Our Home Renovation Journey - Signing of the Contract

We spent a pretty long time trying to screenshot pictures online that we would love for our dream home. We wanted to go for Scandinavian theme with grey tones. I guess in most cases, lighting plays a very important part to bring out the cosy feeling that we love. Some pictures of living rooms that we found cosy and nice. 

We shortlisted a number of ID firms and met up with the IDs assigned to us to try to find one that would best suit our needs, be it in terms of pricing, rough design ideas and also whether we could understand each other and felt comfortable with. Can't believe it but we actually met up with 7 or 8 ID companies. The companies that we spoke to were: 

• Superhome Design 
• Jialux Interior 
• DB Studio 
• Cozyspace 
• DS2000 
• Earth Interior
• Lemonfridge Studio 

It was definitely a tiring experience, having to explain what we want in our house and what we are going for over and over and over again. 😂 Hence I suppose we spent the most time explaining to the very first ID company (Superhome Design) that we visited, to the extent of going through all the pictures that we saved, but provided lesser and lesser information as the list went on. haha. 

Typically, after the first appointment, the IDs will take about a week before they email us the quotation or show us the rough floor plan drawing and what they call a "moodboard". I have to say maybe because we went through the most with Superhome Design, hence our ID was able to draft a moodboard that was closest to what we were looking for although not 100% spot-on. 

Some that we experienced was really strange. Apart from being inexperienced (only started for less than 3 months), when we said we wanted A, he suggested B saying that it was nicer. Given the colour schemes that we liked, he suggested something with black walls that really looked like some dungeon. Or another that just kept suggesting us to buy from furniture shop instead of choosing carpentry to save money. In that case I wouldnt need her already right. 🙊 

For most of the IDs, we stopped contacting them after receiving the quotations. We only proceeded further with Superhome Design and Lemonfridge Studio for subsequent discussion on the revision of the quotation and to have a look at what design ideas and layout they had for us. 

After I think 4 or 5 revisions of the quotation, we finally decided to proceed with Superhome Design! We went down to their showroom at New Industrial Road (super ulu and pretty inconvenient for us) to confirm some details such as the brand of the quartz that is included in the contract, discussed what colour laminates we liked, etc. Our ID also showed us some design plans that he would like to incorporate into our new home. I guess it was alright, there were some that we liked and some that we went ahead to tell him that we wanted it our way. We still gave him the benefit of doubt and will see what he can put together based on all our discussions into the 3D drawings. 

Once everything was settled, we went ahead with the contract signing. Really hope that everything works out well. Seriously testing my trust issues and keeping our fingers crossed. 🙏 

Our ID then told us that we could arrange a date to visit the tile shop (Hafary) in Eunos to choose tiles for the house! In that case, before we actually receive the keys to our new home, he will be able to draft out the 3D drawings with the tiles that we chose so that we can see everything clearer.  So we scheduled to visit the tile shop together on the 27th of October.