We've Moved In!

Though it's a work in progress as we're currently sorting through boxes and organizing everything. We also still have to hunt for furniture (e.g. coffee table) and other things. In the meantime, here's a sneak peak of what the house looks like so far.

Supplier Ratings: Woods Innovation Center

Supplier: Woods Innovation Center
Price Tag: Php 137,909
Rating: Php 6/10 (10 being the highest)

Pros:
Their rates are reasonable and the workmanship, in general, isn't bad.

Cons:
1. If you text or send them an email, it may take some time before they answer, if at all.

2. They don't follow measurements or instructions well. The white medicine cabinet, for example, is supposed to be brown. They delivered it covered in white laminate fully expecting me to just accept whatever they've decided on. They didn't bother to call or email to check beforehand whether white would be okay with me. They finally offered to redo it in brown after I started getting angry. I decided there was not enough time since we were planning to move-in already.

Another example is when the headboard arrived in two colors (white and brown) - it was just supposed to be one color. They insisted that they were following instructions until I showed them the signed contract. So it's very important to have everything in writing.

3. They're not great with small details. One part of the bunk bed needed paint. If I hadn't noticed, they would have left it looking dirty and unfinished. They also forgot to cover the inside of the cabinets with laminate, so it took them longer to install as they had to add it in at the last minute (they even had to make two trips to the house because of it).

4. They mess up your house. So while they did repaint the bunk bed, they splattered white paint all over the floor and didn't bother to clean it up. They also had excess adhesive on all sides of the mirror they installed and just told me to clean it up myself with paint.

5. I think they better find an alternative way to provide support. All their drawers have a wooden bar inside which I have never encountered before in any other drawer I've come across.

6. Don't expect them to be able to copy certain furniture styles. Below is what I requested (the white sofa) and what was delivered (I provided the fabric).

Three Seater Sofa - Php 18,000 (fabric not included)

Here are the other items we ordered from Woods Innovation Center:

Brown Mirror Frame - Php 8,500

Shoe Cabinet / Foyer Table - Php 15,000

Bunk Bed - Php 12,000

Queen Bed Frame (without mattress) - Php 17,000

Side Table - Php 4000 each

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Bedroom Cabinets - set of three (top photo) - Php 39,409
Bathroom Medicine Cabinets - Php 5000 each
White Mirror Frame - Php 6500
Delivery Fee - 3500

Blims & Uratex

Senso Memory Original

One would think that it's cheaper at the source, but in this case, it cost us much less to buy Uratex mattresses at Blims.

Mattress Type	Blims	Uratex
1 pc. Senso Memory Original - Queen	24,300	25,600
2 pcs. Orthocare Balance - Twin	19,720	24,400
Delivery Fee	1,000	340
TOTAL	45,020	50,340

 

That's a difference of Php 5,320!

We looked at other mattress brands such as Vono, Dunlopillo, Ambassador, and Salem, but it was Uratex that won out in terms of price, size, and feel.

Orthocare Balance

The Rainbow Conundrum

Before & After

Rainbow Cleaners came back and they came through! Yay, right? Not really.

When they returned to the house to do upholstery cleaning, they also had someone clean both bathrooms again. This time, the toilets came out sparkling! The magic ingredient was a bit of muriatic acid which they don't normally use. But at the time, the workers at the house informed me that NOTHING could be done.

So, while I am happier about the cleanliness of the toilets, confusion about the rates made me less than pleased. When they first gave the quotation, it just stated that the total was Php 11,580. Only recently did they give me a breakdown - after I had paid them already:

- Rate for general cleaning is Php 45/sqm

84 sqm - Php 3780
Outdoor cleaning - Php 2000
Cloth lampshade - Php 800
Transportation fee - Php 3000
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Total - Php 9580

Let me repeat, they charged me Php 11,580 for everything mentioned above.

- Upholstery cleaning rates:

2 wing chairs at Php 700/each - Php 1400
1 3-seater sofa - Php 1500
Transportion fee - Php 2000
____________________________
Total - Php 4900

I pointed out to them that we go to Makati everyday, where their office is located, and it does not cost Php 2000. They waived the transportation fee. And since they didn't do the outdoor cleaning or the cloth lampshade (among other things), they gave me a refund for the difference.

Imagine, if everything had gone according to plan, I would have never known that they had overcharged me.