our first issue with the contractor came.

couple of weeks ago, we went window shopping for toilet fittings and found some really good bargains which includes a stylish WC + basin promo that goes for $288, and cheap WC going for $138. In fear that these promotional items would go out-of-stock soon, we decide to get the contractor to go down with us to grab them. (we want the contractor to be there so tat he can advice on items suitable for the spaces we have.)

During this day when i brought him to the shop and after looking at the stuffs, he told me that the price is not exactly very cheap actually. He also claimed that he can get WCs at ard just $100+. At the end of the day, we did not buy anything, partly also because he said its still early to buy them.

A week later when its almost time for workers to install the fittings, he got us some product list from some shop he usually works with, for us to choose. The problem is that the products on the list were really limited in choice and totally not cheap! That's still not an issue. The main issue came when we arranged for another day to go shopping for lightings and toilet fittings together. The shop that he brought us to sells things with price tags which totally doesn't match what he claimed to be earlier. His explaination was that he doesn't wan to introduce us to cheap but inferior stuffs, and tell us that we shouldn't go for cheaper stuffs as there will be quality issues. Anyway, we went in and out of the shop he brought us to with no purchase made. In the end, we insist on bringing him back to the shops that we found our cheaper items and bought our stuffs there. That's like a total waste of time!! We could have bought our stuffs during the first visit! Our assumption is that he made up stories as he wants us to buy from shops that he brought us to, most probably to get some commission or help him build up his relationship with his suppliers.

The moral of the story: Don't do whatever your contractor tells u to! We have came to the conclusion that less than half of what he said can be trusted. Go and shop and compare prices for your stuffs on your own.


He also brought us to a lighting shop to buy our lights. Thats the only place we bought something but we have a feeling that we could have gotten them cheaper somewhere else.

Purchase includes:
- 8 x 4 feet long T5 with casing
- 1 x 2 feet long T5 with casing
- 1 x 3-blade ceiling fan
- 2 x toilet light
- 1 x storeroom light
- 4 x glass panel ceiling light (for 2 bedrooms and kitchen)
- 6 x large downlights (for living and corridor)
- 2 x medium downlights (for MBR)
- 1 x spotlight (for glass shelve in MBR)

Total damage: $1200

I still need to source for my balcony and dining light. Didn't see anything that i fancy in that shop. These are the 2 lights that will need to be more attention grabbing.


Total damage for toilet fittings: $1098

Pending items:
- shower head and bar for MBR toilet
- towel bars, toilet row holders, glass shelves for both toilets
- kitchen sink and tap
- hood and hob

Shopping can be such a chore at times!!