Many clients in Malaysia asked me about checklists & best practices before, during, and after renovating their homes.
In this article, I will share a complete guide, that comes with a checklist for you to use.
Use the questions to help you plan your renovation and makeover in Malaysia.
If you’re a contractor, share it with your client to help them in planning.
Planning
– Do you have detailed floor plan measurements?
– Do you have the 3D drawing of the interior layout you plan to do?
– What is the scope of work you want to do?
– What is your budget? Contingency plan if something goes wrong?
– Financing (From savings, credit card installments, borrowing)
– Do you plan to hire an interior designer? Design style?
– Is a permit / Pass needed from the local council/building management?
– (If applicable) Require working deposit from management?
Shortlisting Contractors
– Get 5 contractors to go to perform site measurements and quotations from
- Recommendation by family, friend, or neighbors / Nearby Contractor.
- Websites
- Social Media
– Perform background checks on all shortlisted contractors (Legal Entity Check using SSM, How long they are in business, Online presence check, Past Projects review, Client comments)
Renovation Contract Drafting
– Who is preparing a renovation contract?
– Do the payment terms work for you? What payment terms do you prefer?
– Are you using an escrow service?
Scope of Work
Require Dismantling of Existing Structure?
Living Room
– TV cabinet or Built-in TV Console?
– Coffee Table?
– Sofa size? (Number of seats)
– Lighting, Fans, Air-Conditional
– Plaster ceiling? (Normal? L-box? Grooving light effect?)
– Flooring? (Carpet, SPC, Vinyl, Solid Wood)
– Media requirement? (Integrated audio system, game console, TV box)
– Artworks?
– TV Size?
Kitchen
– Dimension of Base Cabinet
– Dimension of Wall Cabinet
– Dimension of Tall Cabinet (Do you need a built-in oven?)
– Dimension of Fridge Cabinet
– Need a kitchen Island?
– Kitchen Cabinet Material? (Melamine, Plywood, Aluminium, Concrete)
– Kitchen Countertop Material? (Quartz, Granite, Porcelain, HPL Laminate, Concrete, Aluminium)
– Need extra drawers or accessories?
– Number of power outlets needed?
– Electrical appliances (Fridge, Water filter, microwave, oven, blender,…)
– Kitchen Hood? (Ducted or Ductless)
– Kitchen Hob (Gas, Ceramic, Induction, Traditional Stove)? Size?
– Sink (Single bowl, double bowl, multi features)? Size?
– Kitchen exhaust fan?
– Other functionality requirement you need?
Dining Area
– Table size? (Number of seats)
– Table top material? (Wood, Ceramic, Mable)
– Table shape? (Round, oval, rectangular)
– Lighting requirement
Bedroom
– Bed Size (King, Queen, Single)
– Mattress Quality (Latax, Spring)
– Bedframe Requirement (Basic, built-in)
– Wardrobe dimension
– Bedside cabinet?
– Bedside power outlet?
– Dressing table
– Study table
– Lighting requirement
– Need TV?
Bathroom
– Bathroom cabinet
– Mirror?
– Water heater and Shower
– More shower shelves?
– Tower rails?
– Exhaust fan?
– Plumbing (Basic, Toilet bowl, Bidet)
– Flooring (Change the existing floor?)
Laundry
– Washing Machine (Top load, Front load)? Capacity?
– Drying rails (Wall mount, stand-alone)
More Spaces
– Have Baby/Kid in the house?
– Need a smart home system?
– Family room?
– Home Office?
– Guest room?
– Accessibility for senior family members?
Other facilities
– Air-conditional (Model, Number of units, Is Air-cond point ready?)
– Curtains, Tinted Window?
– Require Plaster Ceiling? (Living room, Bedroom, Kitchen). What do you need? (Normal, L-box, Grooving light effect?
– Painting? Will you provide paint?
– Flooring? (Carpet, SPC, Vinyl, Solid Wood)
– Shoe Cabinet?
– Storage requirement?
– Any Pet? (Pet house, use of anti-scratch material)
– Decorations & Artwork?
– (Landed Properties) Awning for car porch, backyard, or balcony? (Glass, Polycarbonate, Metal Zinc Deck)
– (Landed Properties) Install autogate? (Swing, bi-folding)
– (Landed Properties) Exterior design? (Painting, landscape)
– (Landed Properties) House extension?
– Other requirements?
Final Words
This checklist will serve as a guideline for most renovation projects in Malaysia. You should have a pretty clear idea on what are the item you want to include, exclude, or good to have in your renovation project.
Once you have the checklist filled up, the next thing is to calculate the renovation cost. To do so, check out “How Much it Costs to renovate your house in Malaysia”.
With the template provided, you will get the estimated costs for each item, you will have an estimated total amount to be spent on your renovation.
Bear in mind that the amount may vary differently from the quotations from your potential contractors.
I wish you a wonderful renovation journey.
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