I recently purchased a new home. And like anyone else, it was our dream to make it the best furnished home possible in our budget. I was actually ready to stretch the budget to get the quality and finishing in the work.
In order to get the pricing from different vendors, one fine day I have also filled a form on LivSpace.com. The cost suggested by the online estimation tool was too high. So, I dropped the idea of going forward with them and instead started looking for other vendors in our budget.
Then in 2-3 days I got a call from their designer enquiring about my requirements, and she said that they can do that low budget project also, and they can work on our project within our budget.
For this we had to skip few planned items, to save the cost, but that was fine. As far as the work is going to be done in good quality and modern design, I was happy. Afterall, I have hired the best interior company in India as claimed by them.
The problem started with the design phase itself. The LivSpace designer was just showing sample designs already built for someone else, for different locations in our home. And she asked us to choose one as we like. They never visited our flat in design phase, and no review of our requirements was done.
And above all, they have only modulars available with them and were almost force selling us to use the modular for every location, even if it does not fit the space or our requirements.
When we asked for custom design based on our space and size of wall, then they will increase the cost at least 2 folds. So, suppose they are providing a modular of 8x6 feet in Rs.50,000, and our wall size if 7 feet. Then the covering the whole 7 feet will require customization and the cost will be Rs90,000. We were shocked to know this. How could anyone do this? And above that the time frame for modular work was already 1.5-2 months, that will increase to 2.5-3 months in case of custom work.
At many places we had to let go our requirements and instead keep their modular furniture. Their designer never provided any creative input based on our preference and available space. All she had was prebuilt designs and we just had to choose one of them. This was totally unacceptable, but what could we do we already paid 10% money to them.
And for few items we ourselves suggested the design of the area - be it TV Unit, dresser in master bedroom, and kids room. This was very frustrating.
Now begin the execution phase, this was all about delays, irresponsible operations team, and miscommunication between the design - operations - contractor.
When the work started the operations team did not took all brief about the design team. They just get the printed document, and they started working. The onsite contractor was not even aware of 50% of the design items. When we visited the site during the work phase then we ourselves informed the contractor about the design issues and what items are to be worked upon and how it should be done.
In design phase they provide measurements in millimeters, but when in actual execution, nobody bothered about validating the design with the work done. Based on our budget the work was very limited and it could have been easily done in 2 months' time frame that they themselves provided, but it took 6 months. And few of the items are still pending as I am writing this post.
Watch the video here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8jhM8Gw6UTU
Frustrated by their attitude, I even wrote emails to their so-called country head, CEO and all other senior management. But, they looked least bothered about my work. No one ever responded, and when they did - it was just like - Sir please forget what happened in the past, we will escalate it and will finish this in next 15-20 days. And then after 1.5 months they were providing the same response to my emails and grievance.
And the quality of the furniture is worse. The leg of one sofa broke while we were moving it on floor to make space for something. Nothing loaded, no pressure applied, the floor was clean ceramic tiles. And still the solid wood leg, provided with them broke within 15 days of delivery. They will tell you that everything is covered under warranty, but what they do not tell you that it will take 1-2 month to get that repaired or replaced. And that is only when you will follow up every 2-3 days until it is done.
Watch the furniture quality video here - https://www.youtube.com/shorts/FN7atvJv6jo
So, if you are also looking to get your interior work done, then save your money and hire some small local contractor, that contractor will also do similar work in similar time frame, but at least that is expected from them.
LivSpace is just there to extract as much money as they can in the name of their brand and marketing, then they will just forget about you. Then you are on your own and will spend rest of the year following up with them and requesting them to please finish the work on time.
