A few years ago, our family took a leap of faith in redeveloping our two-storey house in Uttara, Sector 7. The house had served us well, but it had become somewhat difficult to maintain. We decided that instead of repairing it, we would give it for redevelopment. After speaking to a variety of developers, we settled on one we thought would deliver: Builder X.
From the outset, they promised everything we could’ve hoped for—timely payments, superior construction quality, modern finishes, and a smooth handover. We believed them. After all, we were excited to see a fresh, beautiful space built on our family’s land. Little did we know, that this decision would become one of our biggest regrets.
We were hands-on throughout the entire process. We regularly visited the site, checking on the progress and guiding the team. We spoke with the workers, made suggestions, and pushed for transparency. But despite our best efforts, we were powerless to stop the theft of resources, the mismanagement, and the sheer negligence that plagued this project.
The problems started from day one, they were using the cement that was not in the contract. The project engineer was hardly ever on-site. And when they were, they couldn’t provide clear answers. To make matters worse, the developer switched engineers midway through the projecton the regular. Instead of stability and progress, this only resulted in confusion, delays, and a lack of accountability.
The timeline was a joke. What was promised to be a quick redevelopment turned into a slow, painful process. The project dragged on for months. Despite our frequent involvement, progress was sluggish, and deadlines were consistently missed. And when the project was finally “handed over” after several months of delay, we were shocked by the state of the finished flats handed over to us.
Instead of a polished, completed space, we were met with unfinished areas, rushed work, and glaring flaws. The backroom, for example, took an extra 12 months to complete—and even then, it was left incomplete. Areas that were supposed to be high-quality were instead riddled with faulty construction, bad tiling, and poor finishes.
We had to fight for months to get them to fix basic issues, like replacing cracked tiles and addressing construction faults. And even now, as I write this, the project remains incomplete. There are still unfinished tasks, like fixing the subpar construction and replacing damaged materials. The whole experience has been one of constant frustration and disillusionment.
What I learned:
1. Don’t settle for promises—demand results. Research every developer thoroughly. Visit their completed projects and speak to people who have worked with them.
2. Document everything. Always have written agreements that clearly define timelines, penalties for delays, and quality expectations.
3. Stay involved. Even if you’re hands-on, ensure there are clear communication channels, and hire independent professionals (such as engineers or consultants) to monitor quality.
4. Legal protection matters. Get everything in writing, and ensure penalties are in place for delays and subpar work.
If you’re considering a similar venture, learn from my mistakes. A bad developer can turn your dream project into a nightmare. Don’t make the same mistakes we did.
