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The renovation industry here is unregulated, and it is hard to tell who you should trust with your renovation. Do the usual homework, such as checking the company’s track record, and speaking to other clients who have used their services before. Even then, there have been cases of renovators who go rogue even if they have a good track record.
There is an existing renovation accreditation scheme under Case (Consumers Association of Singapore) Trust, the consumer watchdog’s accreditation arm, which calls for the renovation company to adhere to a strict set of criteria relating to pricing transparency, service standards, delivery of work, and so on. Case will also provide mediation in the case of disputes.
The good news is that more is being done – a new accreditation scheme by Case and the Singapore Renovation Contractors and Material Suppliers Association (RCMA) announced last August calls for accredited contractors to buy a $50,000 performance insurance bond for their customers. Customers can claim compensation or deposit refunds from insurance companies if a contractor does not deliver the work as promised. The scheme also specifies that the business must adopt the Case Trust Standard Renovation Contract. Again, Case will provide mediation, if neccessary.
Accredited businesses can display the Case Trust logo on their shopfronts and marketing materials, which is a signal of good business practices.