It’s almost as if, by some strange cosmic law, all hacking works efforts will take a month (or two) longer than expected. It’s strange that the same thing happens whether the remodeled property is a massive bungalow or a tiny 3-room unit that only needs re-flooring. Yet, it’s a huge inconvenience for home buyers who need to move in, therefore we’ve selected the upgrades that are most likely to be completed quickly and on time:

1. Choose renovation projects that do not rely heavily on imports.

Delays, according to the interior designers we spoke with, can be caused by the vendor’s supply chain rather than their own employees. This is most likely to occur when there are just two or three distributors for a given substance and there are no other options.

For example, if you select tiles sold by only one distributor in Singapore and their supply does not arrive, work cannot be completed. Even though your designer can try to identify alternative sources, the process will take time and there is no guarantee the cost will be the same.

(In any case, if the order has already been placed and the deposits have been paid, there is usually no way to back out).

Hence, before you choose any material, check with the designer to see if it is widely available. Usually design firms can recommend locally manufactured alternatives or ubiquitous alternatives that are always in stock.

2. Reduce the amount of bespoke work

A false ceiling is said to be a common source of difficulty in custom work. “Creating a fake ceiling is a unique creation, to meet the vision and the individual property,” one interior designer noted. It’s not something I can go into a store and choose from a catalogue. Dimensions, materials, and installation must all be completed from start to finish.”

It is normal to expect some custom work, such as cabinetry. But, there is a distinction to be made between having custom kitchen cabinetry and needing to create a full walk-in wardrobe for the master bedroom.

On general, the quickest renovation projects are those that are simply purchased from a store and installed. Vinyl flooring, ready-made shelving, and light fittings are examples of these.

(We know whose home decor store you’re thinking about, and the answer is yes: a specific establishment that also serves as a meatball restaurant figured this out years ago. That is why they utilize a cookie-cutter approach with mostly pre-made materials that can be implemented rapidly).

If you need to move in quickly, one contractor suggested skipping the more aesthetically pleasing aspects like feature walls entirely. These non-essentials can be addressed once you’ve moved in.

3. Keep your flooring to a minimum.

Installing vinyl flooring takes only a few hours, and there is never a shortage of supplies (if need be, the designer can just buy another roll on the same day and finish the job). This is in sharp contrast to wood, marble, granite, and other materials, which take longer to lay and are vulnerable to distributor delays (see point 1).

Vinyl flooring is also simple to remove and inexpensive. Hence, while it may be a bit wasteful, upgrading to a different type of flooring later won’t be too difficult. Stick with vinyl for now and come up with more elaborate drawings afterwards.

4. Choose a bathroom design that does not have a bathtub.

Standing showers are glass doors that are simple to install. They are also less expensive and safer for senior citizens. If you have a bathtub with senior family members, remember to put the necessary safety precautions such as grab bars, non-slip aids in the bathtub, and so on.

5. Rather than having your designer erect partitions, use screens and elevation adjustments to divide a room.

Try separating your living area into three sections: a dining room, a study, and a TV room. If you employ partitions, it could take weeks to plan, build, and relocate the power outlets and lighting.

Alternately, you can simply utilize rugs, consoles, and sideboards to demarcate the space, or use folding Chinese screens as a décor that also divides the dining room. A glass half-partition can also serve the same purpose without requiring the construction of a whole wall.

Throw out the idea that walls are always necessary to divide a space and see if your designer can come up with more open-concept options. This will shorten the time it takes to complete your renovations while also enhancing natural lighting and ventilation.

6. Renovate one room at a time.

If you need to move in quickly, you don’t have to start remodeling the entire house at once. Rather, start with a few critical areas, such as the toilet, kitchen, or master bedroom.

Hacking works Singapore a few rooms will be far faster than waiting for the entire unit to be finished, and this may be done while the apartment is still livable. Other aspects, such as partitions for the optional study or living room features, can be addressed later.

We met a couple who stayed on their property while it was being renovated: they simply finished the bedroom and toilet first, and the rest of the renovations were performed during the hours they were gone at work.