HOMEDEC EXHIBITION 2024 FEATURES ROUNDTABLE TO ADDRESS RENOVATION SCAMS

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 2 (Bernama) -- HOMEDEC Exhibition 2024, Malaysia’s premier home design and interior exhibition, currently taking place at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre till tomorrow, featured a roundtable session to address the rising number of renovation scams.

Exhibition organiser, CIS Network Sdn Bhd (C.I.S) said the session, titled ‘Navigating Professional Design Services: A Homeowner's Guide’, aimed to educate homeowners with knowledge on how to avoid falling victim to fraudulent practices during home renovations.

“The roundtable discussed five key areas to help homeowners to protect themselves during home renovation projects, namely checking credentials and hiring professionals, spotting scams and the dangers of social media, handling disputes and recovering losses, industry standards - safety first and how the industry protects homeowners," the organiser said in a statement today. 

The roundtable featured a panel of industry experts including Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) Kuala Lumpur director Datuk Dr Gerald Sundaraj, Malaysian Institute of Architects (PAM) president Prof Adrianta Aziz, Malaysian Institute of Interior Designers (MIID) president Dr Ooi Boon Seong and Malaysian Interior Industry Partners Association (MIIP) president Elvin Tay.

The talk highlighted several red flags that may indicate scams including unsolicited offers, pressure tactics, too-good-to-be-true prices, lack of documentation and cash-only payments.

“To safeguard against renovation scams, homeowners should research thoroughly by checking the contractor’s credentials and looking for reviews from previous clients, get multiple estimates by comparing quotes from several contractors before making a decision and verify registration to ensure the contractor is registered with relevant authorities, such as CIDB.

“Besides that, document everything by keeping written records of all agreements, including costs and timelines and make progressive payments by only paying for work completed at various stages to avoid losing large sums upfront,” the organiser said.

HOMEDEC Exhibition 2024 showcases life-sized show homes, hosts workshops and provides platforms for homeowners to gain insights from industry experts, as well as featuring a new showcase on sustainable home design, reflecting the growing trend towards eco-friendly living spaces.

The exhibition is the preferred destination for homeowners seeking design inspiration, solutions, and affordability in home renovation and decoration.

HOMEDEC has guided over 4 million homeowners alongside 20,000 exhibitors with knowledge and inspiration on how to create dream homes since 2003.

-- BERNAMA