Update 30/9


This guy is not even a contractor, he is jus talking jobs and sub to some other contractor to do .. And always late payment to his sub contractor so yr job will be delay and delay

Then various excused will be given for the delay ( as another forumer mentioned before)

My house started renovation 3rd July, schedule completed date 26 July , nah... if i still wait for him i guess maybe december also canot finished. Finally sacked him and find own kitchen contractor to complete my kitchen cabinet , and go direct to the sub contractor En Aizad , to finished my tiling n touch up. and its finally done yesterday 30/9/2013, tats almost 3 months of nighrmare


So conclusion - NOT RECOMMANDED ! Boo... Learned my lesson

Name - Hafizan
Lowyat id - Jonnie23 (012-9999104)
company - Tareq Industries

If u guys still want to get cheap contractor, U can find direct that sub contractor guy. He is more experience and is a real contractor, but of coz, u still need to be there supervising his worker job coz some worker are abit lazy

Contact - En Aizad ( 0196368196)

For kitchen Cabinet U can contact - Mr Lim ( 0163021007 ) - recommanded


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Hi All

After researching for quite sometime (already tired) , finally have decided to engaged forumer Johnnie23 (Afizan) to handle my 850 sqf renovation.

Getting a quatation and site vsit with him is hassel free, prompt reply and on time for appointment , price are resonable too

Just paid 30% deposit upon confirming the job will be starting on next Tuesday, hopefully everything will goes well...

will update soon..

This post has been edited by annmix: Oct 1 2013, 11:56 AM

take some before photo... share with us the progress...

congrats to you.

i had engaged ID adrien for designing and decoration consultant. hm... full set of drawings cost RM8000 but is well worth because he is very professional and very straighforward.

wow, your hse must be big big one, can afford 8k just for designing.

dont forget to share some picture with us.

Hi all, sorry for the late reply .. today is the second day of the reno , mostly hacking job has been done ,wall between dining n kitchen also 90% demolish (not in pic) , maybe need another 1 day to complete the hacking .. so far havent seen the ID drawing yet cause need to start urgent but Afizan (Johnnie23) has brought the ID guy to look at the site n promise to show me by this week..

feel free to ask me if u guys have any question.. coz im not good in writing too long details..

This post has been edited by annmix: Jul 3 2013, 09:28 PM


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wah ya lo.. i think very big house and huge budget... my project jus like ikan bilis saje and keep budgeting too tight

i thinkk u shud have actually seen d drawing b4 hacking..like my hse,started hacking n building b4 giving proper thought then in d end tak suka then hack n rebuild,waste alot of money n time plus ppl annoyed lol

Yea I know but in my case I already very firm tat I wanna hack the dining n kitchen wall so my apt will look bigger. drawing tat I wanna see is kitchen n toilet lo. Coz dun hv budget to do fancy fancy designs

But my advise is.. pls see all the drawing before starting the work.. in my case I hv to take the risk coz need to start the reno asap...now jus hope afizan can do a good job for me ..

But my advise is.. pls see all the drawing before starting the work.. in my case I hv to take the risk coz need to start the reno asap...now jus hope afizan can do a good job for me ..

I also did not see the drawing before hacking but I already know exactly what I wanteD so no problems so far.

I have a reasonable budget , not a rich girl but comfortable and I like to do things in order. I wouldn't do any major hacking without any drawings. ID adrien is very ensuring and 8k for more then 20pcs of drawings and my apartment is only 1400sqft. The fee is reasonable especially when you look at his full portfolio and his attention to details especially when he commented in davkong's topic.. And I do believe he charges 30-40k design fee for some of his previous job.

BTW I'm not having any fancy design lol. The fancy design you see in here is always just the 3D, did all of you ever wonder where's the finish product or is just drawing afterall.

This post has been edited by Audrey_npl: Jul 4 2013, 01:17 AM

I think afizan should be OK and because he is a contractor not an Interior designer. Good luck and all the best.

This post has been edited by Audrey_npl: Jul 4 2013, 09:29 AM

8k for ID? Er....I rather DIY cannot afford to hv Id

I thought about using ID as well but decided to save some money.
It is not difficult to come up with ideas if you do some research.
I did a lot of research on the internet, bought a few books on minimalist design as well as visiting new show house launches.

