Are Renovation Packages Worth It? IDs Share Their Thoughts

Alternatively: should you get a renovation package, or not?

You may have seen the myriad of social media posts highlighting renovation packages at low, attractive prices. The appeal is understandable – aside from being cost-effective, the services are also all-encompassing, which can be a weight off the shoulders of anyone intimidated by the renovation process.

But while renovation packages cover the basics, are they really ideal for anyone looking to create their dream home? To get a balanced perspective, we reached out to two interior designers – Joel from Lab73 Designers, whose firm offers renovation packages for BTO flats, and Joey from Salt Studio, whose firm doesn’t.

Here’s what they have to say:

What’s typically included in a renovation package, and the benefits of taking one up

Joel (L73): For 2- and 3-room BTOs, our renovation package costs $11,773, while it’s $12,773 for 4- and 5-room BTOs. If you look at the details, you can see that we cover a number of things, such as:

• Design services like 3D drawing and space planning
• Renovation works like plumbing and carpentry
• Materials used

The measurements of carpentry works and surfaces are also fixed. For instance, the 20ft kitchen cabinet encompasses both the top-hung and bottom cabinets.

It’s a feasible option for homeowners who have strict budget constraints, because the prices for renovation packages are reduced to keep things competitive. In fact, I’d say that the profit margins of such packages are minimal for an interior designer.

Compared to regular quotations, where things are quoted a la carte and by item, the overall price of a renovation package is definitely more affordable.

Renovation package, yay or nay?

L73: As a firm, we strive to create a dream home for our clients at affordable prices, and because we know that different people have different financial needs, we do offer renovation packages to those who have tight budget constraints.

However, these renovation packages are only limited to BTO projects. We don’t offer any for resale flats because they often come in varying conditions, which makes it hard to come up with a uniform quotation.

Joey (SS): Personally, I’ve never been a fan of renovation packages, because I believe that different people have different lifestyle needs, and there’s almost never a one-size-fits-all solution.

And as a firm, we prioritise design and customer satisfaction, which we find hard to achieve with a generic renovation package that’s not tailored to the clients’ needs.

The downsides of a renovation package

L73: While we tend to only offer our BTO renovation package to those with strict budget constraints, I find that most homeowners who take one up – not just our clients, but in general – find it hard to stay within the quoted price.

This is usually because of things like the carpentry length, where homeowners find that they need more than what is quoted.

SS: In terms of transparency, I find that a regular quotation is clearer. Everything from the material choices, prices, carpentry length, and so on is clearly broken down in the quotation for the homeowner to see.

However, in renovation packages, the details tend to be a little obscure. For example, some packages hide the material options in the fine print, so if you’re not careful, you may be asked to top up because your choice of material isn’t included in the package.

Additionally, the scope of a renovation package is so limited to the point that most people who use one end up topping up for features that aren’t part of the package. If that’s the case, going with a regular quotation may be a better choice as it allows a greater degree of customisation.

And like I said, it’s hard to tailor the home to the homeowners’ needs with a generic renovation package. That’s fine if you’re aiming to have a purely functional home with few design elements – like, say, a landlord looking to give the unit a simple facelift before renting it out.

But most people will want some way to show off their individuality, be it through a unique colour scheme or customised features like a display area. These types of customised features are just not something you can achieve with a renovation package.

Advice to prospective homeowners

L73: If you’re considering taking up a renovation package, my advice is to do your homework properly.

A lot of homeowners have the misconception that a renovation package is all-inclusive and requires minimal input from them. You still have to do your own research to see the market rate of certain works, and whether it’s really more affordable than what you’d get from a regular quotation.

To avoid topping up additional costs, you should also pay close attention to the details of the package before signing. Make sure that what’s included, like the material choices and carpentry length – is to your preference. If not, you may want to consider going with a regular quotation.

SS: From an interior designer’s perspective, there honestly isn’t much we can do with, say, $15,000. At most, we can make a home liveable, but it’s far from being tailored to the homeowner’s lifestyle – for example, we can’t create extra storage options for them should they need more.

At the end of the day, regardless of budget requirements, a renovation is a big ticket purchase, and you’ll definitely want to make the most out of it. If you’re really considering a renovation package, you need to do your own due diligence to see if the package can truly address your needs.

So, should you get a renovation package?

Ultimately, whether you get a renovation package or not depends on your lifestyle needs and current financial situation. To help you make a more informed decision, here are the groups of people who should (or shouldn’t) take up a renovation package:

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