & Anna Belle Francis DreamHome (2022)
- Sidac Accreditation (2022)