A Singapore family’s renovation costs ballooned from their original budget to S$216,000 after they said unexpected charges piled up and their contractor later became uncontactable.
The renovation was meant to prepare the family’s Housing and Development Board flat as a retirement home for the parents. The initial budget was about S$80,000, according to CNA’s Money Mind report on 19 September 2026.
The family, represented by Errol Lee, eventually paid S$216,000 for the project, with a large portion coming from his parents’ retirement savings.
Extra Charges Pushed Up Renovation Costs
Lee told CNA that his family had considered other renovation quotations ranging from S$130,000 to S$150,000 before choosing their contractor, partly because the chosen quote appeared more affordable.
The contractor also appeared credible to the family, with online reviews, showrooms and assurances that the company director would personally oversee the renovation.
However, additional charges later increased the cost of the project.
These included extra hacking work costing S$23,210, additional carpentry of S$16,557, windows costing S$9,000 and electrical work costing S$8,700, according to CNA.
The family also said they were asked to transfer S$35,000 to the director’s personal account instead of the company account. They eventually transferred a total of S$47,000 to personal accounts, CNA reported.
Work Stalled After Contractor Allegedly Became Uncontactable
As the renovation progressed, the family found that parts of the work were incomplete or did not match what they expected.
Lee told CNA that some kitchen carpentry was not built to the required depth, while parts of the home that they believed had been painted were still unfinished when they inspected the flat.
The family also discovered that some selected products and fittings had not been used. They were told the contractor had switched vendors because the alternative was cheaper, Lee said.
About five months after the renovation began, the contractor stopped responding and the company’s showrooms had been vacated, according to CNA. The family had already paid more than S$130,000 by then.
The interior design firm later went into liquidation, CNA reported.
Experts Highlight Renovation Warning Signs
Consumer experts told CNA that unusually low quotations followed by many additional charges can be a warning sign for homeowners.
Linus Ng, chairperson of the Consumers Association of Singapore’s consumer education committee, said consumers should be cautious if contractors ask for payments to personal accounts instead of company accounts.
Mervin Foo, co-founder of renovation platform HomeMatch, said slow progress combined with requests for further payments could indicate that a firm is facing financial difficulties.
After the first renovation stalled, the family hired another interior designer to salvage the home. The second renovation involved redoing areas including the kitchen, electrical work and plumbing, with the family also paying for temporary accommodation and storage.
Lee said the experience taught the family to research possible renovation problems before selecting an interior design firm.
