Whether you're about to collect your BTO keys or moving into a resale flat, one thing's for sure: renovation takes time, energy and lots of planning. Start early, and you'll save yourself a ton of stress—and maybe even get to move in sooner than you think.

BTO and resale renovation timelines are a little different. BTOs are a clean slate—no hacking, fewer repairs, and fewer surprises. Resale flats usually mean dealing with old fittings, potential defects, and sometimes a bit more red tape. To help guide your reno journey, we've put together a renovation timeline for both. (See the end of the article for an easy-to-read table summary!)

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BTO RENOVATION TIMELINE
HDB RESALE RENO TIMELINE

BTO RENOVATION TIMELINE

6-12 Months Before Key Collection

- Research renovation styles, layouts, and materials you love—Pinterest, Instagram, renonation.sg (shameless plug!), home tour videos, and even TikTok are great places to start. Collect everything into a mood board. Canva is great, but even dumping everything into a digital folder works just as well.

- Don’t just focus on aesthetics—look beyond the pretty pictures. Think about the practical side of things too. For instance, how easy is it to clean sintered stone countertops? Is that open-concept kitchen going to work with your cooking habits? Consider things like material maintenance, durability, and how well a certain layout fits your lifestyle.

- Set your renovation budget. Know how much you're prepared to spend, and always factor in the hidden costs. These might include haulage fees, defect inspections (if you're hiring a professional checker), overseas shipping fees for furniture or fittings, and professional post-reno cleaning.These ‘invisible’ costs are often what catch homeowners off guard.

- Shortlist interior designers or contractors. Focus on portfolios that match your aesthetic, and reviews that speak to reliability, workmanship, and good communication. Watch out for red flags—we’ve got a guide for that.

- Join your BTO community. Telegram or Facebook groups for your project are gold mines. You'll get real-time advice from neighbours going through the same process, and sometimes even group discounts from bulk deals.

- If you don’t already have a place to stay, consider some short rental options while waiting for your BTO. We did up a comprehensive article you can see here.

3-6 Months Before Key Collection

- Reach out to IDs or contractors. Start scheduling consultations—most IDs will be happy to chat even before you've collected your keys. But don’t schedule it too early (6 months is generally the maximum), since it will be difficult to provide estimate quotes. Bring along your floor plan and mood board, and be upfront about your budget and ideal timeline. This gives them a clearer idea of what you're working with and helps them tailor their proposals to your needs. The more prepared you are, the more productive those initial meetings will be. You don’t need every detail figured out, but having a rough sense of what you like, what you need (e.g. lots of storage, a WFH setup, an open kitchen), and how fast you’re hoping to move in can make a huge difference.

- We recommend meeting at least 3–5 IDs. This helps you understand different design approaches and price points. It’s also a good way to see who “gets” your style and communicates well.

- Request quotations. And when you compare them, make sure you’re doing an apples-to-apples comparison. One ID’s quote might include the full catalogue of laminates, while the other might set restrictions!

- If you’re feeling overwhelmed from choosing an ID, we can help. At Renonation.sg, we match you with up to five interior design firms tailored to your needs—all vetted for credibility, experience, and fit. Just fill up this form and we’ll sort it out for you.

1 Month Before Key Collection

Image: Earth Interior Design

- Finalise your interior designer or contractor. Ideally, this should already be done. If not, secure their availability ASAP—popular firms can get booked out months in advance, especially during peak seasons.

- Confirm renovation scope. Especially if your reno includes hacking, plumbing reroutes, or any structural work. These usually require HDB permits or Professional Engineer (PE) endorsements. Don’t just take your ID’s word for it—read up on what HDB requires. Being informed helps you ask better questions.

- Start shopping for essentials. Focus on built-in appliances (like your hob, hood, oven) and fittings (toilet bowls, sinks, taps, etc.)—anything that your ID needs to know the dimensions of. Hold off on loose furniture shopping for now, but start building your list of potential pieces and where to get them.

