Accreditation and Protection: Best Practices whilst Working with Interior Design Professionals
Let's define 'accreditation':
The action of officially recognizing a company as having a particular status or being qualified to perform a particular activity.
If you are looking for an interior fit-out specialist, you will be looking to transact with a reputable and trustworthy company. Each transaction could be worth months of salaries. The stakes are high.
Aside for looking out for accreditation, you will still need to perform some due diligence. You need to do this to ensure the company is trustworthy: having your interest at heart, and being competent at the same time.
The general overview of accreditation bodies’ assessment is a hurdle to cross for most companies. However, CaseTrust and other accreditation services do not perform microscopic audits to ensure that your specific project will be a successful one. You can’t blame them… there are too many nuances within each unique project!
'Accreditation' only goes as far as yesterday’s activity. Qualifications are based on a successful transaction history.
Another reason for you to perform deeper due diligence on certified and accredited renovation companies: Renovation companies can be certified and licensed, but their build partners (subcontractors) might not be. When subcontractors slide, so will the renovation companies if they do not have contingency plans in place.
Authorities try their best to regulate the companies to ensure certified and qualified workers on the ground, but enforcement is still relatively weak in Singapore.
Case-in-point: A simple Google search will reveal that even CaseTrust-certified contractors are still riddled with issues.
A typical client meeting with our Designer (Alfred), Project Manager (Jessica) and Project Leader (Mark)
So, are you still looking for a renovation fit-out exercise?
What other signals should one look out for when performing due diligence on your interior designers or contractors?
‘Safe’ interior design companies or contractors…
have been established for a duration of time. A 2018 Singapore Business Review report has shown that Singapore-based start-ups have a 5-year survival rate of 52.7%.
(2017 Study by Prof Wong Poh Kam, Director of NUS Entrepreneurship Centre
Growth Dynamics of High-Tech Startups in Singapore: A Longitudinal Study)should have existing track records: a genuine portfolio and customer reviews. Static pictures can be doctored and fabricated by AI today. A genuine portfolio could be through video with live interviews (We think these can be doctored too! But oh, the effort.) Customer reviews on platforms that are non-biased and do not have a conflict of interest are the best! Ie. Google reviews. Beware of your own negative biases as businesses that have 1/50 complaints might be deemed ‘lousy’ at first glance.
would have proper organisational structures, processes, and business continuity plans. At your interviews with your interior designers, ask to speak to managers, and ask openly about worse-case scenarios and what would the company do should tragedy befall your project.
would have multiple projects running at different stages. You can observe this by visiting their studios or offices, or if the company allows for site previews. Hanging around their social media sites help too!
As you are interviewing and enquiring for services, do not stop at the above points to help you and your family secure a safer project (you’ll sleep better!).
Designer Hui Ling performing her due diligence at site
Be certain that you have a good understanding of your legal rights, and actions:
Look out for terms and conditions and other clauses within the contract. Make sure that they are reasonable.
Clarify all inclusions and exclusions listed within the scope of works
Ensure that your project manager sends you minutes of meetings after every meeting (verbal agreements must be in writing)
Make sure that the contract comes with a progressive payment schedule and a payment progress schedule
If the project is reasonably large in value, protect yourself through insurance or a performance bond. CaseTrust only secures the initial 10% of your downpayment.
A performance bond is a type of insurance policy that assures you of a safer renovation project. A performance bond will provide financial protection against losses due to the contractor's failure to complete the work or meet the agreed-upon standards. Contractor's failures include late delivery of project, scope and specifications not met, main contractor not able to pay subcontractors, suppliers or laborers. The performance bond will also kick in should the renovation company fail due to insolvency.
Should the project fail to meet its objectives or if something that is out of control happens, it will be beyond any accreditation body to intervene and help with your losses.
When this happens (and you have not procured a performance bond), you may chose to move through these steps:
CASE :
File a complaint against your contractors via CASE. If you’re dealing with a slippery contractor, CASE (who protects consumer rights in Singapore) can help draft up a letter to address matters to the contractor
Mediation:
Why go through the trouble of a costly, time-consuming, and emotionally draining litigation process when you can resolve your renovation disputes through mediation? CASE's mediation scheme is not only affordable but also results in a binding settlement signed by both parties. Plus, with the focus on protecting consumer rights, any breach of the settlement terms by the other party gives you the upper hand in any future disputes.
Claims at the Small Claims Tribunal (SCT):
Don't let a breach in contract or any (major) defects in your renovation get you down! If the sum claimed is up to $20,000 and the incident occurred within the last year, file a claim with the SCT. This tribunal frequently deals with consumer rights cases and if the contractor agrees to bring the case, you can claim up to $30,000. But, beware! You can't make a second claim for any remaining amount once the case is decided. To ensure you're filing the correct amount, hire another contractor to determine the cost of rectification (we will be writing another article to walk you through the procedure to replace your current builder!).
Litigation:
When all else fails, pursue litigation as a last resort. Renovation disputes can be a nightmare for everyone involved, but sometimes it's the only option when the other party is being belligerent or no satisfactory outcome has been reached after a long period of time. There are a slew of experienced contract and construction lawyers out there to assist you in Singapore.
Paperwork makes the dream work: Zack (our co-founder) and Farhana (BB’s community manager) running through our project records for an audit
We are raising the standards today
BuildBuilt is accredited by CaseTrust and Qanvast. We ensure that we work safe through Bizsafe, and are also registered contractors with HDB. BuildBuilt also hopes to create an emotionally safe workspace for our team, and the awesome people at Great Place To Work ensures this with their annual audits.
Check out our team and their leaders that will carry you through the project towards project success.
BuildBuilt goes beyond onboarding clients safely, and thinks about the experience in its entirety.
Check out our processes and Home-Owner’s Guide.
Curious to learn more?
Speak to us today at hello@buildbuilt.co