When A Home Turned Into a Home‑Under‑Construction
Moving into a new place should feel like stepping onto a fresh landing strip, but for one family it felt more like an aerial megaloop on a broken treadmill. Jane and her husband bought a unit in February and were soon handed a contractor—a distantly‑related cousin their niece introduced them to.
What Went Wrong?
In a whirlwind of promises, the contractor quoted a rough estimate of about US$45,000. He assured Jane they’d kick off work in early September and handed over a finished home by October.
Before even grading the dirt, he said the materials had to be bought first because pandemic prices had skyrocketed.
Jane made a hefty deposit of $20,000 on March 1, and the actual renovation started on September 5.
- Throughout the project, the contractor kept asking for the “remaining sum.”
- Jane ended up paying a total of $46,360.
- Should have been completed. Instead, the house was still half‑fenced, the kitchen had no stove, sink, or cabinets, and the living room and bedrooms were a construction puzzle unfinished.
- The kitchen wall where an altar would go was hammered out, toilets were shoddy, and the walls were left unpainted.
When Shin Min’s journalist squad visited the Pasir Ris flat, they’d find the family asleep on air mattresses, windows wrapped in newspapers – the kind of creative packing you’d only see at an extreme make‑over.
Spirited Attempts, Silly Results
Jane tried keeping the contractor in line: “He says we’ll get the necessary manpower approval, but what about the works? He’s silent until we text.” Even though he promised a refund, it never arrived.
Alan is flaking over the entire electrical setup: power trips whenever you try to juggle even a few appliances. He tried to celebrate Deepavali, but the reality was a bit more “Deep-ava-later…..”
What The Family Does Next?
The brother’s plan: file a police report, track down a new reliable contractor, or try the Grand‑Parent‑Version of DIY. Either way, the family of six is learning that the purchase price isn’t the only thing you pay—there’s also the price of unfinished drywall & retreat‑from-the-remote‑learning.
Stay tuned – we’ll see if they manage to unite family and home, or if this remains a case study on unfulfilled promises and shredded paperwork.
Contractor said couple interfered with his work
Contractor’s Unsayso! Passion over Project Missteps
When Shin Min hit the line, the contractor — who’d chosen to stay incognito — had a stash of complaints of his own. He told the Chinese daily that he never even promised the renovations would finish by October, and that Jane and Alan kept poking their noses into his work.
What Went Wrong
- After Alan berated his crew, they politely decided it was a good day to skip work.
- The contractor claims he did his best to meet most of Alan’s demands, but “I didn’t make any promises.”
Next Steps
The contractor is still hanging tight on the authorities’ green light and plans to neatly tie up loose ends once the paperwork works out. He’s also ready to back‑track and give a refund for the unfinished work, but, of course, he’ll have to crunch the numbers first.
Behind the Scenes
Armed with over 15 years of experience and a reputation that’s “pretty good,” the contractor confessed, “I’m pretty bummed about taking on this project.” He added, with a pinch of humor, “If we can’t sort this out, we’ll head straight to the courtroom.”
Not the only one
<img alt="" data-caption="The tiles in this 36-year-old woman's kitchen cracked in June, so she engaged a contractor to renovate the entire kitchen.
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Renovation Drama: When “Good Luck” Turns Into a Kitchen Catastrophe
Jane and Alan’s renovation woes are just the tip of the iceberg. Last month, a 36‑year‑old house‑owner found herself in the infamous state of “all the paint’s on the wall, but the cabinets are a mystery!”
The Grand Plan: A Lucky Day
- She chose October 7 because, in her view, it was the perfect blend of feng shui and calendar alignment.
- Materials? Already delivered to her front door.
- And the contractors? They were scheduled to start bright and early the same day.
Reality Check: The Cancelled Crew
Just hours before the big kick‑off, the crew called her—
“We’re out—sorry! We can’t start because: We have no idea which cabinet material to use!“
Apparently, the contractor had warned that failing to finalize the cabinet material would delay the whole project. The homeowner’s claim? The decision on the cabinet material was never truly finalized.
Why “You Don’t Pick Tiny Details” Isn’t Enough
- It’s easy to get excited about the big picture and ignore the small spec sheets.
- When that small detail gets left hanging, the whole finish can flop.
- It’s a classic communication gap—the contractor didn’t see the final version, the homeowner didn’t confirm it.
Bottom Line
Choosing an auspicious date is great for feelings, but the real magic is in the details. Before calling in the pros, double‑check every specification—especially the cabinet material. Otherwise, you might end up with a kitchen that’s stylishly empty of cabinets.
