For folks who are planning to renovate their homes, the very first decision you\u2019ll have to make is: do you want to hire an interior designer (ID), or a contractor?<\/p>\n
Generally speaking, it\u2019s cheaper to work with a contractor, but a contractor\u2019s scope of work is also limited. Unlike IDs, they don\u2019t take care of certain aspects, such as design work and conceptualisation.<\/p>\n
In this guide, we\u2019ll walk you through all the factors that you need to consider, and share the pros and cons of engaging an ID vs contractor. Read on to find out more!<\/p>\n
The main difference between IDs and contractors is that IDs are creatives – they can sit down with you and help you design your dream home.<\/p>\n[\/spb_text_block] [spb_image image=”17898″ image_size=”full” frame=”noframe” caption_pos=”below” remove_rounded=”yes” fullwidth=”no” overflow_mode=”none” link_target=”_self” lightbox=”no” intro_animation=”none” animation_delay=”200″ width=”1\/1″ el_position=”first last”][\/spb_image] [spb_text_block animation=”none” animation_delay=”0″ simplified_controls=”yes” custom_css_percentage=”no” padding_vertical=”0″ padding_horizontal=”0″ margin_vertical=”0″ custom_css=”margin-top: 0px;margin-bottom: 0px;” border_size=”0″ border_styling_global=”default” width=”1\/1″ el_position=”first last”]\n
IDs will also help you source for materials, accompany you on shopping trips to Hafary and explain the differences between the 1,000,000 tiles you\u2019ll find in the showroom. Plus, they\u2019ll take care of the project management aspect.<\/p>\n
On the other hand, contractors are a no-frill option. They do not <\/i>do any design work or conceptualising – they merely help you execute what you\u2019ve got planned out. Some contractors will go material sourcing with you, but most won\u2019t.<\/p>\nHow About Design-And-Build Companies?<\/h2>\n
If you\u2019ve never heard of design-and-build companies before, these essentially strike a middle ground between contractors and IDs.<\/p>\n
These folks do design and construction work, and they also take on project management. So the scope is roughly similar to that of an ID, but do expect more simple and straightforward designs. If you\u2019re very particular when it comes to design, or you have a certain artistic vision that you need help fulfilling, then you\u2019re probably better off with an ID than a design-and-build company.<\/p>\n
Here are a few things to consider when making your decision between an ID, contractor, and design-and-build company:<\/p>\n
Renovating as a newbie<\/b><\/p>\n[\/spb_text_block] [spb_image image=”17897″ image_size=”full” frame=”noframe” caption_pos=”below” remove_rounded=”yes” fullwidth=”no” overflow_mode=”none” link_target=”_self” lightbox=”no” intro_animation=”none” animation_delay=”200″ width=”1\/1″ el_position=”first last”][\/spb_image] [spb_text_block animation=”none” animation_delay=”0″ simplified_controls=”yes” custom_css_percentage=”no” padding_vertical=”0″ padding_horizontal=”0″ margin_vertical=”0″ custom_css=”margin-top: 0px;margin-bottom: 0px;” border_size=”0″ border_styling_global=”default” width=”1\/1″ el_position=”first last”]\n
Firstly, if it\u2019s your first time renovating, and you\u2019re not sure what to look out for, consider getting an ID instead of a contractor.<\/p>\n
For first-timers, you probably won\u2019t have enough insights and experience to know what to prioritise. An experienced contractor will ask you questions about your lifestyle and help you figure out how to design your home to best suit your needs.<\/p>\n
For example, if you\u2019re keen on building a platform bed<\/a> but you have plans to have a baby in the next few years, your ID might caution you against it, telling you that it\u2019ll be difficult for a pregnant woman to get in and out of a platform bed (since it\u2019s lower to the ground as compared to a normal bed).<\/p>\n When it comes to designing a livable, conducive space, the devil is really in the details! For many first-time homeowners, having an ID to be a sounding board and\/or point out certain things to them makes a world of difference.<\/p>\n Of course, if it\u2019s your first time renovating, but you\u2019re very clear on your requirements, then it\u2019s perfectly fine to go ahead and engage a contractor.<\/p>\n For example, say you\u2019ve rented a couple of places, and staying in each of the places has given you a good idea of what works and what doesn\u2019t work for you. Since you do already have that perspective, you may opt to skip the ID, and go the contractor route.<\/p>\n Are you big on aesthetics?<\/b><\/p>\n[\/spb_text_block] [spb_image image=”17896″ image_size=”full” frame=”noframe” caption_pos=”below” remove_rounded=”yes” fullwidth=”no” overflow_mode=”none” link_target=”_self” lightbox=”no” intro_animation=”none” animation_delay=”200″ width=”1\/1″ el_position=”first last”][\/spb_image] [spb_text_block animation=”none” animation_delay=”0″ simplified_controls=”yes” custom_css_percentage=”no” padding_vertical=”0″ padding_horizontal=”0″ margin_vertical=”0″ custom_css=”margin-top: 0px;margin-bottom: 0px;” border_size=”0″ border_styling_global=”default” width=”1\/1″ el_position=”first last”]\n The next question to ask yourself is: are aesthetics important to you? Obviously, in an ideal world, you\u2019d be able to have a home that\u2019s both aesthetic and <\/i>functional, but if you really had to choose, which would you prioritise?