Ask a homeowner (any <\/i>homeowner) how their renovations are going, and chances are you\u2019ll hear something along the lines of\u2026<\/p>\n
\u201cAiya, it got delayed by XX weeks. What to do?\u201d<\/p>\n
For some reason, it seems like renovation delays happen more often than not.<\/p>\n
In this article, we\u2019ll walk you through some common causes of renovation delays, and teach you how to minimize the risk of delays.<\/p>\n
Read on to find out more!<\/p>\n
There are many smaller delays that can contribute to an overall delay in your renovation. These include:<\/p>\n
Whenever you source your materials (for instance, tiles) overseas, there\u2019s a risk that you\u2019ll encounter delays due to supply chain issues.<\/p>\n
To avoid this, we recommend sourcing for materials locally whenever possible.<\/p>\n
If you\u2019re a first-time homeowner, you might not realise that you\u2019ll need an HDB permit<\/a> for many customisations and alterations to your HDB flat.<\/p>\n[\/spb_text_block] [spb_image image=”18222″ 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 For instance, if you want to hack your walls, replace your windows, change the placement of your doors, or reposition your sink\u2026 all of that requires permits.<\/p>\n The good news? Most IDs or contractors worth their salt will know how to go about this process – they\u2019ll submit an electronic renovation application on your behalf, and all you need to do is to sign the acknowledgement form that gets submitted along with the application.<\/p>\n The not-so-good news? It can take up to 3 weeks for permits to be approved.<\/p>\n To avoid having to wait too long, plan backwards, and make sure you apply for your permits as early as possible.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re renovating a condo instead of an HDB, depending on the scope of your works, you may need to apply for approval from your estate’s Management Corporation (MC).<\/p>\n Here are some examples:<\/p>\n We\u2019ve heard of mistakes such as the wrong wall being hacked – in this scenario, it obviously causes a huge delay in the timeline as your contractor will need to rectify the mistake.<\/p>\n This typically happens when you work with contractors instead of hiring an ID – if you\u2019ve opted to go the ID route, your ID is meant to manage the entire project for you, so there shouldn\u2019t be such major mistakes or errors.<\/p>\n With contractors, it\u2019s possible that a lack of communication between subcontractors or different contractors can lead to these issues. Bear in mind that you\u2019ll have to be a lot more hands-on (visiting the project site more frequently, monitoring the works and checking that everything is done properly) in order to avoid these mistakes.<\/p>\n This isn\u2019t anything new – the construction industry has been facing a labour crunch<\/a> for some time now, and there is a lack of skilled craftsmen, tilers, and carpenters, contributing to delays in projects.<\/p>\n One easy fix? Purchase off-the-rack furniture and fittings rather than doing custom carpentry and fittings. This doesn\u2019t just help you save time and minimize the chances of delays, it will also reduce your renovation costs.<\/p>\n Instead of getting a built-in TV console and a built-in wardrobe, consider getting a standalone TV console and a standalone wardrobe.<\/p>\n[\/spb_text_block] [spb_image image=”18225″ 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”]\n When it comes to your kitchen, it\u2019s also possible to purchase off-the-shelf kitchen cabinets instead of getting carpenters to build cabinets for you. IKEA has many options, and you can customise just about every component, from the countertop material to the doors to the fittings inside the cabinets.<\/p>\n PS: You can also purchase off-the-shelf kitchen islands at IKEA!<\/p>\n Last but not least, obviously, when homeowners change their mind last minute and make alterations to their design, this also causes a delay in timelines.<\/p>\n[\/spb_text_block] [spb_image image=”18223″ 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 This one is pretty tricky – on one hand, this is your home that you\u2019re talking about, and it\u2019s arguably worth spending that extra time if you think that the proposed changes will drastically improve your quality of life at home.<\/p>\n On the other hand, you basically give up any rights you have to complain about the delay – because it\u2019s incurred by your last-minute changes.<\/p>\n Our take? If you really have to, then go for it. However, you can minimise the chances of this happening by taking your time to figure out what you want in the beginning.<\/p>\n Instead of rushing into a project and committing to a specific build, talk to different IDs<\/a>, look at as many homes as you can, and really dig deep and be intentional about figuring out what works for you.<\/p>\n Regardless of how much you plan, you won\u2019t be able to completely eliminate the risk of delays – that\u2019s just not going to happen.<\/p>\n With this in mind, you might want to come up with a contingency plan for renovation delays, depending on your current housing situation.<\/p>\n[\/spb_text_block] [spb_image image=”18224″ 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 For newly-wed couples who are staying separately (aka each person is staying with their own parents) while waiting for their renovations to be done: this is the easiest-case scenario. Assuming you can continue staying with your parents, the cheapest option for you is to just stay put for however long your renovation gets delayed, with no extra costs incurred.<\/p>\n For newly-wed couples who are renting while waiting for their renovations to be done: check your rental contract or chat with your agent\/landlord to see if it\u2019s possible to extend your lease by 1 or 2 months if possible.<\/p>\n Whether your landlord is agreeable will probably depend on how hot the market is – at the time of writing, rental prices are through the roof<\/a>, which means that your landlord might want to terminate your lease once it\u2019s up and immediately put their house back on the market (in order to rent it out at a higher price).<\/p>\n If that\u2019s the situation that you\u2019re in, there are several things you can do:<\/p>\n If you end up moving into a smaller temporary space, you may want to rent a self-storage facility to store your belongings in the meantime.<\/p>\n Prices vary based on the amount of space you need + how long you need to store your items for, but budget at least $200 a month.<\/p>\n Regardless of which route you take, you will probably have to incur more cost than you originally planned for. Make sure you\u2019ve got enough in your bank account – you don\u2019t want to have to stress about paying your rent while managing your renovation at the same time.<\/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 home 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>\n\n
Mistakes that need to be rectified<\/h3>\n
Lack of manpower<\/h3>\n
405B Northshore Drive ($28,000) by Starry Homestead
\n<\/a><\/h6>\n[\/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”]\nChanging your mind<\/h3>\n
Planning For Renovation Delays<\/h2>\n
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Renovating soon? Let Hometrust recommend the best interior designers.<\/strong><\/h2>\n