Check, check, and check again!
One of the best things about renovating a resale home is the satisfaction of transforming it from its lived-in state into a brand-new abode that’s truly yours.
However, as fulfilling as the experience is, you may also have to handle frustrating issues that come with older properties – and we mean REALLY annoying problems, such as hidden leaks and popped tiles, which you’ll only find out about when taking a closer look.
Here, we got four Singapore interior designers to tell why you should check your surroundings before renovating (or even buying) as well as how this one simple step will help you plan and budget better.
1. Checking your home’s condition will help you budget better
If you envision yourself making a resale HDB or condominium your new home in the near future, be ready to fork out more your renovation as it will require some upgrades, and of course, repairs.
View this project by Design Story
But first, you’ll need to know identify everything that needs fixing. “Plenty of homeowners don’t scrutinise their homes (when they visit for the first time), and they only take a quick glance,” shares Frank Lim of Design Story. “And that leads to plenty of unexpected surprises when it’s time to renovate.”
According to Frank, these may include “popping floor tiles, or damaged ones that are hidden under furniture” as well as “toilets that don’t flush or work right”, which will add to the final bill.
View this project by Design Story
“Knowing about these issues beforehand will let you plan your finances better,” says Frank. “I recommend setting aside 10 to 15% of your renovation budget, which I believe is a safe figure in the event that there are any extra repairs needed.”
2. You’ll get a better idea on what you should spend on…
If you have a limited renovation budget, logically, the best way to use it is to spend on the right things. That includes the walls and ceilings, which are “often not smooth in older flats”, as Intrigue-d’s Raemond Teo explains.
“Most of the time, it’s worth spending on these parts of the house, because they are important structures,” says Raemond. “You’ll need to re-plaster and re-paint them to make them look more even.”
View this project by Intrigue-d Design Consultancy
Spending on a new false ceiling is another piece of renovation work that’s worth the price – something which Asyiah Lee from Craftwerkz Interior recommends doing to achieve a sleeker look in resale homes.
“If you have the budget, cover it (the ceiling) entirely,” she says. “Other than that, you can also consider changing the internal door frames as well, if the walls around them have already been hacked.”
3. … and what you can save on for your renovation.
While resale homes in Singapore typically require a larger renovation budget to make over, that doesn’t mean there aren’t opportunities to save – especially if the flat you’ve bought is part of a modern HDB development (read: resale BTO flat) and has existing fittings/fixtures that are functioning and in good condition.
View this project by Fifth Avenue Interior
“For newer resale homes that are not more than 5 years old, one way to save would be to overlay the existing tiles with new ones, instead of hacking them,” shares Royston from Fifth Avenue Interior. “Plus, it’s less risky this way because there are electrical wires and water pipes in the walls that could get damaged.”
View this project by Fifth Avenue Interior
Meanwhile, Intrigue-d’s Raemond’s recommends keeping the main door to your home as it is to cut renovation costs.
“I would recommend just re-painting the front door and changing out the lockset for security reasons,” he says. “A brand-new door that’s fire-rated can cost between $1,500 - $2,000, which isn’t exactly a small sum.”
4. Anything that needs fixing won’t be missed out
As the adage goes, do it once, do it right. Having a good idea (or better yet, a checklist) of where the flaws in your resale home are ensures that everything will be taken care of during your renovation.
View this project by Fifth Avenue Interior
“Just imagine the hassle and inconvenience of having to re-do your flooring or plumbing, or anything that was missed out after you have moved in,” says Frank. “It’s the reason why I say that you can’t be too careful when it comes to finding out what needs to be fixed during a renovation.”
How do you find reliable designers for your resale flat’s renovation?
It’s quite simple actually! Click on the ‘Get Free Quotes’ button below and we’ll recommend you 5 interior designers based on your budget, design preferences and renovation requirements.
View this project by ARK-hitecture
What’s more, homeowners who engage a Qanvast-recommended designer will get to enjoy exclusive perks and will be eligible for the Qanvast Guarantee, which safeguards your renovation deposits.