Renovation Quotation Review · Singapore
Renovation Quotation Review in Singapore
Know what you're paying for before you pay the deposit.
Have a layout and quotation from your ID? Bring both. I'll take the quote apart with you, line by line, then prepare an itemised quotation for the same scope so you can see exactly what's defined, and what isn't.
Free · Two meetings · Reviewed personally, not by software · You don't need to switch ID
What is a renovation quotation review?
A renovation quotation review is a line-by-line check of your interior designer's or contractor's quotation against the layout it was priced from. I check quantities, specifications, tile and material allowances, exclusions and payment terms, mark every grey area, then re-quote the same scope so you can compare. It's free, done in person in Singapore, and happens before you pay the deposit.
Which one sounds like you?
Most people ask for a second opinion on a renovation quote for one of these three reasons.
Comparing quotes
“Why is one quote so much cheaper than the other?”
I lay the quotes against the same scope, so you're comparing like with like, not totals.
About to pay the deposit
“My ID says it's standard. Is it?”
I mark every grey area before you commit, and give you the exact questions to ask.
Over budget
“What can I cut without ruining the design?”
With every item priced separately, you can cut precisely. Where the layout is the problem, I'll redraw it.
Why is one renovation quotation cheaper than another?
A lump sum isn't cheaper. It's undefined.
A detailed quotation looks higher because it has priced the whole job. A lump sum looks lower because part of the job hasn't been described yet. Those undescribed parts, the grey areas, are where unplanned variation orders come from.
| Lump-sum quote (living room carpentry) | Itemised quote (same brief) |
|---|---|
One line. No dimensions per cabinet. No edging. No lighting. No glass. No breakdown. |
|
I can't tell you what someone else's variation orders will cost. Nobody can, and that's the problem. I can show you exactly where they can come from.
I don't just comment on your quote. I re-quote it.
Dissected in front of you
At our first meeting we go through your layout, your requirements and the quotation together. I mark the lump sums and grey areas as we talk.
Re-quoted line by line
I then prepare an itemised quotation for the same scope: quantities, dimensions, materials, finishes and hardware written out, so you can compare line by line.
Layout checked, and redrawn where needed
If the layout itself is driving cost or causing problems, I'll mark it up or redraw it.
What does a clear renovation quotation look like?
These are the five tests I apply to every quotation, including my own.
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A quantity on every line
Square feet, millimetres or number of pieces. “Kitchen cabinet” isn't a quantity.
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Specification, not description
Material, internal and external finish, edging, hardware brand and model, handle type.
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Tiling split into its parts
Preparation, laying and tile supply priced separately, with the laying method, skirting and wastage stated.
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Allowances with a number
If the tiles aren't chosen yet, the quote should say up to how much per square foot. Then an upgrade is a measurable difference, not a surprise.
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Undecided items priced in advance
Optional items listed with unit rates, and exclusions stated, so a change has a price before it happens.
Example: how a tiling item should read
- Apply 2-in-1 pre-pack cement and sand mix before laying tiles — 110 sq ft
- Lay new homogeneous floor tiles, 300 x 600 or 600 x 600, 45° mitre cut, skirting up to 50mm H — 110 sq ft
- Supply and deliver selected tiles — 130 sq ft (includes wastage), selection up to $5.00 psf
How does the quotation review work?
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Meeting 1
Review session (in person)
Bring your layout and quotation. We go through your requirements and I take the quote apart with you.
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Up to 5 working days
I prepare your breakdown
An itemised quotation for the same scope, your grey-area list, and a layout mark-up where needed.
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Meeting 2
Walk-through
I take you through it, line by line, so you leave knowing exactly what to ask and what to decide.
Signing soon? Tell me your deadline. Meeting 1 is useful on its own.
What do I check in your quotation?
If you're asking whether your renovation quote is reasonable, these are the six areas I go through.
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Layout vs requirements
Does the plan actually do what you asked for?
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Carpentry
Dimensions per item, carcass, internal and external finish, edging, hardware brand and model, handles, lighting, glass.
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Tiling
Area per room, tile allowance per sq ft, hacking, screeding, laying method, skirting, wastage, disposal.
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Lump sums and grey areas
What's bundled, what's left out, what becomes a top-up later.
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Payment and variation terms
How payments follow progress on site, and how variations are priced and approved.
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HDB and condo responsibilities
Renovation permits, HDB approval for hacking, Licensed Electrical Worker, MCST submissions.
What do you get from the review?
Your grey-area list
Every item your quote leaves undefined, listed so you can ask about each one.
An itemised quotation for the same scope
A line-by-line reference to compare against.
Layout mark-up or redraw
Where the layout needs it.
Questions for your ID
Ready to send. For example:
- “Please specify the cabinet carcass material and hardware brand.”
- “Please confirm the tile allowance per sq ft.”
- “Please clarify how variations are priced and approved.”
Why is it free?
Every project I take on starts with a requirement session. This review is that session, starting from the plan and quotation you already have.
Do I need to switch ID?
No. What you do with the findings is entirely your decision.
Reviewed by a designer who writes itemised quotations himself
Guolun
Principal Designer & Founder, Luna Studio
BA (Hons) Interior Design — LASALLE / Goldsmiths · Professional practice since 2017
Every quotation is read by me personally. No software, no AI.
What this review is, and isn't
I'm an interior designer, not an auditor or a lawyer. This review doesn't certify a contractor, guarantee final cost or workmanship, give legal advice, replace an engineer's assessment, or check hidden site conditions. It shows you what your quotation says, what it doesn't, and what to ask.
Your documents are used only to prepare your review and are not shared with anyone.
Renovation quotation review: common questions
Do I need a layout plan?
Yes, please bring the layout your quotation was priced from. A quotation can only be checked against the plan it was built on.
Can you compare more than one quotation?
Yes. I lay them against the same scope so the differences are clear.
Why in person?
Plans and quotations have to be read together, and too much gets lost over text. Two meetings mean nothing gets lost.
Do you use software or AI to review?
No. Every quotation is read by me personally.
Will you tell me if my renovation quote is overpriced?
I show you what's included, what's unclear and what's missing. That's usually where the real cost difference is.
Are variation orders always bad?
No. Changing your mind is normal. The problem is a change that was never priced in the first place. In a clear quotation, a change shows what's added and what's credited back.
Is a lump sum always a problem?
Small items like protection works can reasonably be a lump sum. Measurable work like carpentry and tiling shouldn't be. CASE's standard renovation contract includes itemised pricing.
Do I have to switch to Luna Studio?
No. You decide what to do with the findings.
Is it really free?
Yes. It's my standard first appointment.
Do you review HDB, BTO and condo quotations?
Yes. HDB, BTO, resale and condo quotations, with the relevant HDB or MCST responsibilities in mind.
Book your free quotation review
Tell me where you are. I'll reply to arrange Meeting 1.
I reply within one working day.
Choose one
After sending, please attach your layout plan and quotation in the WhatsApp chat.
This opens your email app with your answers filled in. Press Send there, then please email your layout plan and quotation.
Free · No obligation · You don't need to switch ID.
