Get to know Apartment Pte Ltd through friend’s contact.
Initial stage:
Planning, discussion of the renovation was pleasant. IDs gave practical advice and ideas for first-time homeowners, and shared that they use good quality materials and would provide good service to us.
Though there were hiccups throughout the renovation journey, IDs/ workers managed to rectify/ resolve these issues. Examples: Waterproofing of toilets, wrong wardrobe design done up.
Change of new carpentry company; horrendous carpentry and rectification:
Due to Malaysia MCO/ covid situation in SG etc and after our renovation got delayed (for approx. 1 month), Apartment Pte Ltd informed us that they have engaged a new company to do our carpentry which led to bad workmanship done.
- Scratches on kitchen cabinets & wardrobes. Informed ID and was told that workers would rectify it. Took weeks to rectify and we end up realising on our own that rectification was done by PASTING STICKERS of the same laminate design on the carpentry to cover up the scratches. The stickers were so hideous and it looked like pasting pimple patches on the face trying to conceal imperfections.
- Spoilt soft closing of cabinet doors provided.
Under-delivery of services and promises from ID and team:
- Bathroom accessories (which were ready in the house for months) such as the mirror was not put up (stated in our contract). No proactiveness from ID to ensure all items are up.
- LED driver (dangerous if left open) in our cabinets were not covered up. When we questioned ID about it, ID indifferently shared a photo of the covers which were kept in the storeroom by their workers and seemed like they were expecting owners to know what the covers were for and to do it ourselves.
- Chip off at acrylic panel of toilet and was not fixed.
- Tiling in toilets weren’t done up to standard. Grout not done properly.
- Water pipe was choked. Though ID came down and tried to rectify it by pouring some acid down, the pipe was still choking the next day.
Review on ID & team:
There was no proper communication in updating of progress and rectification. No time management; took their time to revise 3D and renovation, always late for meetups.
ID is irresponsible, insincere, not meticulous and gave empty promises.
Examples:
- What we have requested ID to help us to do such as handyman services (and ID agreed) were not done up.
- Electrical quotation does not tally with our understanding and what has been done. Have to keep pressing and asked for missing/ additional items stated in the quotation. Met up with ID to count and tally for about 2 hours but to no conclusion because ID was as clueless as well.
- ID did not keep track and monitor the renovation project; no proactiveness in updating us on progress and ensuring things were done up and their workers even left our lights on throughout the day(s) though work has ended.
Overall, we encountered continuous delays WITHOUT explanation:
- From a renovation that requires 2 months which could have been done by Aug 2021, ID then informed us that by the end Sep 2021 he could handover to us.
- However, even by early Oct 2021, they were unable to hand over and things aren’t done up properly and with good quality/ standard.
- Asked when will ID be able to handover, ID was informed to give him 1 more week whereby nothing was done up and though things were done, they took 1 week to paste stickers to conceal scratches on our carpentry.
- Continuous delays of doing up loose ends of renovation and there was NO initiative from ID to explain/ inform us about the delay.
Conclusion:
Throughout this renovation journey, in order to get things done, homeowners need to become project managers whereby we need to question IDs on the progress and rectifications to be done. As a new homeowner, this renovation journey with Apartment Pte Ltd was a DISAPPOINTMENT. Gave IDs and team ample time to do up our renovation properly but they did not do so. Basically, they over-promised us and gave us empty promises and they are unable to deliver what they have promised.