The biggest problem is that while we can get ideas for each part of the house ourselves without too much problems, we are not trained to imagine how in the end it will look like after everything is put together.
This is a very big risk as we may not like the end result as there may be mismatch from one part of the room to another. ID people are trained to do this so most likely it will come up with everything properly matched.

I bounce up a lot with my contractor. For example I learned about plinth and why I should have it for my cabinets etc in the wet area. I wanted concealed roller blind and I asked the contractor to make a 6" gap in the plaster ceiling but he asked if I wanted 8" in case I want lace as well at a later stage . There are many more examples of things I missed out which if my contractor did not alert me I would have some regrets later on.

I was also lucky that there were 2 units that were undergoing final stages of renovation and I managed to get into their house and get a few ideas and a good look at the end result as well. There was one time when I went in, liked what I saw and immediately told my contractor I wanted to demolish a pillar which initially I thought was load bearing so I did not think about demolishing it nor did I ask my contractor. Demolishing it made a huge difference to my kitchen area.

The only problem I had by doing what I did was that I do not know much about lighting nor does my contractor. This is now my biggest risk that the lighting is not bright enough, or not evenly distributed throughout the house.

I still have another 1.5 months to wait before I know that I am successful in doing my own ID but on hindsight, it might have been a good idea and less risk if I were to have appointed one. After all the money I am spending, it will be really disappointing if the end result is not what I am looking for.

Actually......is not tht difficult. My previous condo ID is come up btw me n my the other half. And my friends and relative keep asking me who is the interior designer... Just need to put in more effort and time. Is not easy but is fun and you will be appreciate after your house is ready. Worth.

We are now doing the same for our landed house. And spend most of the weekend visit show unit just to get the ID idea.

Heck you guys should just join HabitatMY FB fanpage if you need ideas.

Annmix, any new photo update??? Congrats for your future new home...

do you mind pm and share the renovation cost? I plan to reno when my house is ready

now i can say im totally unhappy and devasted with this renovation.. i learned a lesson !!

what happen to your contractor?

mind to share?

What happen? Contractor or design?

Mind to share?

Hi annmix, can you share what happened?

Not another abandon project kua?

Not abandon.. but delay of completion and some flaw n bad workmanship.. but hafizan insist I should comment only after he deliver the completion.. oh well now I will trust him again.. im not here to spoild someone rice bowl but I hope everything will be fine as insisted by him but I learned a lesson this time...

i suggest u bring another contractor to pay for site visits to know for sure that afizan isnt cheating or misleading u

Oh well now I jus hope the worker can complete by next week so I can move back asap.. coz cant afford to pay another 1month rent to my neigbour coz renting a room. fr her..Supposed completion by end july.. now I hv to beg neigbour to rent extra 1 week n not sure weather it will be completed on time or not.. I will post all the photos upon completion so everybody can judge of the workmanship n quality later

Is going to raya time. Everything is slowing down for a mth.

is it alot of things need to renovate that's why is it late delver so your can complete b4 raya n share to everyone howz the workmanship like.

well, renovation cannot predict. So best is allocate more buffer and dont rush. It is better to get the thing fix rather than rush to go in.

Bro... I can feel you bcoz I'm going through the same process like u. Learned a lesson n EVERYTHING MUST BE IN BLACK N WHITE!!!

Well.. it can be completed as schedule if the contractor allocate the same amount of worker to work on my site, coz he having another bigger project so only first week the progress is fast but from 2-3week, sometime only 2 person come to work and slow down the progress.. !

So for the past few days I try to go to the site as often as I can to check on the progress.. and really help speeding things up abit.. raya is coming soon, and hopefully as promised the flooring can be install so I can start moving back my stuff back..

Black and white is one, if don't have site supervisor or project manager that report to you, you have to go there frequently. Please also add buffer days. I always put minimal 20% buffer. If he say 6 week, you work on 8 weeks.

Yes no supervispor.. worker jus come and do thier work according verbally by the contractor and follow the marking by the contractor, for the past week I was on the site everyday to make sure all thing done properly as there was mistakes for the pass few weeks tat worker did not see the marking properly or jus confused of the work they are doin.. well I guess on my case.. im the supervisor la..

Now worker finished painting, but still 1 aircorn not installed and a exaust fan is missing in 1 toilet still not install.. been asking but say coming to install but never arrived. Payment already paid 2 weeks ago.

