I 3D visualised my house with Sims 4 before we built it 🤣 Turned out quite nice honestly.

Wah! I am really in a dilemma either to hire IDs vs just contractors itself. And your video just pops up as a recommendation! Thank you so much leh! I will take your advice!

I disagree. I did my house reno 1 yr ago for $12,000 total. I did Hacking and removal works, tile flooring, lighting with ceiling fans, aircon, kitchen cabinets, bedroom doors, living room feature wall, shoe cabinet and painting. That's for a 4 room resale flat. Another $14,000 for white goods, leather sofa, king and queen size bed, bosch washer dryer hood and stove, various small ikea taobao stuff. ID would have charged $40,000 minimum for reno only (I got a few quotes) I see so many of my friends currently going through financial hardships after shelling out so much for reno, causing lots of stress with their spouse. Me and my spouse are so happy, due mainly to being debt free except for mortgage. We are taking Covid as a time to relax at home and do things together. Saving up for 2nd 🏠. If newlywed, I recommend doing your reno yourself, or finding a good contractor that doubles up as a project manager. Don't spend a bomb and then have to work forever to pay for it.

It baffles me everytime people think renovation can be done yrself. There is a lot of intricacies you cant imagine and every project takes us hundreds of hours. As an ID myself my own house reno and design put me in quarrelsome situation with my partner. I cant imagine layman how they manage to make decision half informed and half guessing and then later spend money to rectify they works the 'didnt imagined'

Hiring an ID allows one to start off from an experience higher than Level 0 which is the level of homeowners who DIY with direct contractors. Also that IDs might have their regular contractor partners who they work with and "get" what they say. The thing is to get an ID who gets you or able to ask the right questions. For example, the watch cabinet might also turn out the way the carpenter builds it if the ID put the watch flat and not rolled up... It also boils down to communication, exactly how u put the watch, or better yet, decide the dimensions yourself and the guys just have to execute. I believe these communications have to be done regardless ID or no ID. (Am not an ID)

Hi Chiouhuey! I watched your video and I could instantly relate! I have a full time job, I study part-time and running a side business. I am half way through my renovation journey and I suffered a really terrible burnout. Despite going through it with my husband, I did most most of the decision-making for the aesthetics of my house only because I used to be a Creative designer. As compared to me, my husband had little design sense. I overlooked the entire thing - from the layout of the house, theme, to the tiling, flooring, toilet and kitchen fixtures, the carpentry works and the laminates, the lightings, the curtains and blinds, the paint colour of the walls, the furniture to even the colour of our bedsheets. Every single detail took up so much of my brain juice even though I had prior creative experience. Building a house is a whole new ball game as a first timer and I wish there was someone there to give me tips and advice throughout the entire process. Thankfully, I do not have that big of a generation communication gap with my contractor as he is my husband’s cousin. That said, I feel like the style of both IDs and Contractors different, Contractors are prioritise the job and functionality of things. IDs may sometimes prioritise aesthetics over functionality. I feel like both aesthetics and functionality play and equally important role. You want your future home of the next (5 to 10 years) to not just look nice and comfortable, you also want to have it easy to maintain, not too complicated or looking only trendy for awhile instead of a design that is overall everlasting (in case trends fade out and your home start to look “outdated”). Initially I wanted to go with an ID too but dropped them half way. As much as hiring IDs has its perks, I also feel that it is necessary to find a *GOOD* ID. Some IDs (start-ups/medium firms) may have their own personal agendas and may take your project as a bait to create a portfolio of their own preference (convincing you to go with a style that is not entirely to your liking) instead of heeding to what you like. Others who’ve been in the industry for too long may have outdated styles and propose something that is too common or may just take your job as a job. There are many kinds of IDs with different working style and experience so I guess it is also necessary to do research on finding the right ID. Like you’ve mentioned, there have been horror stories with IDs. So the bottom line at the end of the day is to do as much research as possible before committing to an ID or a contractor. This is probably an advice I’d like to highlight to future home owners. I wished I started my research way earlier. Anyhow, thanks for sharing your reno journey! The tips were very relatable and important for first time home owners like myself. I still think your theme is super Chio (because chiouhuey), whatever theme it may be. I hope your next house will be a better experience (if you have that opportunity to in future). Good luck! :)

I am about to renovate my new apartment soon and despite that I have a definite design theme, I decided to stick to an ID instead of a contractor as I think it will save me time on overseeing the project. The important thing is to ensure you engage an ID which understands your style and is on the same wavelength with you.

