fbpx
May 2022 – Getting Ready for the Upcoming BTO Launch with Us

May 2022 – Getting Ready for the Upcoming BTO Launch with Us

On February 17, 2022, HDB launched 3,953 flats for sale in its latest BTO exercise. Spread across six projects, the flats were launched under the Prime Location Public Housing model to give everyone an opportunity to acquire a prime flat for a reasonable price.

Are you considering the purchase of a brand new two, three, four or five-room BTO property?  If so, you’re probably dreaming big, thinking about the perfect home renovation that will make a regular apartment your own.

There’s just one step missing in that dream – the selection of a HDB renovation and interior design company that has the HDB interior design and renovation experience to make your dream come true.

The right Singapore home renovation contractor can guide you through the process, come up with a detailed concept and supervise the execution from start to finish. But how do you make sure that the HDB renovation team you’re interested in is the right one for the job?

Here are a few pointers to help you sort through the offers and quickly pinpoint the one that makes the most sense.

What Does a HDB Renovation Entail?

This is a broad topic and we’ve covered some of the essentials before. There are specific HDB renovation guidelines that you’ll need to stick to when making changes and upgrades. Obviously, a renovation contractor in Singapore who wants to partake in such projects will need to have sufficient knowledge and experience acquired by the HDB rule book.

It’s a good idea to start planning work before you’ve even acquired the key. At the very least, consider the layout, the floor plan and the interior design theme you’d like to enforce through the execution of the project. By having some concept of these essentials, you can start looking for a partner and you can also commence acquiring some supplies for your brand new home.

As a general rule of thumb, you should choose a home interior design company a few months before key collection.

Knowing who your expert partners are going to be within such a timeframe enables work to start as soon as key collection occurs. Depending on your preferences and needs, the renovation project could take some time to complete. This is quite true if some restructuring is going to occur. Construction work is the bulkiest, most time-consuming part of the renovation process. This is why you don’t want to be wasting a single minute when you come in possession.

An HDB BTO renovation will also often entail the acquisition of permits for certain kinds of work you’re going to do.

The right home renovation contractor will very often handle documentation on your behalf. This is yet another reason why you should start searching before getting the key. Keep in mind there are certain timeframes for doing renovation on HDB properties. At the time being, that time is three months for new flats and a single month for existing properties. The aim of such timeframes is to limit neighbour disturbances. Thus, once you get your permit, you’ll have three months to execute every single aspect of the property upgrade. This is why perfect organisation is essential. Early planning allows you to tailor the flat to your preferences while also keeping up with the HDB renovation framework.

Just to be on the safe side, do inform your brand new neighbours that a renovation project is going to be taking place. If you have a detailed timeframe provided by your contractor, let the other residents know how much time the project will take. Being on good terms is essential for enjoyable living later on.  To minimise disturbances even further, you should also consider steps aimed at noise reduction (like handling certain aspects of the renovation within certain hours or handling most of the loud work within the first stage of the renovation project).

Choosing the Right Renovation Contractor

Now that you know the basics and the planning process, let’s talk about the selection of the right renovation contractor.

At the very least, you need to cover some basics.

The company you’re going to partner up with needs to be HDB licensed. Luckily, HDB has a directory of renovation contractors where such information is readily available. That’s an excellent place for the commencement of your research. There, you’ll also find contact details, business registration date, types of work the company handles and some additional details provided by the company itself.

Next, do visit the websites of the shortlisted companies. You need to take a good look at their home renovation and interior design portfolios.

A few things to pay attention to include style, types of projects the company has worked on and extensiveness of the renovation work. You want a team that specialises in the field you’re envisioning for your home. Also, make sure that the company has enough experience with BTO flats that are similar in size to yours. 2-room BTO renovation isn’t the same as 5-room BTO interior design. Both small and large spaces pose certain challenges. The project should be conceptualised to address these and make most of the flat’s specific strengths.

Your next step would be to pay attention to customer reviews. A portfolio could be telling one story but how about the people who tried the actual service? Learning from the experiences of others, especially if numerous people mention one and the same thing, can be very enlightening. Seek information on how punctual the team is, whether they stuck to parameters agreed upon during the planning stage, whether the communication was clear and if clients ran into any issues or particular disappointments. Credible reviews are balanced and they present specific details.

Finally, check out the price and whether promo packages are available.

Pricing alone should never be your main criterion for the selection of an interior design team.

Offers that seem too good to be true very often are.

Quality renovation work comes at a price. Spending that money now, however, will probably yield a good return on investment from the money you’ll save on maintenance and future renovations. To get a reasonable idea about pricing, do request a couple of quotes (with detailed breakdowns). By getting those, you’ll update your understanding of current prices and offers that are cost-efficient.

As a final step, do meet with your interior designer. Having a list of a few questions to ask can be beneficial to make the most of the opportunity. Apart from paying attention to the information you’re getting, do check out the communication style. Do you feel understood? Are you at ease talking about your BTO interior design ideas? Being on the same page is very important for successful completion of the project. If you have any doubts, you should probably look for an alternative.

How much time do you have before coming in possession of your new flat’s keys? Whether the answer is one year or a couple of months, do make the most of those remaining days.

Home Guide will be there to share the excitement, the passion for creating beautiful your beautiful home and the burden of executing the renovation. Contact us now to commence planning with a HDB licensed team that has an extensive portfolio and stellar work ethics. We’d handle every aspect of your flat’s renovation to give you the best possible outcome and worry-free project management.

Related Posts
couple talking about renovation ideas

Maximise Space and Style: Renovation Ideas for a 3-Room BTO

Looking to create a stylish yet practical space in your BTO? With the right approach, you can transform even a compact space into a warm, functional home. The success of your 3-room BTO renovation depends on thoughtful planning. This…

neuroaesthetics designing mindful spaces for mental well being

Neuroaesthetics: Designing Mindful Spaces for Mental Well-being

In the high-octane rush of modern life, our homes need to be more than just four walls and a roof. They should be personal sanctuaries, spaces that allow us to unwind, recharge, and feel truly at peace. This is…

the role of ai in interior design for singaporean homes

The Role of AI in Interior Design for Singaporean Homes

The Role of AI in Interior Design for Singaporean Homes At Home Guide Interior Design, we are always at the forefront of adopting new technologies that can enhance our services while ensuring that the essence of personalized, culturally…

embracing bauhaus interior design in singapore

Embracing Bauhaus Interior Design in Singapore – A Modern Twist on Timeless Functionality

The Bauhaus movement, which began in Germany in 1919, revolutionized the world of design with its emphasis on functionality, simplicity, and modernism. Over a century later, the principles of Bauhaus continue to influence interior design across the globe. In…

the beauty of neutral tones in singaporean interiors

The Beauty of Neutral Tones in Singaporean Interiors

Neutral colours have long been a staple in home interior design, celebrated for their ability to create calm, balanced, and sophisticated spaces. In Singapore, where the climate is tropical and space can often be limited, neutral tones offer a…