1. Oh No! Not Again!
Image extracted from Stomp Article. Source: Stomp
We stumbled upon yet another tale of woe in the renovation realm, and this one takes the cake for audacity. A pregnant woman wrote in a recent STOMP article that she had hired a Design and Build firm to transform her home, only to be left high and dry with 96% of the payment already swiped from her pockets. Seriously, it seems like the good guys in the industry must deal with the nonsense of the bad hats.
“A company hired by a pregnant woman to renovate her home left the work unfinished after receiving most of the payment.
The Stomper has since found others who were similarly left in the lurch by the company, R3 Design and Build.
She recounted: "I engaged them when I was in the third trimester of my pregnancy last September. They hacked my house, left it and were gone after taking about 96 per cent of the payment."
She told Stomp the full amount was $58,000 and she had paid $55,608.”
She added, "I've approached my MP for help, but they said it was not a scam as work did start though not completed. Hence, it was a 'dispute'.”
Homeowners facing rogue interior design and renovation firms are caught in a tough spot, burdened with proving scams. They often realize too late they've been deceived, lacking a strong audit trail to hold these errant renovators accountable. Let's empower homeowners with knowledge to outsmart these crafty culprits!
2. So It Falls Onto The Homeowners To Do Their Homework
Homeowners facing rogue interior design and renovation firms are caught in a tough spot, burdened with proving scams. They often realize too late they've been deceived, lacking a strong audit trail to hold these errant renovators accountable. Let's empower homeowners with knowledge to outsmart these crafty culprits!
1st payment – 10-15% (commencement of design and preliminary work)
2nd payment – 30 -40% (commencement of physical work and upon successful application of permits)
3rd payment – 40% (progressive claim upon completion of all site works, such as demolition, wetworks, doors and windows and carpentry confirmation)
4th and last payment – 5 - 20% upon satisfactory completion of all said works including VOs and defects.
3. Research and Research
I’ll be absolutely frank with you, renovations will cause headaches, but that doesn't mean we'll let the rogues run rampant. Embrace the art of research! Arm yourself with knowledge about industry lingo, materials, timelines, and budget planning. It's the best way to safeguard your interests. So, dive into the vast ocean of information available online – visit social pages, peruse portfolios, and check out the designer directory. Become an informed homeowner and be the hero of your renovation tale! Better still, you can find out more of our verified designers listed in or our designer directory (Professional Interior Designers).
Let's banish these renovator rogues to the past! United, we'll raise the standards and make sure these 'cowboys' won't get a chance to pull off their disappearing act anymore. Happy renovating, savvy homeowners!
1. Oh No! Not Again!
Image extracted from Stomp Article. Source: Stomp
We stumbled upon yet another tale of woe in the renovation realm, and this one takes the cake for audacity. A pregnant woman wrote in a recent STOMP article that she had hired a Design and Build firm to transform her home, only to be left high and dry with 96% of the payment already swiped from her pockets. Seriously, it seems like the good guys in the industry must deal with the nonsense of the bad hats.
“A company hired by a pregnant woman to renovate her home left the work unfinished after receiving most of the payment.
The Stomper has since found others who were similarly left in the lurch by the company, R3 Design and Build.
She recounted: "I engaged them when I was in the third trimester of my pregnancy last September. They hacked my house, left it and were gone after taking about 96 per cent of the payment."
She told Stomp the full amount was $58,000 and she had paid $55,608.”
She added, "I've approached my MP for help, but they said it was not a scam as work did start though not completed. Hence, it was a 'dispute'.”
Homeowners facing rogue interior design and renovation firms are caught in a tough spot, burdened with proving scams. They often realize too late they've been deceived, lacking a strong audit trail to hold these errant renovators accountable. Let's empower homeowners with knowledge to outsmart these crafty culprits!
2. So It Falls Onto The Homeowners To Do Their Homework
Homeowners facing rogue interior design and renovation firms are caught in a tough spot, burdened with proving scams. They often realize too late they've been deceived, lacking a strong audit trail to hold these errant renovators accountable. Let's empower homeowners with knowledge to outsmart these crafty culprits!
1st payment – 10-15% (commencement of design and preliminary work)
2nd payment – 30 -40% (commencement of physical work and upon successful application of permits)
3rd payment – 40% (progressive claim upon completion of all site works, such as demolition, wetworks, doors and windows and carpentry confirmation)
4th and last payment – 5 - 20% upon satisfactory completion of all said works including VOs and defects.
3. Research and Research
I’ll be absolutely frank with you, renovations will cause headaches, but that doesn't mean we'll let the rogues run rampant. Embrace the art of research! Arm yourself with knowledge about industry lingo, materials, timelines, and budget planning. It's the best way to safeguard your interests. So, dive into the vast ocean of information available online – visit social pages, peruse portfolios, and check out the designer directory. Become an informed homeowner and be the hero of your renovation tale! Better still, you can find out more of our verified designers listed in or our designer directory (Professional Interior Designers).
Let's banish these renovator rogues to the past! United, we'll raise the standards and make sure these 'cowboys' won't get a chance to pull off their disappearing act anymore. Happy renovating, savvy homeowners!