Sharing my input here.

TLDR
Conclusion : I would recommend my friends and family to reach out to him if they have reno work, purely based on my discussion with him as he seems practical, honest and NO UPFRONT DEPOSIT required for wet works
Quality of work : I have no idea, have never met him before nor seen his work

I've been reading this thread and looking for tiling contractors and decided to reach out to Mr Yap and see how's it like.
My current situation : I have engaged an ID to redo my landed home. Generally, pricing still acceptable (of course slightly higher than general contractors) but tiling price was crazy expensive.

I reached out to Mr Yap today to provide a quotation for tiling works  (hack existing tiles, cement screed + retile whole ground floor and toilets)

I whatsapped Mr Yap and gave him my measurements. He requested to have a call to understand better (quick response from him). He was quite chatty and wanted to provide lots of comments/input. During the call he understood my situation and provided very good practical advise :

1. Why pay deposit to wet work contractors??? (although he did say it was stupid of me to have done so, it was not harsh and I guess he was quite frustrated that consumers would do that).
His practise is that he never collects deposit but starts work first. His argument is if the company no cashflow to start work, you trust that company?
(caveat : not applicable for carpentry/built-ins as it's customized built)
Sound good in theory, but so hard to find any general contractors or even ID that doesn't require down payment

2. I shared with him my current quotation by my ID and he shared the market pricing/his indicative PSF pricing for tiling works.
He commented that my ID quote (with self purchased tiles) is expensive. If included tile price, then it's still acceptable. As there were demolishing works required (remove existing cabinets, hacking works for plumbing and electrical), he advised, better to nego with my current ID (since I've paid deposit) instead of looking for multiple subcons which will cause more communications/defect blaming headache later.

Based on the conversation I had with him, Mr Yap is practical and seems honest. Instead of wasting both our time and trying to win the job (him providing quote, site survey, me deciding whether to engage), he provided sound advise.

Sharing my follow-up experience with Mr Yap

I decided to reach out to Mr Yap again, and this time not to request for a verbal quotation, but site survey for a more accurate quotation. To me, when a consumer decides to have site survey, they are quite serious and not “saja-saja” trying to waste either the contractor or their own time trying to arrange for it. My routine question to all contractors/suppliers is to upfront ask clearly if they charge any fees for site survey + quotation (I picked this up from a LY thread) to avoid any miscommunication or being “potong” by contractors when you don’t engage them.

To my surprise, Mr Yap who called me “stupid” ("why so stupid": does sounds like it's directed at me) for paying deposit to contractor/ID instead of 0% upfront and pay progressive (refer my earlier post), he wants to charge me for the site survey. If I engage him, then the site survey would be refunded.
(btw, the reno works not superly huge, estimated >RM60k)

I’m not upset nor pissed at Mr Yap, it’s a free market, he has the right to determine if it’s FOC site survey or not, and for consumers to decide if they want to pay for it. Just that based on the above paragraph, I was a bit surprised that it’s coming from him.
So far from my personal experience, main cons, termite companies, and other sub-cons I’ve gone through provides FOC site survey and I intend to keep it that way as my personal preference.  Anyhow, I politely informed Mr Yap I do not intend to proceed with site visit with him.

Mr Yao did show me your message,and he didn’t talk to you on phone call, just a text message. U ask for any FOC if for site inspection or call survey. It’s a normal practice service in construction and renovation line. And he offer to refund if successful awarded. Why not have a try with him? Meaning that, you are fishing here and there.
And the text you write out is already specific all the scope and floor area, if you truss a contractor, you wouldn’t have to ask this question of FOC or whatever.
Through out this. He mention to me he never and ever call you “stupid”. This you have to apologize to him in this post.
You been seeing a lot of house owner get con by the contractor, last advise Mr Yao is not that kind of businessman. Thanks for your feedback.

1. Why pay deposit to wet work contractors??? (although he did say it was stupid of me to have done so, it was not harsh and I guess he was quite frustrated that consumers would do that).
His practise is that he never collects deposit but starts work first. His argument is if the company no cashflow to start work, you trust that company?
(caveat : not applicable for carpentry/built-ins as it's customized built)
Sound good in theory, but so hard to find any general contractors or even ID that doesn't require down payment

Sharing my follow-up experience with Mr Yap

I decided to reach out to Mr Yap again, and this time not to request for a verbal quotation, but site survey for a more accurate quotation. To me, when a consumer decides to have site survey, they are quite serious and not “saja-saja” trying to waste either the contractor or their own time trying to arrange for it. My routine question to all contractors/suppliers is to upfront ask clearly if they charge any fees for site survey + quotation (I picked this up from a LY thread) to avoid any miscommunication or being “potong” by contractors when you don’t engage them.

To my surprise, Mr Yap who called me “stupid” ("why so stupid": does sounds like it's directed at me) for paying deposit to contractor/ID instead of 0% upfront and pay progressive (refer my earlier post), he wants to charge me for the site survey. If I engage him, then the site survey would be refunded.
(btw, the reno works not superly huge, estimated >RM60k)

I’m not upset nor pissed at Mr Yap, it’s a free market, he has the right to determine if it’s FOC site survey or not, and for consumers to decide if they want to pay for it. Just that based on the above paragraph, I was a bit surprised that it’s coming from him.
So far from my personal experience, main cons, termite companies, and other sub-cons I’ve gone through provides FOC site survey and I intend to keep it that way as my personal preference.  Anyhow, I politely informed Mr Yap I do not intend to proceed with site visit with him.

Can you show some prove to show us, so we might be avoid from him, if you cannot proved that... that are meaning you are trying to talk Nonsense at this forum!
I’m fully support Mr Yap and he doing very well done job at the oval Resideces Klcc .
Please make sure that your words are correct and can show us the shit problem he been done.

I happened to speak to Mr Yap several times about my project too. I did not proceed with him because he was too busy at that time. I guess his words "why so stupid" was properly just his style of talking and he did not actually mean it.

One point he highlighted is a lesson I learnt - don't pay deposit to a contractor upfront if you have a choice.

Try to choose a contractor who is willing to accept 0% outfront and pay progressive. Higher price a bit and you may be able to manage the risks. Previously, I renovated my apartment and engaged a contractor that did this.

For my current project, I paid a hefty 25% deposit before the commencement. The progress was so slow until I was worried that the contractor may not complete the task. I also suspect the contractor was using my deposit to fund other projects. Last week, he presented another big amount progressive claim for some work planned to do. If I made such a payment, it would mean I am paying 46% contract value for a 30% completion. Many contractors like to claim that the material prices go up and they need to lock the prices. I no longer buy that idea and I rejected his progressive claims. Now, I am having my own spreadsheet to control and ensure that I don't pay more than 5% - 10% ahead of the values delivered.

A lot of scary contractors nowadays. In view of the full lock down and uncertainty, do be careful of the deposits paid.

Yea should get some proof.

Anyway few years ago i also asked Yap for quotation.

The first questions he asked is are u serious or not?

I was like wtf, i called you of course im serious.

While discussion, sometimes im late in replying whatsapp (within few hours late) and his response is - is this how slow u reply?   

In the end i asked an indon contractor, satisfied on quality and price AND ATTITUDE and till this day i still asked the indon to renovate my house every now and then.

Has anybody here actually signed a agreement with the contractor before actually engaging them?

anyone got good contractor to recommend for laminate flooring? thanks!