We asked interior designers how COVID-19 has changed things this year.
Traditionally, mid-August to early-September is a period where Singapore homeowners tend to avoid starting their renovations or even stop carrying them out altogether – and it’s due to the Hungry Ghost Festival which falls on the 15th day of the lunar month (2nd September 2020 on the Western Calendar).
However, things are a little different this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic that has presented its own unique set of challenges. We spoke to local interior designers who shared about the current situation on the ground as well as the precautions (both hygiene and supernatural) that they’re taking.
Compared to previous years, how have homeowners responded to the idea of renovating in the 7th month?
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Robin Wong, Managing Director, Posh Home:
Previously, I’d say that out of 10 homeowners, 8 or 9 of them wouldn’t be comfortable about starting their renovations during the 7th month. But now it’s the opposite due to the impact of COVID-19.
Usually, most homeowners, especially if they’re Chinese, prefer not to start their renovation during the 7th month even if they aren’t very superstitious; it’s just seen as a bad thing to do according to Fengshui, which emphasises about doing things in the right place, at the right time. In some cases, even after the renovation has been completed, there are homeowners who’d rather leave their homes empty instead of moving in during the Hungry Ghost Festival.
However, time isn’t on their side this year, so even though they might not like it, these homeowners will have to go ahead with their renovation plans.
Jonathan Kuok, Creative Director, Space Atelier:
I believe that there are quite a number of homeowners who were caught off guard by the suddenness of the Circuit Breaker (CB) earlier this year, and they’re probably still affected by the situation. It was definitely a surprise for everyone, and because everything was put on hold from April to May, they’re now forced to continue with their renovations even if it isn’t an auspicious period.
What challenges has COVID-19 posed for the industry? And what concerns do homeowners have about it?
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Robin (Posh Home):
I think that if they had the time, most homeowners would prefer to push back the start date of their renovation till after the 7th month. But because of the CB and Malaysia’s Movement Control Order (MCO), there has been a big delay in their plans. And to make things worse, the whole industry is facing a shortage of workers both because of the MCO and the situation in the dormitories.
I suppose homeowners are aware of the situation or are prepared for it because I have met some who’re only getting their keys in November or December, but they’re eager to sign (their contracts) with us now to ‘secure’ the manpower in advance.
Another thing that has changed is that sub-contractors are now asking for a 30 – 50% upfront deposit before they begin work. So, in a way, there’s also been a consolidation of power in the industry where only the larger or more reputable players have the financial means to get the manpower needed to cope with both existing and new projects.
Jonathan (Space Atelier):
If we’re talking about challenges, we definitely have to talk about the CB. Due to it, the completion date for earlier renovations were pushed back, and with new ones starting soon, it’s going to be tough for many companies to juggle new and old projects at the same time.
And of course, plenty of workers are still stuck in the dormitories, so the workforce is going to be smaller even though we’re allowed to resume work. But I believe that most renovations can still go on, but at a slower pace.
We’ve some clients who are renting and they’ve had to extend their lease – that’s one of the common scenarios. There are also those who had initially planned to hand over their existing homes to buyers, but due to the CB and renovation delay for their new homes, they were unable to do so, otherwise they'd have no place to stay in during the interim.
What COVID-19 and/or supernatural-related precautions has your firm taken during this period?
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Robin (Posh Home):
It’s regarded as bad luck to start a renovation during the 7th month, so one of the things that we do is a ‘ground breaking’. Usually, we’ll visit the site before the start of the Hungry Ghost Festival and ‘begin’ the renovation in advance by knocking out a cabinet or fixture. That’s one way to work around the taboo.
COVID-19 wise, we’ve adopted new technologies to cut down on the number of face-to-face meetings with clients.
Apart from Zoom, we’ve also started using project management systems like Basecamp, which allows us to consolidate/upload documentation and progress videos. On one hand, this allows us to cut down the number of WhatsApp messages that we send, and on the other, our clients won’t have to travel down to the site.
We’ve also invested money into building a Zoom booth that’s like an old-school telephone booth, except it has proper lighting, soundproofing, writing tablets, and high-quality cameras/microphones to make virtual discussions feel as close as possible to meetings in real-life.
Jonathan (Space Atelier):
Usually for the 7th month, we’ll just make some simple offerings below the HDB block and that’s about it. We also carry out a ‘ground breaking’ ceremony for projects running though this period, and in fact, my colleagues and I have been doing it at a couple of renovation sites for the past few weeks.
We try to have most of our meetings online, unless it involves choosing materials where face-to-face meet-ups will be necessary. We also have schedules to keep track of and limit the number of staff and/or visitors in our showroom at any one time.
Do you feel that homeowners should start/continue renovating during this year’s 7th month?
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Robin (Posh Home):
I think the answer is ‘yes’, everything is business as usual. The only big difference is that due to shortage of workers, only companies in better shape are able to offer their services.
Indirectly, this has raised the standards of the interior design industry in Singapore. Previously, there was a race to the bottom in terms of price, but because there’s a greater emphasis on reliability and the ability to deliver now, it has changed how the entire industry is competing.
Jonathan (Space Atelier):
I guess they don’t have a choice, right? It’s either renovate or not have a place that’s ready to live in. We have some clients who are starting their renovations right in the middle of the 7th month, and we aren’t even able to carry out the ‘ground breaking’ for them.
So, in a way, it’s a question of which is ‘scarier’. Not having a completed home? Or having to secure alternative living arrangements which could add to your expenses? This is a decision that homeowners will have to make for themselves.
