That is why I admire those houseowners would dare to haggle with constructor worker. For me, I only proceed if the price he quote is okay.

I also admire my "stupidness"..

I have some sleepless night as feel like I being "diok" become "water fish".  A simple plan to move in a 1044 ft unit need RM 100k. What kind of TV feature wall worth RM 5000?

2. Last minute work and demand you to reply/agree where work about to commence within 1- 2 days
3. Didn't go through the details of the drawings , and I had to go through myself. When you asking for some clarification, she answered I already sent you the info right.
If you overlook it, jialat. Like what I overlooked the distance from kitchen countertop to wall hung base cabinet as I trusted her profession .. ( I had 8++ mm..) . Later I found up my ideal distance is 760 mm
4. I spot a few mistakes in the drawings, and she has never admitted.

Price Per Points

downlight/track light points 88
LED light points (built in)  95
pendant light point 140
wall light points        140
ceiling fan points 140
install 13 A points 140
install 15 A points 275
install 20 A point 330

Don't blame yourself too much. After reviewing the item price, I think you are paying current market prices. There won't be perfect renovations.
Customized TV feature wall of RM 5000 is considered as cheap if you are using plywood laminate.
Same practices also. I had one renovation and this round is 2nd sites. Two different contractors but the same style. My current ones have been hacking the concrete several rounds because the plumber placed the concealed pipes wrongly. He constantly blame the drawings. All these contractors build based on their experiences and senses. They don't look at the drawings until the owners spot the mistakes. 
For these charges, this ID company marked up 10%. It is usual because she has to design the location of the switches, power points. As an end users, we may not come out final design/location. But, there are industry practices e.g. the switches are located 1m above the ground, the power should be 500mm above or 300mm above, and etc. The designer has to have knowledge to prepare the drawing for the electricians to work. Supervise them to work. For my case, the 20A point I am paying RM 331.20 (i.e. RM 288 +15% contractor mark-up) , 13A points I am paying RM 126.50 (RM110 + 15% contractor mark-up).  For my case, it was a contractual price I signed with the main con back in Aug 2020!

Overall, I think you are paying the current market price for engaging an ID company or main con. So, don't be over upset. Just enjoy once your renovation is over. My two cents.

Thanks a lot sharing your experience with me ! May I know what's the distance from your kitchen countertop to base of the wall hung cabinet ?

800mm + too-, some of the parts,  e.g. the ball bearing  drawer slides, are standard size.  Even disk washers that some people put below the kitchen counter are designed  around this size.

The circled distance also 800mm +?

Opp, I might have misunderstand your statement. I am too used to the idea of 800mm.

No, for that area, my current apartment is the same like the drawing i.e. 22" / 560mm.

The drawing is 27 11/16"  + 22" + 32 3/16" and mine is 30" (760mm) + 22" (560mm) + 33 7/8" (860mm actually 60 is for platform, the cabinet is 800mm tall only).

Previously, when I had that design, it was due to the height of the sliding door separate my kitchen from dining and living room. I think they will try to match the height of the door enter your kitchen and the cabinet.

As my connection is not that "powerful", I had to find a reno company online. Here to share some of my experience/ journey to this 1000 sqft unit renovation in KL:

At first, I found 3 quotations online for simple reno as below:
1. Wiring -  all 13A powerpoints, light/ ceiling fan installation
2. Kitchen cabinet, and 3 rooms wardrobe
3. 2 toilets cabinet/ shower screens
4. Entrance grill door and backyard windows
5. Touch up painting after the work
6. All windows curtain
7. TV board and TV console at living room

It looks basic things to me so I budgeted around Rm 50k for a small unit.  Ended up all 3 quotations coming back close to RM 80k. So I chose one that just started the business and hope she could do all the best for building her rapport.

That's when "vomit blood" communication starts after you paid your first deposit

So the common "market rules" are like this, if you're not aware of:

a. 40-50 % deposit  (roughly)
b. 20-30 % before start work
c. 15%-25% upon 50-80% completion
d. 5% upon completion
At stage A, you give them the house plan, your idea, they give you a rough quotation, without site measurement, no itemized quotation.
According to them, itemized quotation can only be given after you pay the deposit , and site visit, which is Stage B. - Finalizing the plan & quotation.
After adjusting and tuning the final quotation with "current market price", they give you another itemized quotation to proceed to stage B to start the work.

Guess what, my stage A RM 80k quotation increased close to RM 100k at stage b.

So what had been deviated from my original plan?

1. M&E
Rewiring all light points/ceiling fan points with plaster ceiling , as concealed wiring at ceiling slab is not recommended. I listed down roughly the number for you to judge:
~ 18-20 downlights, 5-6 mounted lights, 7-10 cabinet LED , 1 pendant, 2-3 track lights, 20-25 nos 13A points, relocate DB , relocate switches, & install ceiling fan
2. Carpentry - plywood laminate
~ took out bedrooms wardrobe as cant afford
~Do kitchen cabinet, master bedroom wardrobe, TV wall  & console, toilets cabinet/ under sink cabinet



~ To be continued - Part 2

Pray for decent work when come to actual site job. All the best to me. Hope can share more happiness rather than frustration.

I have 33 5/58" + 32 9/32 " (820mm) + 35 7/16" (100mm as platform). And I was blamed for changing their measurement..

Hello guys, just want to ask what is the normal practice for electrical work? My cabling was done without conduit/ trunking system and I was told by the contractor because the work is minimal so not need conduit. Is it true?

820mm - I think that is too high even if you are using those pull down shelves.

You should ask her to fix it or you go to consumer tribunal to complain

https://www.kpdnhep.gov.my/en/consumerism/c...-procedure.html

I requested to change , same goes to gas stove countertop , 900mm, with wok stand height, my wok will be placed at 968mm , how to carry the stainless steel wok when cooking ?

Now saying I'm changing the drawings , so have to delay the project till the drawings is fixed. I am now the one being blamed by architect due to her 'no common sense ' design. Pity me

Hello guys, just want to ask what is the normal practice for electrical work? My cabling was done without conduit/ trunking system and I was told by the contractor because the work is minimal so not need conduit. Is it true?

Tell him its for the safety purposes to lay cable in the conduit.  To avoid unnecessary cable damage when user doing some drilling work in the future.

Normally, the wire should be in the UPVC Conduit pipe and concealed in the wall.  If I were you, I would ask what is his definition of "minimal"?

Very unfortunate that the renovation is at final stage and touch up only. All wiring & painting works have been completed. So guess it is too late to ask him to redo.

However, is there any issue if the wires were lay in the wall instead of the conduit?

1. Will the cable spoil/ short circuit in the future? I am using Mega Cable.
.

Very unfortunate that the renovation is at final stage and touch up only. All wiring & painting works have been completed. So guess it is too late to ask him to redo.

However, is there any issue if the wires were lay in the wall instead of the conduit?

1. Will the cable spoil/ short circuit in the future? I am using Mega Cable.

2. Anything I need to take note/ take care other than drilling work in the future?
He said it is normal practice for them to lay the wire in the wall as I am using Mega Cable and in order for him to lay conduit then he has to drill deeper into the wall which is not practical for condominium. I was only told about this after the work done.