Easing Home Renovation Hassles

Finally, some sense emerges from the chaos that usually surrounds the building or major renovation of a home.

Anyone who has ever renovated a home or had one built will know how frustrating the experience can be.

If you’re particular about the materials that will be used in your dream house, you have to run around different parts of town to hunt for products, enduring traffic jams and parking woes. And this is before a single brick is laid or wall demolished!

Stephen Tew is all too familiar with home renovation hassles.

The founding shareholder and current director of Malaysia’s first real estate investment trust, Axis Reit, has carried out the hands-on renovations of three bungalows and numerous commercial projects.

“I believe it’s important for us to examine and select building materials like tiles and sanitary ware personally, but it is so bothersome having to go to industrial areas like Selayang, Balakong, Klang, and Segambut just to check them out,” he says, referring to areas in the Klang Valley.

“In Australia and New Zealand, one-stop centres for building materials are popular. As a developer I was and am always interested in new products so I frequently visit such centres. I always wondered why there were none in Malaysia.

“We have beautiful products but why are we not showcasing them? The showrooms or shops are located in industrial areas, far from city centres and commercial and residential areas, and they rarely advertise or promote their products.”

And so, earlier this year, Tew opened the Segambut Tile and Interior Decoration Centre (Stadec).

It is Malaysia’s first one-stop centre offering “choices, solutions, and convenience in one place” for anyone thinking of renovating or building a house – or, as he calls it, “a platform and a meeting point to connect manufacturers with buyers”.

And even more than that, “Stadec offers a shopping centre environment for home renovation products,” explains Tew.
Tenants at Stadec have ample space to display their products.

“You can shop here in air-conditioned comfort, and there’s free parking, 24-hour security, a children’s room with TV, and a café to sit down and discuss and contemplate your ideas.”

Some 56 shops and booths are spread across almost 6,000 sq m (or 64,000 sq feet) in Stadec.

Having been through my own nightmarish home renovation experience, to me, what is attractive about the centre is the level of comfort offered. You can browse, touch, and experience the products personally, and at leisure, as most of the showrooms have ample display space.

For example, German-designed Hansa bathroom accessories, like its luxurious Jacuzzis and very tempting showers, can actually be tested on site.

Stadec’s anchor tenants are tile, terracotta, and mosaic manufacturers that include Swiss brand Niro Granite and Cotto Tiles from Thailand, whose products are currently hugely popular for their blend of quirkiness, creativity, and affordability.

On the first floor is a mix of established brands from other construction and interior decor specialities – everything from Scott’s bedding and sofas and an European wallpaper shop to an art gallery and kitchen cabinet specialists.
A seminar room provides space for talks that range from technical level lectures to consumer- and layperson-friendly talks; fees from all these talks are donated to charity homes.

What consumers might find especially reassuring is Tew’s assurance: “Stadec is not dominated by one single brand; rather, we offer a good mix of companies and products.

“As landlord, we do not own nor are we involved with any of the shops. As such, we select our tenants carefully to ensure they offer quality products, and we offer unbiased advice and consultation.

“We have all been ‘victims’ of the market’s shortcomings, the way various brands are scattered all over the Klang Valley. Here, they are all under one roof!”

With over 20 successful years in the real estate business that required frequent visits to building material shops, Tew is confident his experience will ensure Stadec offers a real solution.

He had the idea for Stadec in 1997 but that year’s Asian economic crisis delayed making it a reality. Well, what of the current rather gloomy economic picture? Tew remains positive: “We are in this business for the long haul,” he says.

In fact, so positive is Tew that he is planning to open a second one-stop centre in Klang beside the royal town’s local landmark, the Hokkien Association centre.

“We are going to provide free interior decorating consultation, and arrange ‘matchmaking’ sessions for contractors and home owners,” he says with a smile.

Stadec is open daily from 10am to 6pm at No. 144, Jalan Segambut, Kuala Lumpur (near the Segambut roundabout, off Jalan Duta).

For more information, call 03-6251 4000 .

Source: The Star