Now painting done n later install will damage the wall n ceiling again I guess

Installing aircon and exhaust will not damage the wall and ceiling if it is purely installing.
Sorry to hear about your problems. Hope everything works out.

Lesson is, owner personally has to oversee the work progress even having a site supervisor. Better be more tedious now than mistakes later. Those workers will pay more attention psychologically, as the owner is always 'there'!
All the best, and selamat hari raya...

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.

Nice your renovation.

They use normal cement to fill the gap between tiles? Nowadays, most people use coloured grout, such as those by Davco. This is the problem when we engage contractor that are not up-to-date in design and material technology.

I think he took your money meant for laminated flooring to roll.
And you don't need to pay 100% before they start work.
I paid 70% only and gave them 4 days notice to start work and that is just after Raya.
Work completed within 3 days for 1800 sq feet.
Balance of 30% waiting for them to bill me - I called them and the said dont worry, they will bill me after their logistic tell them how exactly how much material was used.

i think maybe my job is on budget so its ok la.. im not complaining about normal cement if its property closed the gap

wat im not really like is they put the plastic strip between the tiles and over the door frame site , when i saw it is too late cant remove anymore, they worker told me even 5 star hotel put like this , i was like.......speechless.. i only see these plastic strip on those budget hotels..



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well i paid 30 % upon confirming the jobs, they started as schedule and after 3 weeks asked for 50% , so i paid accordingly.. but then after this everything slow down .. i try to pay him fast so he can complete my thing soonest possible but .......

These plastic strips are used quite commonly.
Some people prefer rounded edges between corner tiles so they use this.
Some ( like me ) prefer the corner tiles to be left as it is. But you can see the side of the tiles which is probably a different colour from the tile surface.
My contractor asked me what I wanted.
Yours should have asked.
Advantage of rounding off the corner is that if you slip and knock your head, it will be a bit less painful.

Nowadays, there's square instead of round edge, and some are made of aluminium. Looks classy. But, it's about 4 to 5 times the price.

I engage the same contractor to to some works, this guy keep delaying my works. So, tomorrow will be his last chance to complete the work, otherwise I will get others to complete the works. This contractor is not responsive, not responsible.

Feel sorry for you.. mine also delay.. still left the flooring, promised tomoroow hopefully the installer will appear, now kitchen cabinet also said by this week i just have to pray la..

The instance pipe out from the wall to the instance water heater should use a Angle piple (90deg) and will look nicer.

Toilet bowl water pipe use angle valve will look nicer.

no one advise me what to put , only the worker ask me to buy , or else they will jus use the normal plastic pipe or hose tats all

Like this http://www.amazon.com/Chrome-Plated-Brass-...77016547&sr=1-7

So your blue pipe won'y "poke out"

oh ok maybe i should go buy and change myself then

If you a handy man is ok. If not than is not a big deal.

The angle valve like this

http://www.draindoctor.com/plumbing/toilet...ne-angle-valve/

But since you already have a valve on top, no need. For your future reference.

Think hardware builder selling the 90 deg angle pipe with nice design. You can check with him

oh ok.. thanks a lot for the info

very very upset with this guy now, promised today install laminate flooring but till now still giving me excuse that coming in the evening !... been giving same excuse more than 5 times, house actually conpleted painting before raya and flooring should be done before raya..and i have paid him full flooring payment in mid JUly but till now still giving me so many excuse , say no stock from innovar , need to submit P.O bla bla , also aircorn money taken in Mid July , but until now still not yet installed ! before this give crap excuse panasonic product problem on hold , he really think im 3 year old child or wat ? and always tell me , " this afternoon come and install "but always never appear

he really think Im stupid or wat ? Yea Mayb im stupid by paying him the full payment coz my intention is to let him cordinate so can finish my hose soon..

im so angry and pissed off now , i supposed to move back by mid of this month as promised ( initial date was July26) , now is approaching end of August i really dont know what to do already !! I canot afford to pay another month of high rent (RM500) to my neigbour by renting a room again, also because of the dates always change, all my furniture and electrical appliances canot be sent to me andthe shops are calling me everyday asking when can deliver those thing...


