My renovation nightmare — how to avoid bad contractors
Gary Loh
27 Feb 2026
Red flags I ignored:
- No physical office address, only WhatsApp
- Asked for >50% upfront payment
- Couldn't provide receipts for materials
- No written contract, just verbal agreement
What to do instead:
- Always sign a written contract with scope, timeline, and payment milestones
- Pay in stages (30% → 40% → 30%) tied to completion
- Keep invoices for all materials
- Use contractors from CIDB-registered companies
This cost me 6 months and RM18k. Don't make my mistake.
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