120% agree!!! I thought it would all be easy but pffffttttttttt. Stress until no tmr. For those who are renovating a 2nd hand home - it may be even more stressful when you are hacking the whole house.

I agree with you. Most of the people who wants to have reno thought that they will save money if they don't hire ID or even architect. They are excited on the DYI process that looks like easy to do but it's not. Micro managing people at site is not easy especially if the client don't know the every each of the details. And sometimes, when the contractor did something that the client's don't like, it will cost more to the client for the change order. Thanks you for this video.

Well, agreed but need to check before commit because base on my experience, not all ID are actually ID. They call as consultant/ senior consultant and they seem to do only coordination work. They don’t really initiate to provide 3D, drawing and drawing plan...until got to chase and chase. However, if lucky, you will really meet a professional, detail , responsible, and nice ID.

every time she says 'Liars' with somebody my body shivers

Same I'll advice to get an id. Especially if you are not someone with design experience. They can work within your budget. For me I'm not much of a hands on guy so all those measurements can be taken care of for me.

Thank you for sharing! Very informative as we are getting our bto house in 3 yrs time and im considering getting a ID. I Will do a home Tour also.

Bold girl 👏🏻

I enjoyed this video because it’s hilarious and I know exactly what you went through coz I did that once too many years ago. It was a complete nightmare.

If you had to worry about randomise tiles then your lucky. I had way bigger problems with my tilers and had to lower my expectations to that of a 10 year old kid doing my tiling.

I paid extra high price for a hdb just for its recently-done renovation. Because I’m so scared to do reno!! All i did was just painting and grouting and I alr soooo stressed with the schedule etc! Have to book, supervise, after that paint kena my cupboards....

11:30 Choosing bigger tiles means less grout lines & thus less water drainage, so I thought that raises the risk of the floor becoming more slippery & you falling down?

Very useful information.

Want to add on to this. Don't choose an noob AUNTIE ID. Again with the generation gap. My ID was too complacent, not knowledgeable and gave really bad colour/design cue. My house initially looked like the colour of a kid's playground and I had to make a bunch of last minute changes. It's okay to spend a little bit more for quality

Hahaha your imitation of uncles super 到位

Like your kitchen cabinet doors. U have your carpenter contact?

Afterall it all goes down to your time vs money. Judge if your time is more worth to hire ID or spend time to save money.

if my house look like that i would also be mad lmao

Even when choosing an ID, choose wisely.. There are definitely few rotten apples amongst the many good ones😅..

haha I understand your feeling me and my husband also doesn't have an ID and lucky my husband job is more flexible he can go down and check it out when they are renovating.But I totally agreed on the uncle contractor part which you told them this color then they gave you another color or maybe note down wrongly .

Thank goodness I just engaged an ID

I am my own id! Just scroll through pictures and show my Contractors without the expensive price tag and haggle! Plus my Contractors drew out my drawings for me and make necessary changes! Copy those id pics lor or change colours settle Liao haha!

Chiohuey should become an ID herself! I will def ask her do my house if she is ID!!!

Hi chiou huey, could you pls share your contacts for your various contractors? (Tiling, carpentry, etc) thanks!!

Chiou, can I check who did you engage for the installation of kitchen cabinets etc

Get an ID through referral. Chinese saying 'wool harvest from sheep'. If qanvast can offer guarantee, where they get funds for this warranty?? Contractors are good at quoting cheap prices and later claim variation works. Cost sharing thereafter? You can make a guess. Hence you will aso need a contract person to guide you thru your reno. Just get a trust worthy ID recommended by your close ones will do. As for your wide warobe. You want to measure the width of your hanger before u claim it's too wide?

Where did you get the golden looking clock at the last few mins of your video?

Hello, do you mind sharing the contacts for your contractors? Thanks!

sponsored video, meaning i should DIY my own reno :))

Nice sharing.

How much you did for your home ?

I will consult you for sure when it's my time :") HAHA

y am i here, i dont even have a house of my own =(

Your hokkien steady la... kuching?

Hahahaha "Bao Gah liao" , Jar Bar lung". Convey your messages to the world, some may really crack their brains what's on earth you contain with your typical words of a singaporean proposing own renovation of a typical 🏠 house in Singapore. Is true that houses in Singapore are more luxurious than some of the asia countries like Hong Kong and would even be more spacious and glamorous after renovation. You can speak slower in your speech in future so that viewer can even get a more clear message from you.