Then, what is the purpose of engaging a contractor? We pay them premium price for their expertise and our peace of mind. If we need to check on their workers constantly, might as well, we just scout for workers and complete it on our own.

You need to pay Managment fees. Aka project management fees or site spervisor direct report to you to managed Contractor. They are contractor. These are some of the job do by ID, they provide site supervisor, and make sure all plan translate to real thing. Of course some contractor will claim they will manage it and all no problem to trust them or not home owner have to gauge.

During the renovation phase, I go to my house like 4 to 5 times a week including weekend. Spotted many early problem and fix it fast. Of course some i missed and my contractor not aware too which sometime are unavoidable. Some problem are cause by Asusmption, House owner assume contractor know what we want, Contractor assume the worker what to do, and worker assume something else.

If project got to problem, How I "Project Manager" Cari makan

Even if you have a site supervisor, no harm to check regularly just to make sure everything are in order. In the end, it is YOUR house! Trust only yourself...

I have a very dependable main con.
Also a full time site supervisor.
And yet I try to visit twice a day - once during lunch time if I can make it and definitely after work to inspect progress for the day.
There are a number of things that I spotted which the main con and supervisor missed out eg exchanged the toilet window between master and 2nd bathroom, location of power points not exactly where I want it etc.
I even inspect the downlights holes before they cut the hole, just in case.
Also a lot of decisions need to be made out of the blue and if you are there decisions can be made quickly.
My visits are in addition to those my wife is also making.

Latest update..Another bad news for me.

Flooring cannot be installed this week, only on 15th..Kitchen cabinet on 21th .. wondering why took so long as flooring I also paid full 2 weeks ago
Also 80% contract price paid.. dont want to argue anymore becoz of Hari Raya..

Many go raya and back to Indonesia some may aeroplane and don't come back and work.

Are you using solid or laminated floor? Solid wood need to be cured / season for 2 weeks before final Polish.

There's no harm with visiting your house, checking on their works ONCE IN A WHILE. I will definitely not engaging any contractor if I need to go to my house everyday. At most, twice a week. We, as house owner and customer, our responsibility is only paying accordingly and honestly.

If our contractor can deliver, my payment will be made smoothly.

It's as if I need to look at the chef cooking my lunch, making sure it was prepared accordingly in the entire process, and to sit back down at my table to enjoy my meal.

Make sure masonry works are done, (or any work require general worker to complete). Hari Raya Puasa means these workers are taking quite some days off. By the way, why payment had been made up to 80%? Isn't there an agreed mechanism to pay accordingly?

You are using wrong analogue. Renovation is not as easy as cooking. Chef don't need project manager.

You sure can achieved what you mention by paying higher price with someone managing for you. If you direct engaged contractor sure have to monitor. Some of use engaged direct because we want to get most with the money invest.

My contractor is building my 4200 sqft built-up house for RM580K, with everything included (I only need to supply tiles, because I am importing tiles from Southern Europe). How could it be expensive? Yet, they are doing a job which I deemed above average. The payment was made based on agreed schedule on contract, the contractor never request for payment with nonsense excuses and never exceeds the percentage done.

I did some research on the material used, they are using above average grade material for the construction of my house. So, there's nothing that I can argue.

Lol. . My job is just ikan bilis only ard30-35k,

Well I need to go to check everyday sometime stay few hours at site for the past week, becoz if im away evetytime when im back i will find mistakes or flaws.

And I pay according to wat my contractor told 30% -then 50% n upon completion 20% (and also flooring, aircorn, lights all paid) . Tats why im quite upset I try to give him payment fast swhen he request so he can deliver my house but now I still hv yo wait at least 2weeks, mayb up to 4 weeks if promised is not fulfill again

If you are doing laminated floor, it only take 2 days. At most 3 days if for the whole house.
So the kitchen cabinets can come in earlier.
If you are not using laminated floor for the kitchen it can come in anytime they are ready.

Yes im doin laminate flooring6 .. now schedule install laminate flooring on 15, then kitchen cabinet on 21 as been told

You engage one main Con do the design, and managing?

That is only if you not hiring half cooked contractors. Quote based on measurement and not actual item. All my clients I ve insisted to view before giving a proper quote because by measurement will never be accurate. By measurement ONLY mean hidden charges by mid of project.

Im still waiting the laminate flooring to be installed.. been reschedule a few time due to various reason by contractor.. everything is kinda stuck now..

The company that I engage is a construction company, not a contractor. These companies, they only involve in what they do only. In my case, they cover everything except carpentry.

You are right, the quote that they gave are properly made. It has all the details including material used (brand, type and quantity), estimated date of completion (and a clause that states a maximum additional 10% liable to vary) and price in a complete agreement.

I don't understand, laminated flooring should be something that could be arranged in a short time. Could you check if the contractor has made his payment or order? Sometimes, the contractor ran out of money. Talk to them. Make sure no payment is further made, but you can always tell your contractor to arrange and you will pay directly to these sub-contractor. Balance only to be paid to him. What matters is completion and handover.

when he say he can handle the laminate flooring at first so i was like ok.. let him handle so he can cordinate , that was 1 month ago . so after that he ask me to pay full becoz he say supplier need full payment upon confirm the job.. ok.. well i was like fine.. i transfer full amount to him like 3 weeks ago.. then after that work delay , reschedule few times installation and never come, last week then told me the design i want no stock, so i have to choose another pattern which i am not really like, but i have no choice coz i cant stand the delay already, now he say tomorow will come and install , i hope the laminate flooring staff will come la

Here are some photo of my house now

Basically most of the work been completed 2 weeks ago, now just waiting the laminate flooring and kitchen cabinet to be install and touch up work after this , so far workmanship so so , wall are very rough coz not skim according to worker , not didnt not told need to skim by contractor , painting not balance still need to touch up again after floor n kitchen cabinet done according to contractor. Metal grill quality are so so , painting on grill look so rough n not balance . only plaster ceiling look nice to me .....so far if its not too bad i wont conplain la , coz im on tight budget so i go for cheap ...

now i jus want this renovation to complete asap so i can move in soonest possible.. furniture n electrical shop keep chasing for delivery becoz been reschedule a few times.. stress



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Great pictures. Can't wait to see the end product.