Renovating
10 Tips From A Reno-Weary (But Happy!) New BTO Owner
Hear from someone who has just experienced the ups and downs of renovating her newly built BTO flat
Assisted by her interior designer (ID), Edwin Teng from Openhaus Interior Design, Yvonne Jedidiah Tan shares with Houzz some tips and insights on surviving the renovation process. She also shares some useful add-ons where to spend and where to save and how to make homelife more liveable.
2. Do not build a base for your washing machine
Building a platform in your utility yard for the washing machine and shelving usually involves building above the original drain hole – that means you’ll have to build a trap hole around it too. “The trap hole is ugly because of the cement used to create the base,” laments Yvonne.
But she adds that it is a personal preference. If you often hose down the floor of your utility yard, she advises building a base with a trap hole above the drain for practical reasons.
Building a platform in your utility yard for the washing machine and shelving usually involves building above the original drain hole – that means you’ll have to build a trap hole around it too. “The trap hole is ugly because of the cement used to create the base,” laments Yvonne.
But she adds that it is a personal preference. If you often hose down the floor of your utility yard, she advises building a base with a trap hole above the drain for practical reasons.
3. Always do your own research – especially about lighting and sanitaryware!
Although well meaning, advice from your parents might not be what you actually need. “My knowledge on lighting was incorrect and outdated because I took advice from my parents who are fans of fluorescent lighting and have a general distrust of LED lamps,” she laughs.
Researching tap brands and other sanitaryware is important as well as you rarely get to test them in-store. “I just chose the cheapest” she admits sheepishly, “now I find my taps have a ‘bubbly flow’ compared to the more expensive ones my parents own.”
Although well meaning, advice from your parents might not be what you actually need. “My knowledge on lighting was incorrect and outdated because I took advice from my parents who are fans of fluorescent lighting and have a general distrust of LED lamps,” she laughs.
Researching tap brands and other sanitaryware is important as well as you rarely get to test them in-store. “I just chose the cheapest” she admits sheepishly, “now I find my taps have a ‘bubbly flow’ compared to the more expensive ones my parents own.”
4. Check your painted walls at different times of the day
It is not enough to check your home’s paint job under strong afternoon sunlight. Direct light creates the illusion that the wall is more evenly finished than it appears.
Shadows cast by evening light reveal imperfections that you might have missed. “I spotted all the pockmarks on my wall at night, but I spotted more cracks and stains in the daytime,” Yvonne shares.
It is not enough to check your home’s paint job under strong afternoon sunlight. Direct light creates the illusion that the wall is more evenly finished than it appears.
Shadows cast by evening light reveal imperfections that you might have missed. “I spotted all the pockmarks on my wall at night, but I spotted more cracks and stains in the daytime,” Yvonne shares.
5. Don’t settle for superficial checks to ensure everything works well
Only after living in your home will you fully experience all the items installed. Yvonne recommends – if your home is in a liveable condition – moving into your home in the midst of renovating so you can road test items on a daily basis. Wardrobes, tables, lighting etc. are best tested throughout the day through vigorous use.
Only after living in your home will you fully experience all the items installed. Yvonne recommends – if your home is in a liveable condition – moving into your home in the midst of renovating so you can road test items on a daily basis. Wardrobes, tables, lighting etc. are best tested throughout the day through vigorous use.
Yale Digital Lock
6. Install a digital lock
“It’s madly expensive but so convenient during the move and when you’re cleaning up after renovation!” Yvonne shares. She found it freed up her hands to carry stuff rather than have to fiddle with a key to unlock the door. “I could take trips to the rubbish chute and avoid the risk of throwing my keys together with my trash,” she laughs.
7. Ensure your home has fully functioning Wi-Fi service before renovation begins
“It was worth every cent to subscribe for internet service during the renovation,” shares Yvonne. It helped them link their CCTV and front door camera to track the renovation progress within the site. With strangers traipsing through her home, she felt comforted knowing that she could record and track movement there.
“It’s madly expensive but so convenient during the move and when you’re cleaning up after renovation!” Yvonne shares. She found it freed up her hands to carry stuff rather than have to fiddle with a key to unlock the door. “I could take trips to the rubbish chute and avoid the risk of throwing my keys together with my trash,” she laughs.
7. Ensure your home has fully functioning Wi-Fi service before renovation begins
“It was worth every cent to subscribe for internet service during the renovation,” shares Yvonne. It helped them link their CCTV and front door camera to track the renovation progress within the site. With strangers traipsing through her home, she felt comforted knowing that she could record and track movement there.
8. Join your block’s WhatsApp group chat
While you might not like all of your neighbours (but of course, don’t make that known!) you’ll find invaluable tidbits of advice while you’re in the chat group. One example Yvonne shared was that she discovered that the door of the bomb shelter (located within the kitchen) could swing all the way out and further into the living room – something she did not realise till too late. Her designer had to design around that little quirk.
While you might not like all of your neighbours (but of course, don’t make that known!) you’ll find invaluable tidbits of advice while you’re in the chat group. One example Yvonne shared was that she discovered that the door of the bomb shelter (located within the kitchen) could swing all the way out and further into the living room – something she did not realise till too late. Her designer had to design around that little quirk.
9. Get ideas from many sources
Don’t restrain your ideas to just those you’ve found in magazines; visit friends’ homes and do research through interior design websites such as Houzz!
This home, for example, shows how to have an open-concept kitchen that can also be closed.
Don’t restrain your ideas to just those you’ve found in magazines; visit friends’ homes and do research through interior design websites such as Houzz!
This home, for example, shows how to have an open-concept kitchen that can also be closed.
10. Stock your fridge with drinks during the renovation
“Throughout our renovation process, my husband wisely handed out these cold drinks to our vendors, delivery men and contractors,” Yvonne shares fondly. “Buying the canned drinks was a small price to pay for happy and cooperative people working together to complete our renovation.”
“Throughout our renovation process, my husband wisely handed out these cold drinks to our vendors, delivery men and contractors,” Yvonne shares fondly. “Buying the canned drinks was a small price to pay for happy and cooperative people working together to complete our renovation.”
TELL US
Do you have any renovation tips of your own? Tell us in the Comments below. And don’t forget to save your favourite images, bookmark the story, and join in the conversation.
Do you have any renovation tips of your own? Tell us in the Comments below. And don’t forget to save your favourite images, bookmark the story, and join in the conversation.
Many may advice you to collect the keys and have an up-close look at your home first before hiring an ID. For Yvonne, that led to massive delays.
“We would have moved in two months earlier if I had hired an ID first,” she shares. The weeks spent looking for a designer could have been used constructively – developing 3D drawings of the design, window shopping furniture etc. She also realised that she could have asked the ID to spot defects in her home, rather than spend an extra $300 hiring another professional.