When it comes to the local entertainment scene, Joanne Peh and Qi Yuwu are household names. In fact, they’ve been familiar faces to most Singaporeans for well over a decade. Joanne is perhaps best known for her role in the 2008 Chinese drama, The Little Nyonya, while Qi rose to stardom following his 1999 victory in Star Search Singapore.

Their recent journey into homeownership also struck a chord with many Singaporeans going through their own condo renovation. What was supposed to be an exciting upgrade turned into a long and complicated process — a reminder of how unpredictable condo renovation cost can be, especially for older resale units. The couple have openly shared some of their struggles along the way, echoing the reality that even celebrities aren’t immune to renovation regrets when things take longer or cost more than expected.