IMHO，

"Many rumors said that, engaged ID must be expensive" - this is for ancients story.

If you wanted to spend 100k for your home, take out and 5% for your ID. it just RM 5k.

FOR the 95K, I think you will fully utilise it . WHY?

1st,Because ID already take profit on it. So they will bring you more choices. Because no matter which choices it is, they already gain their core profit. Others is a bonus.

2nd,Some ID will teach you a lil bit of cost calculating . So when you know the cost bottom line of the contractor. You can easily gain some discount from them.

Example,

Interior Wall Painting including plastering. Not skim coating.

Materials =10 tins Pentalite RM 90-150 / 5 liter(2 tins per room,4 tins for living hall and kitchen),3 tins Maxilite for Ceiling RM less than RM 80 per tong/ 18L .1 tong patty filla RM 80 also. Totall up RM 2,000 +-(Assume 1500+240+80)
Manpower = 2 foreign worker (2 FW RM 60 each, it takes 5 days.) so is RM 600 *Earliest can be 4 days gao dim.
Overhead =RM 200 for those acc like paint container,roller, brush + petrol.
Profit = RM 1000(35% profit)

So Total Cost here is RM 2,800.00 , Profit RM 1,000,00 . Total Amount would be RM 3,800.00 . Normally market price is around 3800-4500.

If When Invoice out, is RM 4000. and you expect to get 5-10% discount (Remember, if 100k, each contractor discount 10%, already 10k .)

So you already know the cost is 2,800. You direct bargain to him said. RM 3,600,I wanna discount 400. Thats all. So it still within their 30% profit. Both win win situation.


*Please bare in mind, not every interior designer able to help you on this. This require some on site experience and professional skills.
** Some ID more powerful, might teach you better skills to maximise out your budget. I had learn some, that some skills are even more SHOT TO KILL!!!

of courses.

but still the words, it not a compulsory .

Yes. This is my practice .