That reno experience

Alhamdulillah. Could only be thankful for the challenges we faced during our renovation ordeal about 3 years ago. Ready for a detailed sharing experience? Here goes!

We collected our keys less than a year after we got hitched. Our first mistake was that we did not have a clear mind on the designs or concept but we just wanted something basic and simple. Headed over to Macpherson to visit one of the IDs but we did not click. Then we randomly selected another ID from a magazine and at a more prominent and convenient venue. Next, we did not research enough and get more than 2 quotations as both quotations were of not much difference. Quickly we settled with the 2nd ID because he was more accomodating. It was rather smooth sailing at first, but of course with a little bit of chasing needed. When we mentioned that the painting was not done, the house got painted the next time we visit.

And the shock came when the boss of the company came to Mom's and it was fishy that they waited for me to return from work cos any appts cld just be made via phonecalls. They started with the unavailability of my choice of material for kitchen and then they dropped the bomb! They said that they did not receive payment from us. I could only break down in tears (was pregnant too mind you!) and waited for the husb to return home. The long really really long process of settling this began.

Made trips to the company to reach to a solution but was fruitless. They wanted us to pay again in order for them to complete the jobs but we disagreed of course. Their staff was the one who ran with our money but we were made responsible for his wrongdoing?! We decided not to continue with them and sourced for another Contractor instead. The whole process of going here and there, countless trips to court, took almost a year. I was pregnant, delivered and the boy had grown to almost a year when we managed to close the case. And move on.

Despite the loss of thousands of $$$$, I'm thankful that we won the case although we could not recover the money burnt, the energy of running here and there and our precious time. Thankful too that the house was not in a terrible (imagine loose wires or debris left) state when we decided to move on to the next contractor. Most thankful that I had an easy pregnancy with no morning sickness.

I used to think that we should not share our experience with friends cos they might label us as fools to be cheated this way. But then now that we have accepted our reno ordeal and moving on from this, I hope that none of the people we know had to go through this.

And the husb claimed that he saw the guy who cheated us yest. I could understand his feelings and all the flashbacks he must have had. You can always find it in your heart to forgive, but it's not that easy to forget.