Renovation gone wrong: Family forked out over S$130,000, then their contractor ‘went missing’

A Singaporean family paid over S$130,000 for renovation work on their home, only to have their contractor disappear, leaving them with a costly loss. The renovation originally estimated at S$80,000 spiraled out of control due to unexpected charges and stalled work. The family received several quotations, but ultimately chose a contractor whose setup seemed credible.

However, this contractor began requesting additional payments for extra work, slowing the project and causing frustration. The family transferred S$47,000 to the director's personal account, despite concerns, before discovering that the home was unfinished and poorly completed. The kitchen counter and drawers were too shallow, the interior designer used non-selected products, and the interior designer had gone missing.

The family had to hire a second interior designer to redo all the work, which took six weeks and cost S$70,000. In addition to the renovation costs, the family incurred S$16,000 in additional expenses, such as temporary accommodation and storage. The total renovation bill exceeded S$200,000, a significant financial burden on the family.