How to Carry Out a Stress-Free Renovation

There are so many things to consider and worry about when starting your HDB home renovation. Choosing the right contractors, managing the costs and making sure you get the outcome you desire all depend on your efforts.

Even if you need to renovate the interior design of your Singapore flat quickly, it’s still essential to dedicate a bit of time to the preliminary steps. If you do your research and you know what you want in advance, the experience will be much less stressful and more rewarding.

Our guide to a stress-free home renovation will shed some light on the most essential steps that will help you improve the interior of your home without experiencing a disaster along the way.

Determine the Scope of the Project in Advance

Stress-free renovations are heavily dependent on knowing what you want and identifying the right way to get there.

What’s the number one issue you want to address? Is there a functional problem? An emergency that has to be fixed? Does the interior design of your home appear to be outdated?

If you can’t answer the question on your own, get a bit of professional assistance. A Singapore interior designer will examine the condition of your HDB flat, try to understand your main goal and give you a list of possible renovations based on these specifics.

When you have a clear project scope, you can also work out the budget and the types of contractors you’ll need to hire. Always research contractors and to get the best results, look for professional teams that HDB licensed. Get quotes in advance and compare these documents side by side. If possible, you should also ask for referrals from former customers.

All of these preliminary steps will give you a clearer idea about what you’re going to get yourself into and how much it’s going to cost. Researching contractors will also help you rest assured that your beloved home is in the right hands.

Carry Out Renovations at the Right Time

Carrying out thorough renovations while you’re attempting to live in the flat will eventually lead to disaster.

Try to time renovation works so that you can arrange for alternative living arrangements.

A minimum would be to get kids out of the house. Children need a routine and a healthy schedule. Trying to give your children stability while the home is being renovated is a mission impossible.

It’s best for you or your spouse to get out of the flat with the children while the renovation is taking place. One of you should still stick around to oversee work and make sure that the project’s being executed according to specifications.

One other thing you’ll be responsible for is letting your neighbours know that renovation is going to be taking place. This is especially important for noisy works or processes that may cause dirt and dust accumulating. It’s best to get the acceptance of neighbours in advance rather than to deal with angry calls and threats after the work commences.

Discuss All Important Decisions before Work Starts

One of the biggest causes of stress during home renovations is believing one thing is going to happen and getting a completely different outcome.

It’s crucial to talk to contractors and manage expectations before work begins.

Don’t assume that the vision in your head is easy for contractors to understand. Discuss all aspects of the projects, including the tasks that may seem to be obvious or self-explanatory. While you may waste a bit of time engaging in such a discussion, you’ll be confident in the relevance of the outcome.

Ask contractors about how they’re going to handle the different processes. Get a step by step outline of the renovations and the cost of each individual milestone. For best results, these should be presented clearly in the renovation contract.

Having the scope of work described in the agreement and signed by both parties will prevent unpleasant surprises, delays and the accumulation of additional expenditure along the way.

Hire an Interior Design Team to Supervise Renovations

Having a professional on your side is the best way to eliminate renovation stress altogether.

A Singapore interior designer will deal with an HDB flat renovation from scratch to finish.

A professional will outline the scope of work, help you choose the right contractors, ensure the supply of proper materials and hold the renovation team accountable. Designers understand HDB regulations, they know which modifications are permissible and which ones you should refrain from making.

Some people worry that hiring interior design companies will cost them more than attempting to handle renovation management on their own.

Very often, however, trying to supervise renovations on your own will end up being costlier.

Your lack of knowledge and experience may lead to a subpar result that may have to be addressed once again in the future. Additionally, HDB regulation problems and errors could lead to fines that are a massive cause of stress and additional expenses.

Hence, Singapore interior designers can help you save money while also getting the home of your dreams.

A home renovation should be a cause for joy rather than a dreadful experience that leads to lots of stress.

Don’t rush through the steps, even if you are pressed by circumstances. Rushed jobs typically contribute to regret later on. In addition, spend enough time identifying the right contractors. Working with reputable professionals will eventually save you a lot of time and money.

Don’t hesitate to ask for expert guidance. Home Guide has carried out dozens of residential and commercial renovations throughout Singapore. We know what it takes to modernise an older property, to freshen up the interior and meet HDB requirements.

Contact us today and tell us how you’d like to transform your HDB apartment. We’ll work hard to bring your idea to reality and build upon the original concept to take it to the next level.