For Jackson, joining TLT Projects was never part of a carefully planned career path. Inspired after renovating his own first home with the help of his in-laws, who founded the company in 2007, he discovered a passion for the construction and renovation industry. Through hands-on training and years of practical experience, he has embraced the company’s philosophy of treating every client’s home as if it were his own.
Today, Jackson is committed to upholding the values of quality workmanship, transparency and trust while embracing new technologies such as AI to improve efficiency. He believes that great homes are built not only with skill and experience, but also with integrity and genuine care for every homeowner.
TLT Projects was founded by your in-laws. How did you first become involved in the business?
TLT Projects was founded in 2007 and I wasn’t involved from the beginning.
My journey started when my in-laws helped my wife and me renovate our first HDB home. We already had our own design ideas, and being involved in the renovation process opened my eyes to how different construction is from simply designing a space.
That experience sparked my interest in the industry. I then joined the business, underwent on-the-job training at SAC and gradually learnt the trade from the ground up.
TLT Projects was built on the philosophy of building homes the way you would build your own. Why is it important to preserve this value?
If we treat every project as though it were our own home, we naturally put in more effort, care and attention to detail. Our standards become much higher because we would never compromise on our own homes.
This philosophy also helps us build trust with our clients. It reflects our character and reminds us to always do the right thing, even when no one is watching.
Renovation projects often involve significant financial and emotional investment. How do you build trust with clients from the very beginning?
Building trust starts with transparency.
We work directly with homeowners as well as architects. During our first meeting, we share our track record, explain our experience and highlight that we are BCA-certified.
Since TLT Projects was established in 2007, we have almost 20 years’ worth of projects. We even encourage prospective clients to select three to five completed projects to visit. They can speak directly with previous homeowners and see the quality of our work for themselves.
I believe there is no better way to build confidence than allowing clients to hear honest feedback from people we have worked with before.
What are some common misconceptions homeowners have when embarking on a renovation project?
Many homeowners compare quotations based solely on price. For example, one quotation may be $800,000 while another is $1 million, and they assume both cover exactly the same scope of work.
In reality, the difference often lies in the quality of materials, structural components, workmanship and long-term durability.
At TLT Projects, we provide quotations based on the client’s actual requirements rather than offering unrealistically low prices that later result in numerous variation orders and additional charges.
Sometimes the cheapest quotation ends up being the most expensive after construction begins.
What trends are you seeing among homeowners today compared to a decade ago?
Homeowners today are much more involved in the design process.
With platforms such as Pinterest and AI tools like ChatGPT, they can generate concepts and even visualise how their homes may look before approaching us.
In the past, homeowners relied heavily on designers to develop ideas. Today, many already have a clear vision and come to us looking for a builder who can bring it to life.
If you had to start from scratch tomorrow, what would you do differently?
I would adopt AI much earlier.
Initially, I wasn’t convinced that AI would make a significant difference. However, after using it, I realised it helps us work much more efficiently rather than replacing us.
If I were starting again today, I would embrace AI from the very beginning to improve planning, communication and productivity.
What is your vision for Singapore in the next five years?
I believe Singapore will continue to grow, and I hope the economy remains strong so that more homeowners can invest in rebuilding and improving their homes.
I also hope construction technology continues to advance, allowing projects to be completed faster and more efficiently. We’ve already seen HDB construction become much quicker, and I believe landed home projects can benefit from similar technological improvements.
If you could have one superpower for a day, what would it be and why?
I would love the ability to read my clients’ minds.
Every homeowner has a dream home in mind, but sometimes it can be difficult to fully express their ideas. If I could truly understand exactly what they envisioned, I could help bring their dream home to life more accurately and exceed their expectations.
Connect with Jackson: TLTProjects.
Jackson is a member of Rainmaker, a revolutionary movement that rallies like-minded people together based on the values of Love, Authenticity, Respect, Kindness and Youthfulness (LARKY).