<\/p>\n If aesthetics are big to you, you might be more suited to working with an ID. This is because an ID can give you advice on design, and ensure that each of your rooms are renovated in a manner that\u2019s cohesive and fitting to your overall theme. (In contrast to that, as we mentioned earlier, a contractor will simply carry out instructions without asking or giving feedback on design choices).<\/p>\n Plus, renovations aside, furniture also plays a huge role in contributing to the overall look and feel of a home. If you\u2019re working with an ID, you can ask your ID to help you source for furniture, or recommend certain stores that go with your chosen theme. (Again, this is out of scope for contractors).<\/p>\n Managing the process<\/b><\/p>\n[\/spb_text_block] [spb_image image=”17895″ image_size=”full” frame=”noframe” caption_pos=”below” remove_rounded=”yes” fullwidth=”no” overflow_mode=”none” link_target=”_self” lightbox=”no” intro_animation=”none” animation_delay=”200″ width=”1\/1″ el_position=”first last”][\/spb_image] [spb_text_block animation=”none” animation_delay=”0″ simplified_controls=”yes” custom_css_percentage=”no” padding_vertical=”0″ padding_horizontal=”0″ margin_vertical=”0″ custom_css=”margin-top: 0px;margin-bottom: 0px;” border_size=”0″ border_styling_global=”default” width=”1\/1″ el_position=”first last”]\n Lastly, think about whether you have the time and bandwidth to manage a renovation process. If it\u2019s a hard no<\/i>, then an ID will be more suitable for you.<\/p>\n If you want to go with a contractor, you\u2019ll need to have sufficient time to manage the entire process. Depending on how much work is being done, you might need to take some time off work to oversee the work, and ensure that everything\u2019s on track.<\/p>\n That aside, you also need to be comfortable giving your contractor instructions and communicating with them.<\/p>\n A quick note on the project management process: some folks will tell you that if you\u2019re working with a contractor, you\u2019ll need to individually speak to your main contractor, sub-contractors, and electrician and plumbing technicians. Obviously, this sounds a lot more troublesome than just talking to one person (an ID), who can oversee all your contractors.<\/p>\n However, this isn\u2019t necessarily the case – there are many contractors in Singapore who function as a \u201chead contractor\u201d of sorts. You can tell them all your needs and they\u2019ll subcontract out the work and manage that on their end – so you won\u2019t have multiple points of contact that you have to liaise with. However, everything else still holds: you\u2019ll still need to give them specific instructions, and manage the process.<\/p>\n Once you\u2019ve made your choice, it\u2019s time to talk to a couple of vendors, and figure out which company you want to go with.<\/p>\n[\/spb_text_block] [spb_image image=”17894″ image_size=”full” frame=”noframe” caption_pos=”below” remove_rounded=”yes” fullwidth=”no” overflow_mode=”none” link_target=”_self” lightbox=”no” intro_animation=”none” animation_delay=”200″ width=”1\/1″ el_position=”first last”][\/spb_image] [spb_text_block animation=”none” animation_delay=”0″ simplified_controls=”yes” custom_css_percentage=”no” padding_vertical=”0″ padding_horizontal=”0″ margin_vertical=”0″ custom_css=”margin-top: 0px;margin-bottom: 0px;” border_size=”0″ border_styling_global=”default” width=”1\/1″ el_position=”first last”]\n Now, a word of caution: there are plenty of renovation scams out there, and the construction industry is notoriously problematic. You\u2019ll want to do your due diligence, to make sure that you\u2019re hiring a legit company.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re going with a contractor, look at the list of vendors<\/a> approved under the Registered Renovation Contractors\u2019 Scheme (RRCS). These contractors are certified and understand HDB\u2019s numerous rules and requirements, so you\u2019ll be in safe hands with them.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re going the ID route, make sure the ID you\u2019ve chosen is CaseTrust accredited. All companies that are accredited by CaseTrust will protect their customer\u2019s deposit payment by purchasing a deposit performance bond. In the scenario where the company closes down before the work is complete, you\u2019ll be able to get your deposit back.<\/p>\n Finally, also read up on reviews on Hometrust<\/a>! When shortlisting your vendors, see what other people have to say about each vendor, and whether these vendors were able to provide a positive renovation experience.<\/p>\n[\/spb_text_block] [spb_divider type=”thin” text=”Go to top” top_margin=”0px” bottom_margin=”30px” fullwidth=”no” width=”1\/1″ el_position=”first last”] [spb_text_block animation=”none” animation_delay=”0″ simplified_controls=”yes” custom_css_percentage=”no” padding_vertical=”0″ padding_horizontal=”0″ margin_vertical=”0″ custom_css=”margin-top: 0px;margin-bottom: 0px;” border_size=”0″ border_styling_global=”default” width=”1\/1″ el_position=”first last”]\n Want to check out home renovation projects for more inspiration? Browse design ideas<\/a> on Hometrust, or click the button below to get connected with expert designers.<\/p>\n[\/spb_text_block] [\/spb_row] [spb_boxed_content type=”whitestroke” custom_bg_colour=”#f2f2f2″ box_link_target=”_self” padding_vertical=”4″ padding_horizontal=”5″ width=”1\/1″ el_position=”first last”]\n If you are reading this, you are probably wondering how you can create your dream home.<\/p>\nFinding A Legit ID Or Contractor In Singapore<\/h2>\n
Renovating soon? Let Hometrust recommend the best interior designers.<\/strong><\/h2>\n