Achik claimed he is a honest contractor, and I started believing him.

He claimed he can do everything, I don't have to find different contractor for electrical, roof etc

And his price about 30% cheaper

I told him I wanted by one month, he agreed too

Then work starts...workers only attend about two three times a week

His extension kitchen wall is obviously not straight, from outside and inside look... Then both window cavities on the new walls  uneven...have to hack again to fit windows without uneven gaps ceilings look uneven like dropping... Tiles uneven, his worker laid homogenus tiles meant for staircase in wet kitchen mix-up with kitchen tiles which are obviously different colours and thickness...walking barefoot can notice wrong tiles are higher...  Kitchen floor gradient looks very obvious gradient, apparently to ease water flow

He hacked original staircase , after measurements and saying that it's fine to change layout...he hacked staircase concrete base for 1 mth than says new layout staircase not possible because there is beam crossing above will hit head if new layout...asked his proposal, he tells he can build the original staircase...

Then his worker applied marble tiles uneven, polish guy comes say it's so high need charge extra for grinding down and white cement all washed off, leaving gaping holes between marble tiles...

He started painting inside and outside while piping, hacking , cement, plaster works are still incomplete inside and outside the hse

After ask him to change  wrong tiles in kitchen, he two weeks Raya holidays, one month ignore communications..already july house is hallway only done..after Raya holidays he tried sneak into house,without contacting or replying to me....
But I already changed locks and asked guard to stip him entering

The reno sampah tong left inside my porch gate, damaged the carpark, now hv to redo carpack.

he paint not cover floor, parquet got paint drops and cements

Part fault is agreedly me, I am noob, left everything to him in good faith..belieievd he is expert , he must know better and I never questioned his delays and work chronology and he will eventually honour his commitment.....I thought there is such thing as cheap but good, I believed there is still responsible contractors around... So it's my mistake to engage him in the first place without proper due diligence..I shouldn't not hv believed internet recommendations

I am sorry to hear about your situation. As I faced this before on my first house, therefore I rather not to go for cheap as one the main criteria of appointing a contractor. For my current house (which completed a year ago), I appointed a contractor (local Chinese) that are highly reliable and trustworthy. His price may not be the cheapest but it's very competitive given that he is using a good tiler, wire man, aircond installer etc..however, he can adjust the price if you can compromise with using a mediocre tiler, wire-man etc.. His workmanship were tip-top as he monitored his workers closely daily and hands on when it comes to major reno works. He will update you regularly (on alternate day basis if not daily) on job progress. Since he is hands on person, he only undertakes a 4-5 projects at one time in order to ensure high quality job will be delivered. I am not trying to sell him here but I think he deserved a full credit for what he had done and for being a highly responsible contractor. Even my ID friend is using him now for a few of his current project. I had shared his contact in the past, and here you go again 016-6014217 (Ah Hou). Cheers!!