In most Singapore homes today, cooking is a daily.
There’s nothing better than a warm and delicious meal waiting for you back home after a long and tedious day in the office.
So, it’s hardly surprising that more Singapore families are investing good money in making the kitchen a welcoming space for the entire family. And it all boils down to how you design and renovate your kitchen.
If you’re considering working on a kitchen remodelling project, there are some key things to take note of. Miss out on some of this and you could find yourself with an expensive and ineffective endeavour.
That’s why we’ve compiled our 10 Fatal Sins of any Kitchen Remodelling Project.
1. Failing to do Background Check on the Contractor
If you fail to do a check on the contractor in the planning phase then you might end up being short-changed with a dubious contractor who fails to deliver.
Verify with a number of sources on the credibility of the contractor and look up the past track records before engaging the contractor for your kitchen remodelling project.
Here’s a useful article to help you choose a reliable kitchen contractor for your renovation project.
2. Paying in Full or Paying a Huge Deposit Upfront
Don’t pay in full unless you’re absolutely certain that all the work has been completed to your satisfaction. There is no point complaining upon discovering a whole lot of unfinished work or touch-up work to be done, once the money has been paid.
At this point it would be very difficult to get the contractor to prioritise your work as they would have probably moved on to other projects. So ensure that before making complete payment, you do a thorough check of the work done.
3. Failing to Make Frequent Visits to Monitor Progress
It is of utmost importance to constantly check in on the work done. Doing so would ensure that any miscommunication can be sorted out early and the work should progress as planned. Also, the contractors will be kept on their toes if constant checks are done and you would probably get immediate updates and feedback on the work-in-progress.
You would also probably spot any unwarranted work early and halt it before it snowballs out of hand.
4. Failing to Draft a Kitchen Remodelling Contract
It is not only crucial to enter into a contract but also it is absolutely necessary to read every clause in the contract.
This way any dispute can be handled in a civilised manner and the document would hold the contractor liable to the work done and completion deadline and also helps to alleviate your worry if things do not go as planned.
5. Allowing the Work to Drag on for more than 6 months
Seek compensation if the work drags on indefinitely. This would be a huge inconvenience to you no matter what the reason given by the contractor.
Negotiate for a lower renovation payment if the delay is unavoidable.
6. Bursting the Budget
You should always plan for 15-25% above your budget. Note that all the little additions do add up very quickly.
It’s better to anticipate the additional fees involved and plan to include this in the budget then to be left red faced.
7. Not Insisting on Getting an Invoice Immediately
Insist on getting the invoice immediately and start a file to keep these invoices safely.
This might come in very useful if there is minor repair work to be done and the repair work falls within the first few months of completion of your renovation project.
8. Not Understanding What will Save Money
At times, a major overhaul may not be the best choice and at other times a complete replacement of the unit could prove to be a wise decision. These days with easy online access to warehousing ecommerce stalls like taobao can save you on kitchen accessory cost while still creating a premium and trendy look for your kitchen.
Plan wisely and think carefully before commencing on your renovation project.
9. Not Choosing the Appliance First
Epic fail if your $5000 fridge is way too big for the space that had been allocated for it or if the fridge door cannot be opened fully. It is extremely important to follow the adage, “Measure twice and cut once”.
10. Rushing into the Project without Understanding the Workflow
You are the most suitable person to decide and plan how your kitchen remodelling project should proceed. Think through the workflow to determine the placement of appliances or items in the kitchen like your stove, oven, microwave oven, dishwasher etc.
Understand the workflow of which appliance should be placed where to create a cosy yet workable solution that makes your remodelled kitchen work for you.