I really dont want to write bad and spoied people rice bowl, but since i engaged him throught his forum , so i think now its my responsiblity so do a clear feedback here. This guy only can write good or talk big , but in real.. he is still same like those irresonsible contractor ! Im totally lose faith with Malay contractor now.. no more !

so what can i do now, ask him refund my money for the flooring and aircorn and engaged another company to do myself ?

can i lodge a police report on him if he refuse to refund my money ?

Im so stress now

This post has been edited by annmix: Aug 21 2013, 11:48 AM

You can consider to shift in first, this will lessen your rent obligation. I assume that the aircond piping already ready and the flooring is already cement prepared for installation hence the installation work for aircon and laminate floor not dirty/no dust. Only thing is kitchen which is dirty during installation, so you may leave that area empty until work is finish.

but if i move back now , i have some big boxes of my existing stuff, and also now at my home the hob hob oven and a big granite sink are already there becoz of empty promised date intslling kitchen cabinet and flooring have arrange them to delivery to my apartment 2 weeks ago,


with some many stuff at home , will it be a problem when installing the flooring later ? the heavy boxes will damage the floor ?

That is why, make only progressive payment by percentage work done. I don’t think it’s wise to ask for refund, since it’s unlikely and I afraid, he could just left the job, as the advantage is now in his hand. Make an appointment, talk to him, understand his problem. Now,Iit’s not the time to put blame but to finish the remaining.

In the meantime, there’s nothing you could really do. Making a police report won’t help either as the element of crime does not really exist.

Take this as a lesson, contractors who claim based on work done are more dependable as the advantage doesn’t lean too much towards them.

talked to him everyday but still delay by giving excuse.. i have not paid all but 80% , plus the aircorn and flooring money

since he advertise himself so loud in this forum too , i hope this is an alert to other forumer la.. hope they can be more careful choosing contractor.. especially those advertise themself online one , i think mainly all not reliable

can you share his name and contact? preferably company name and pic too. im getting my house renovated soon and i hope i dont bump into him

But he has issue me invoice for the flooring and aircorn.. so it can b an evidence that he is cheating right ?

Delay is not a crime technically, breach of agreement is a civil case. The most you can do is consumer tribunal, which is not your priority now. Check with Innovar if an order had been made.

for me money taken and product not supply , so means its cheat and its a crime...delay is not an excuse

yes i will jus give me till today evening as he said ... if not i will go to report him

Because the wall tiles is ceramic tiles,
if porcelain tiles then is OK to put 2 tiles together without plastic strip.

no any type of tiles also u can choose u want the strip or not, my other toilet i stop them putting it so it look ok

if it is a ceramic tiles, there will be white ceramic at bottom layer, so it will be looks very ugly.
Probably ur one is porcelain tiles.

Cement floor won't damage one. Just that you sakit tulang belakang later as you have to shift the boxes as they install that area. The hob and sink can put in kitchen and other kitchen stuff just wrap it properly so it will not be damage/dirty when cabinet installer come. Base on my opinion, the contractor is in cash flow problem so he will delay you until he can find new job to get money and complete balance of work. This may take weeks. Report to police no use unless you are VIP. Even if you find new contractor, it will take at least two weeks for them to do you floor and 1 month for your kitchen. So move in first better.

Put temporary inside toilet

Update* he completed my works today. I have not entered the house to check the works. Will update again later.

actually what kind of job he do for you.. mind to share?

I really pity you. He also did persuade me for my house renovation. Thank god i never accept..(due to i cannot open his company website through phone or ipad). I believe it's not only $$ but resources as well. He took number of projects more than the company can handle, this is the result. Hope to hear good news from you

Grill works and aluminum works..

oh no wonder today touch up my grill n suddenly the worker go away.. my grill so so only.. some part they did very rough .. need touch up again

Oh yes, I have stressed countless times to my contractor and also the tilers, NO cheapo precut edging anywhere in the house, only mitered ones.
It's mutually agreed on before appointing them as part of my project team. So, keyword is, everything BEFORE, AFTER is too late.

well we are depending contractor to advise us because we dont have such knowledge.. contractor did not informed or ask us opinion so everything its too late when noticed , jus like my wall.. never suggest or gave option skim or not.. so now wall all mostly uneven

i know..most of us tend to assume the contractor will do thiiis n that coz its common sense..lol but i realized our common sense might differ from their common sense,so its best to state exactly how we want things done..its a thin line to thread upon tho,some ppl so kecil hati then think ur trying to teach them how to work..sigh