Hi, I’m Jason from Bukit Vista. Welcome back to the Bali Business Review!
In this episode, I’ve summarized key insights from a conversation with our CEO along with information provided by the contractor Kembang Kertas. While they were unable to join us live, they shared their company profile and project materials, which gave us a chance to explore an important but often overlooked topic. Yes, its all about what buyer should check before accepting a property from a developer or contractor.
I’ll walk you through practical tips to help you avoid costly mistakes and make smarter decisions when it comes to new property handovers.
Why Property Contractor Portfolios Are Not Enough?
We looked at one contractor’s profile. It showed some images of their past work, furniture workshops, renderings, and photos of completed villas. However, something was missing. There were no client references, no interviews, and no way to confirm that the owners were happy.
This is a warning sign. A good contractor should be able to share real projects and feedback from happy clients. If that’s missing, it’s smart to ask more questions before moving forward.
Roof and Pool Problems Can Be Costly
One of the biggest problems we see in Bali properties comes from poor construction details. For example, many roofs do not have enough ventilation. This means your house will be hot, and your electricity bills will go up due to air conditioning.
Even worse, poor waterproofing on the roof or pool can lead to leaks, mold, and structural damage. These problems are hard to fix once the building is done. So, we always recommend getting these areas checked while the building is still under construction.
A Good Contractor Will Be Honest With You
Surprisingly, a good contractor is not the one who says yes to everything. If your contractor agrees to every request without checking time and budget, that’s a red flag.
The best contractors are realistic. If they tell you that something will cost more, take longer, or require trade-offs, that’s actually a good sign. It shows they are thinking seriously about your project, not just trying to win the job.
Ask for References and Get an Independent Inspection
Always ask for references. If a contractor cannot introduce you to someone they worked with before, think twice. A confident contractor should be able to show finished work and connect you with happy owners.
Also, before accepting the finished property, hire a professional inspector or quantity surveyor. This is someone neutral who checks the building for any issues. It is a small cost that can save you from big headaches later, especially with leaks, poor finishings, or hidden damage
Look for Contractors Who Use Good Tools and Supervision
Some contractors use helpful tools like cameras to show building progress. This is a great sign. If they can give you updates and visual proof of what’s happening on site, it means they care about transparency and quality.Sharing updates also helps you stay involved, especially if you are not living in Bali full-time.
Be careful if a contractor is too available. Sometimes the ones with the most free time are not getting work for a reason. It may be better to wait for a reliable contractor, even if that means starting your project later. A good start leads to fewer delays and problems in the future.
Do Your Homework and Ask Smart Questions 📋
Before you accept a new property, ask yourself a few things:
- Has the contractor given you clear references?
- Have you checked for waterproofing and ventilation?
- Did you get an independent inspection?
- Is the contractor being honest about timelines and costs?
If you answer yes to all of these, you’re likely working with a professional. If not, keep asking questions until you are confident.
🗒️ Read the transcript
🎧 Opening & Introduction
Alright, thank you for joining us again for a very special episode of Bali Business Review. Today, we’ve invited Kembang Kertas as a general contractor to speak about a topic that many of our audience would like to know about -> what every buyer should check before receiving the keys from a developer and contractor.
Unfortunately… they’ve gotten a little stage fright and won’t be joining us live today. So the best I can do is to read off and try to understand a little more about their company portfolio, while also discussing general good practices we’ve learned as property managers here in Bali.
🏢 Reviewing Kembang Kertas’s Company Profile
Let’s start with their company profile. Kembang Kertas, or KTA, provides business solutions including construction, renovation, interior production, and business development.
They claim to offer:
24/7 assistance
Services like construction, maintenance, new build, furniture production, supply chain, sales, marketing, SEO & Google Business
Interesting enough, the document had some spelling errors which is, well, something to note if we’re talking about professionalism. Also, while they state they’re always available 24/7, today proves otherwise.
🛠️ Workshop & Production Capabilities
Next, their workshop. From the images, it seems they operate a furniture production space but no clear location or third-party verification
Lots of photos, but no labels, no faces, no testimonials. Just products. It raises questions: who are the clients? How happy are they with the result?
🏡 Portfolio of Projects
They list a few projects:
A Moroccan-style villa in Lovina
Another Moroccan villa in progress
A finished property in Bingin
Ongoing project in Amed
Again… no clear documentation or client references. And that’s where we really start to draw the line
✅ What to Check Before Accepting Delivery from a Contractor
Let’s dive into what you—as a buyer or property owner—should look for before accepting keys from a contractor
1. Roof Ventilation
The roof is one of the most critical parts of your property. You must ensure:
There’s adequate ventilation
Your contractor understands principles like heat transfer and air circulation
Otherwise? You’ll spend more on air conditioning, especially in Bali’s hot climate
💡 Tip: Don’t rely on your contractor for design. Get a proper architect or design consultant.
2. Waterproofing
Another major issue is waterproofing. If it’s not done right:
Leaks will cause mold
Gypsum ceilings get damaged
Guests will complain—trust us
Check every joint, corner, and structural angle for proper sealing.
3. Pool Waterproofing & Rebar
Pools are a major leak point if not reinforced properly. Even a 1mm crack can drain it
✅ Hire a structural inspector to assess this early in construction.
🧾 What Makes a Contractor Trustworthy?
Here’s how to vet a contractor before accepting any handover:
1. They Push Back When Needed
Believe it or not, a contractor saying “No, we can’t do that unless…” is actually a green flag ✅
Why? Because:
Unrealistic demands from buyers lead to disappointing results.
Saying “Yes” to everything is a red flag 🚩
2. They Provide References
Always ask for:
Client contact info
Photos of finished work
Testimonials or reviews
If they can’t provide those, take a pause.
3. Get an Independent Inspection
Before accepting your villa or building:
Hire a third-party building inspector or quantity surveyor
Ask for a 3-month defect liability period, especially during the rainy season
Never rely solely on the builder to say “it’s done.” That’s a conflict of interest.
🔍 Evaluating the Rest of Their Profile
Going back to KTA’s profile—lots of photos, but still no evidence or references
That lack of transparency makes it hard to build trust. So, while they may be delivering on some projects, we simply don’t have the data to say for sure
📌 Final Thoughts & Key Takeaways
To wrap up, here are the top lessons:
✔️ Ask for client lists with clear delivery timelines and budgets
✔️ Check if the contractor manages your expectations
✔️ Know that good contractors have limited capacity
✔️ Bonus points if they use automation tools like site cameras
Sometimes the best contractor is busy. That’s okay. Better to wait and get it right than rush and regret.
🧠 “Don’t trust blindly. Do your homework.”
👋 Closing
This has been Jing from the Bali Business Review, hoping this brief episode gave you some clarity
Remember—ask the hard questions, don’t get blinded by beautiful renderings, and if in doubt, get help from tools like ChatGPT or an independent surveyor
We’ll see you next episode. Until then: Inspire. Delight. Build smart.
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