Hi Big Bro,
Mind letting me know why split? Any experience?
Cos we're always working in sg,thus might have no time to search and match all the different contractors together. I know ID is expensive and materials might be of low quality.
Hai...headache argh! Want easy way=expensive and low quality, want hard way=less expensive and high quality... how how how? Hahaha
There is no way to avoid the hassles of managing the reno contractors.
Most of the contractors are out to rip off especially Sg ppl.
Contractors typically tell you they do everything or they are the best in JB, Sg and some says Batam. But what they actually does is they just acts as middleman between you and that someone who they can find that can do what is required.
Most will also loves to recommend you to trashed whatever and then recommend you to buy new or expensive so they can earn more, all at your expense and cost.
Some will push you so that they can quickly finish as quick as possible with most likely defects covered up and demand payment as they claim all completed. So they must be watched or else defects are covered up and low quality materials are used. There is no recourse for you and they knows that you are Sgreans and helpless. Even the locals are being ripped off as well and helpless unless you are fierce-looking.
Never pay more than the work completed or they will walk out on the job as they have collected the money and now they don't have to continue to earn that money. Be careful of them when they asked for much more than the completed work as then they have trapped you and forced you to pay more and more and then abscond with your money. It is a wild wild west here as far as contractors are concerned.
Never never trust any Indonesian contractors as they are un-contactable if there is any disputes and possibly looking for ppl that they can cheat and abscond with the owner money. There are already many such cases. Their trick is to quote you cheap as the bait and once you bite, you are at their mercy. You can be assured that there will be lots of grief with using Indonesian contractors or workers. Even the ordinary Indonesian workers will give you shoddy and defective works unless you watched over them 24 hours. The moment you turn your back, they will play monkey tricks.
Regardless of which contractors, most will have this in their mind, ie. to rip you off as they knows when your SGD converts to M$, it is peanut to you and you are a big fat piece of meat.
Go for contractor with business address and that is introduced by someone trustworthy.
Split all the work contract so that you can have control over the project but then it takes up your time.
You also need to work out your budget and plan the whole renovation project, finalise before you start. If it is a major reno, then you probably have to cater for cost over-runs.
Why I know is because I just been through a unit major renovation and I am holding a full time job just that I am temporarily based in Johor.
Happy renovation and a beautiful new home to look forward to.
