And although they had been told the painting was done and were shown a video, they found that the house was only half painted, he added. “We were only shown … the parts that were painted.”

They also discovered that the interior designer had used none of the products and fittings from the vendor they had chosen. When queried, he told them he was at another vendor, ordering their kitchen appliances.

“He just brushed us off and said that because this vendor was significantly cheaper, he was trying to help us save money,” said Lee.

Five months after the work began, the interior designer ghosted them. “His showrooms were all vacated. Then we realised that the money wasn’t … coming back,” Lee said.

By then, the family had forked out more than S$130,000. Yet, their home had to be rebuilt. And the interior design firm has since gone into liquidation.

WATCH: They paid over S$130,000 for a home renovation. Then the contractor disappeared (7:17)