Home renovations need proper planning of various things in advance to get the desired transformation and complete the project within the decided budget and time. For this reason, most people hire HDB contractors to curate a suitable plan for remodelling the house.
However, just having a plan is not enough; one must know how to implement it effectively. Even the best home renovation plans are useless if not properly executed. That’s why we have curated the top tips that will help you carry forward the renovation process effectively and efficiently. Let’s have a look.
Tips To Seamlessly Execute Home Renovations in Singapore
Choose The Design and Style
The initial step is to select the design and theme for the renovations. The homeowners can look for the design options on the internet. One can pick 3-4 of them according to the preferences. Afterwards, you can consult the contractor to help decide on a suitable one.
Some of the styles you choose may not be the best ones for your home. For instance, the house can be too small or large for some remodelling styles. As renowned contractors have decent experience dealing with and implementing various designs, they can better guide you.
Choosing a reputed and experienced renovation contractor is essential to ensure you get the right advice and guidance related to the design. If you are clear about the design, there is no need to hire an interior designer separately. Because the contractor can effectively implement the remodelling design according to your preferences.
Decide The Budget
Budgeting is one of the crucial steps in the renovation process. It provides you with a clear idea about how much you have to spend on buying materials and other operations. To get the information about the cost, you can head to various websites that specify the per square feet (PSF) costs of different materials.
If your budget is tight, you can go with minimalist remodelling designs. They are on a comparatively cheaper side and add good utility & functionality to the house. While the renovation designs involving demolition or reconstruction of a particular portion of the house are expensive.
Some of the factors that one must consider while deciding on a budget are:
- Property type (HDB or Private)
- Renovation contractors’ fees
- Types of furniture and appliances
- Size of the house
- Expenses of moving
Buy Quality Materials
Investing in quality materials benefits in the long term. Firstly, the renovations will stay intact for years, providing value for your investment. High-quality materials have decent resistance to damage and wear. So, the renovated areas remain functional and appealing for years.
Secondly, there will be less material breakage while the workforce operates. It saves time, effort, and expenses to implement the respective element. For example, if you use cheap tiles for the wall and a few breaks during the installation, they need to be removed and installed again. It leads to unnecessary wastage of time and money.
Reputable HBD contractors have good connections in the market. For this reason, they can make quality material available for you at comparatively low prices. This way, you get a nice finish and quality in the remodelling work on a budget.
Set Up a Renovation Timeline
Deciding a timeline for the remodelling process helps finish the project within the deadline. As you have to move to a different place during home renovations, you have to pay the rent and other expenses in the meantime. Hence, the renovation expense can go out of bounds if the remodelling is not complete in the desired time.
Therefore, a good approach is to break the renovation process into smaller parts and decide a time frame for each. Afterwards, the homeowners should give the deadlines to the direct contractors and the team in writing. It helps the workers to tweak their pace according to the project requirement and complete the tasks at the required time.
Moreover, when you familiarise the team with the timeline and provide them in writing, they stay responsible for any delays and irregularities. So, if the team has to work for additional days outside the timeline, the contractors bear all the related expenses.
Home Renovation Guidelines in Singapore
Whether you own an HDB flat or a private home, you need to get approval from the concerned authorities to renovate. If you choose the designs that don’t comply with the prescribed guidelines, they will not get approved.
Hence, it is better to select the designs considering the government guidelines in the first place. So, let’s take a brief look at the remodelling guidelines for HDB and private properties.
For HDB Flats
A civil engineer or similar professional is a must to check and regulate the demolition process while performing renovation operations on HDB flats. Whereas the other guidelines are:
- The front door must be made of a fire-rated material.
- A permit is required if you want to replace ceramic, terrazzo, marble parquet, and other tiles.
- You can’t tamper with the floor and ceilings.
- Replacing the interior wall finishes is not allowed.
Private Homes
Private residential properties like cluster housing, landed houses, and residential units require to follow the below guidelines:
- You must choose a Registered Sanitary Plumber for all types of sanitary work.
- One must hire a licensed electrical contractor for electrical installations.
- Air conditioner (AC) installation does not require approval or permit unless the AC units need to be installed on the property’s exterior.
- The property must be “fire-safe”, and the workers should operate in compliance with the Fire Safety Act.
Summing Up
Home renovations can be overwhelming for most homeowners. However, by curating a proper plan and effectively executing it, one can transform the looks and feel of the house as per the preferences. If you are looking to renovate the house, you can search for home renovation contractors Singapore to connect to a reputable contractor near your location.
We hope that the above information helps with your home renovation journey. What are your thoughts? Let us know in the comments.
