Beware: Renovation Scams Through Acquaintances
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"Finding a renovation contractor through acquaintances is safer!" It is generally believed that renovation contractors recommended by relatives and friends, being introduced by someone familiar, are more reliable than randomly finding one outside. However, "Scoop" recently reported cases where renovation contractors absconded with money, and numerous online shares repeatedly remind everyone that this "trust" can easily become the start of a nightmare. Let Renovation Expert briefly outline these types of trap cases, dissect the blind spots behind finding a contractor through acquaintances, and provide practical risk-avoidance advice.
Take 80% of the money and run away, even with referrals from acquaintances you can still get scammed
The recent case of Miss Cheng reported by "East West" is a classic example of the "acquaintance referral" trap. Miss Cheng, through a relative's referral, hired a Mr. Tai as a renovation contractor to carry out a full-house renovation for her apartment in Sham Shui Po, with a total project cost of HK$185,000. Shortly after work began, Mr. Tai, citing "industry practice," asked Miss Cheng to pay the first and second installments, totaling HK$140,000, which is nearly 80% of the total project cost. However, Miss Cheng discovered that the progress of the unit was severely delayed, with almost no progress made except for the demolition of the kitchen.
To make matters worse, two weeks after the promised completion date, Mr. Tai suddenly disappeared, and he could not be reached by phone or messages. When Miss Cheng went to check on the unit, she was shocked to find that the stove worth several thousand dollars had also been removed. At the same time, another victim, Mr. Man, had a similar experience. He hired the same Mr. Tai to renovate his public housing unit and paid HK$100,000, after which the contractor also disappeared. The unit only had floor tiles laid and walls partitioned. The two victims suffered a total loss of about HK$240,000.
Image source: East West+ screenshot
Cases of Being Scammed by Acquaintances in Renovations Are Common
Ms. Zheng's experience is not an isolated case. In online forums and media reports, renovation disputes arising from "acquaintance referrals" are quite common, with problems varying widely:
- Prices Skyrocket Leading to Abandoned Projects: One village house owner also relied on a friend's referral. Originally quoted at 780,000, the project was unreasonably increased to 1.39 million midway, with delays exceeding half a year. The waterproofing work on the rooftop was completely substandard. Ultimately, the owner reluctantly terminated the project but was instead counter-sued by the contractor.
- Substandard Work and Poor Craftsmanship: A netizen shared that they hired an acquaintance to renovate their kitchen. The result was a gap of over an inch between the kitchen countertop and the wall, and cabinet doors were covered in scratches, looking like second-hand goods. The contractor even suggested the owner "put a dishwasher there to cover it up."
- 290,000 HKD for "Extreme Minimalism": Another mainland netizen mentioned that their mother spent nearly 290,000 HKD on a renovation through an acquaintance. Upon completion, the design looked like it was from 20 years ago, and the bedroom didn't even have a wardrobe for hanging clothes, with overall poor quality.
The common thread in these cases is that they all started with trust in an "acquaintance," only to end in frustration or even abandoned projects.
Three Blind Spots: Why "Trusting Acquaintances" Can Backfire
Hiring acquaintances for renovation may seem convenient, but it often hides three critical blind spots, leaving homeowners in a disadvantageous position without realizing it.
Blind Spot One: Emotions and Face Override Professional Contracts
When dealing with unfamiliar companies, clear contracts and detailed quotations are standard. However, with acquaintances, many people hesitate due to social grace, feeling "embarrassed" to request comprehensive contracts, and may even lack key details like company seals, payment schedules, or completion deadlines. This "trust-first" approach leaves little legal protection in case of disputes. Moreover, when issues with workmanship or materials arise, homeowners might avoid confrontation to preserve harmony, ultimately having to accept subpar results.
Blind Spot Two: Mismatched Expectations and Inconsistent Standards
"What works for your relative doesn’t necessarily work for you." This is the core of mismatched expectations. Your relative might have done minor renovations, while you need a full-scale makeover; they prefer traditional styles, but you aim for trendy aesthetics. Whether the contractor’s experience, skills, and style match your needs is a major uncertainty. Many overlook the importance of checking if the contractor’s past projects align with their own in terms of type, scale, and style. More importantly, everyone has different standards for "acceptance"—what you see as unacceptable flaws might be seen as "minor issues" by the contractor or referrer, and this inconsistency often sparks conflicts.
Blind Spot Three: Lack of Supervision and Ambiguous Responsibilities
Since it’s an acquaintance, homeowners often lower their guard, not monitoring progress as closely as they would with a regular contractor or requesting regular updates. This gives irresponsible contractors room to delay schedules or change procedures without notice. Post-renovation maintenance is even trickier—if issues like leaks or cracked tiles arise later, asking an acquaintance to fix them can be awkward, and they might delay due to "personal favors," unlike formal companies with clear warranty terms. The lines of responsibility become blurred, and homeowners usually end up bearing the brunt.
How to Protect Yourself? Leverage Platform Matching Services to Reduce Risks
"Risk avoidance" is more important than "saving money." Instead of placing hope on elusive "human connections," choose an objective, professionally regulated platform. "Decor Man" decoration matching platform precisely addresses these blind spots, providing homeowners with multiple safeguards:
- Strict Vetting and Matching: The platform pre-screens decoration companies' backgrounds, track records, and reputations to ensure they meet certain professional standards and credibility. Homeowners can, based on their budget and needs, have the platform intelligently match them with 3 suitable companies, from which they can select the "best fit" for themselves, significantly reducing the risk of "mismatch."
- 3-in-1 Quotation: The platform provides a standardized "3-in-1 quotation" format to help homeowners "compare apples to apples," easily identifying price differences for the same project across different companies. The platform also establishes a dispute resolution agreement for both parties, turning verbal promises into written terms, fundamentally eliminating loopholes caused by "awkwardness."
- Third-party Monitoring and Mediation: Throughout the decoration process, the platform's consultant service acts as a neutral third party, assisting homeowners in communicating with decoration companies. If disputes arise, the platform can intervene to mediate and seek solutions, preventing homeowners from feeling helpless when facing conflicts alone and maintaining rational communication between both parties.
With the assistance of a professional platform, you can not only find truly high-quality decoration partners but also make the entire decoration process more transparent and secure, minimizing the chance of "getting scammed."
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*** This article is reprinted with permission from HK Decoman ***
