Interior Designer Allegedly Left HDB Flat With Cracks, Poor Paint Jobs & A Faulty Toilet Door
Singaporean couple Ms Gan and Mr Kwong had gone into the renovation process of their new flat believing that it would be exciting and enjoyable. But the interior designer (ID) they hired was supposedly so bad that the process felt more like a nightmare instead.
Ms Gan detailed the couple’s vexing experience with the ID in a Facebook post dated 28 Sep. She also attached a few pictures as evidence of how poorly done the flat was when the ID handed it back to them.
Interior designer displayed poor workmanship
The first meeting had gone well, according to Ms Gan. The IDs impressed themselves as serious and professional.
But, as Ms Gan wrote, the problems soon surfaced when renovations began. Here’s a summary:
- Additional hidden costs
- Did not change windows as instructed
- Carpentry was poor
- Asked to source design for cabinet basket on their own
- Air-con trunking not properly hidden
- Did not offer solutions to hide exposed pipes
- Did not install TV console properly
- Did not offer to re-plaster walls (for resale flat)
Walls with shallow potholes
Source
Poor paint jobs
Source
Poor paint job at window rims
Source
Manager met them and was very rude
Once they saw how poorly the house had been done, they immediately asked to see the manager of the ID firm. The manager who met with them was, according to Ms Gan, “defensive and rude to (their) parents.”
And when the couple emailed the CEO on 5 Aug, he allegedly said that the ID would give them a $500 goodwill discount. He also supposedly told them to come up with a list of things they wished rectified.
However, for about a full week, nothing was done. Communication was also apparently poor, with the ID supposedly replying late and without anything substantial.
ID drafts letter asking couple to pay balance money
On 13 Aug, the ID purportedly sent the couple a letter. The letter presumably specified that the couple will agree not to proceed with remaining works, will not hold the ID responsible for the poor job by external contractors, and that they will pay the ID the balance fee.
The ID then allegedly told the couple that they will not continue work unless the couple signed the agreement.
After 2 weeks of back-and-forth, with the couple meeting the CEO somewhere in between, rectification works began.
Again, as reflected in Ms Gan’s post, the rectification works were not done properly and the couple had to go through another round of bickering with the ID.
Works finally finished 2 months late
The renovation was supposed to be done by 27 Jul, but instead, because of all the delays, it was done on 16 Sep. Ms Gan also added that the process was not only time-consuming but also very mentally draining.
No surprise that they left a horrible review for the ID on Qanvast, which was where they had found the ID initially.
Now, we’ve only heard one side of the story. So perhaps we ought to give the ID firm some benefit of the doubt. In any case, MS News hopes that both parties will figure whatever remaining problems between them amicably.
We have also reached out to Qanvast for a comment on this matter.
Featured images adapted from Facebook.
