QUOTE(vernee26 @ May 7 2021, 05:33 PM)
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.
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.
Dec 8 2020, 11:24 AM
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