What to do, and in what order, from the months before key collection to the week you move in.
By Alderic Tan · 3dots · Updated 16 August 2026
Quick answer
Start budgeting and shortlisting firms two to three months before key collection, use the defects liability period properly once you have keys, and get the permit approved before any work begins.
Budget for the whole move, not just the renovation — appliances, lighting, curtains, furniture and a contingency.
Log every defect at key collection, while HDB will still rectify at no cost to you.
New BTO bathrooms cannot be hacked for three years from TOP, so plan around that from the start.
The work that saves the most money happens before you have keys, because nothing has been committed yet.
Set a total budget, not a renovation budget. Renovation, appliances, lighting, curtains, furniture and a contingency of around 10%.
Decide how you are paying. Cash, renovation loan, or a mix — see our loan versus cash guide.
Shortlist two or three firms and give each the same scope, so quotes are comparable. Our guide on choosing a firm covers what to check.
Know what your flat already comes with. Optional Component Scheme flooring and sanitary fittings change what you need to budget for.
Collect references, not just inspiration. Save images, but note what you actually want to keep from each.
Your defects liability period starts at key collection, and it is the one window where HDB rectifies problems at no cost to you. Walk the flat properly before any contractor touches it.
Tap every wall and floor tile, listening for hollow sounds, and note cracks or chips.
Open and close every door and window, checking alignment and locks.
Run every tap, check pressure, and watch how quickly floor traps drain.
Test every power point and light point, and photograph the distribution board.
Look for stains or damp patches on ceilings and around window reveals.
Log everything through HDB’s defects reporting channel, with photographs and dates.
Confirm your contractor is on HDB’s Directory of Renovation Contractors. Required even for work that needs no permit.
Get the permit approved before work starts. It cannot be applied for retroactively — see the permit guide.
Lock your material selections. Mid-project changes are the most expensive kind.
Agree the schedule in writing, including who is on site and when.
Check lead times on imported tiles, stone and sanitary ware before committing to a move-in date.
Tell your neighbours. It costs nothing and prevents most complaints.
Pay against completed stages, never far ahead of progress.
Visit weekly if you can, and photograph progress — useful later if anything is disputed.
Put every change in writing, with its price agreed before the work is done.
Expect one or two decisions a week; delays here are the most common cause of a slipped handover.
Walk the flat with your contractor and list defects properly, rather than mentioning them verbally.
Test every socket, switch, tap, drain and appliance connection.
Open and close every drawer, door and window in the new carpentry.
Collect warranties, receipts and material records, including paint colours and laminate codes.
Confirm the defects liability period with your contractor, and how to raise items during it.
The three-year bathroom rule on new BTOs, which rules out hacking bathroom tiles early.
Curtain and blind measurements, which can only be taken after carpentry is installed.
Air-conditioning servicing conditions, which some warranties depend on.
That appliances often need to be on site before the carpentry that houses them is built.
A genuine contingency. Something always comes up, and 10% is not pessimism.
First-time owners usually need the sequence explained more than the design. We set out what decisions are needed and when, so nothing lands on you at the point where changing it costs money. The proposal is itemised, and the schedule is agreed before work starts.
Two to three months before key collection is sensible. That gives time to set a total budget, decide on financing, shortlist two or three firms on identical scope, and understand what your flat already includes through the Optional Component Scheme.
Check tiles for hollow sounds and cracks, every door and window for alignment, taps for pressure, floor traps for drainage, all power and light points, and ceilings for damp. Log everything with photographs through HDB’s defects channel while the defects liability period is open.
You can repaint, change sanitary fittings and overlay tiles, but bathroom wall and floor tiles cannot be hacked for three years from TOP. The restriction protects HDB’s waterproofing membrane and its warranty.