Upon Key Collection to Last Day of Renovation (Estimated 8 - 12 Weeks)

Image: The Straits Times

- Finalise your contract. Make sure the renovation contract and payment milestones are clearly laid out before any work starts. A solid contract protects you.

- Site visit with your ID. Now’s the time for them to take accurate, on-site measurements and lock down design specifics. Plan your electrical layout too during the site visit. Discuss power point placements, lighting locations and smart home needs. It’s much easier to plan these before anything is built.

- Defects inspection. This is crucial. HDB allows you to report defects within a month of key collection. Do this before any hacking or reno work begins, or you may void your warranty.

- Activate your utilities. You’ll need water and electricity for renovation to start. If you haven’t already, open an SP Utilities account online within 3 working days of key collection to get things moving.

- Monitor progress once renovation starts. Do site visits regularly (once every 1–2 weeks is a good rule of thumb). Snap photos, flag issues early, and keep track of what was discussed.

- Final walkthrough. Once everything’s done, do a detailed check with your ID. Open drawers and cabinets, test switches, run taps, check if the appliances are running smoothly, and if the carpentry has any scratches or dents on them. Flag anything that needs fixing before the final payment is made.

- If you are opting for piped town gas, you will need to contact CityGas to install your gas pipes. The pipe installation is preferably done before constructing your kitchen carpentry. Make sure you know where your cabinetry, hob and hood will go beforehand.

Post-Reno

Image: Studio Abby

- Renovation work tends to release VOCs (volatile organic compounds)—chemicals found in paint, adhesives, and sealants—that can linger for weeks. These not only smell unpleasant but can also trigger headaches or allergies. It’s therefore important to get rid of as much of these pollutants before moving in by ventilating your home. Open up all your windows and doors to let air flow through and leave your cabinets and wardrobes opened. If you have a HEPA-filter air purifier, now’s the time to run it.

- Get a proper clean. Even if your ID includes a general cleanup, it’s worth booking a professional post-reno cleaning crew for a deeper scrub—especially for built-ins and hard-to-reach corners.

- Sort your warranties and documents. You’ve likely bought a bunch of new appliances and fittings. Register them for warranty, and store all your receipts, manuals, insurance info, and renovation contract in one handy spot in the house. You’ll thank yourself later if anything needs fixing.

HDB RESALE RENOVATION TIMELINE

Before Finalising Home Purchase

Before you even finalise your home purchase, it’s worth thinking a few steps ahead—because renovating a resale flat isn’t quite the same as working with a clean BTO canvas.

- Factor in reno costs from the get-go. Older flats often come with more work: outdated plumbing and electrical work, worn flooring, uneven walls, and sometimes, less-than-ideal layouts. All of that adds up. Make sure your reno budget reflects these extras, not just the cosmetic stuff.

- Spot the potential challenges early. Is that load-bearing wall going to block your dream open kitchen? Will you need to replace old windows or rusty pipes? It's not just about visualising the after—it’s about understanding the work required to get there.

- Start collecting ideas. As with BTOs, the usual suspects to do so are at Pinterest, Instagram, Renonation.sg (still a shameless plug!), and YouTube home tours. But with resale flats, look for makeovers of resale HDBs to see what’s been done. For instance, if you’re getting a maisonette, it’s helpful to look at other maisonettes to see what’s been done to give you a more realistic view of what’s possible and what’s not.

- Shortlist IDs or contractors with resale experience. Resale renovations (particularly of older flats) can get tricky, so it helps to work with someone who’s dealt with similar flats and knows how to handle older structures, compliance issues, and unpredictable surprises.

- Need help choosing an ID that's experienced with resale flats? We can help. Let us know your requirements and we'll match you with up to five interior design firms tailored to your needs. Just fill up this form and we’ll get you started.

- If you’ve already sold your current home, you may need to source for a temporary place to stay before collecting your keys to your resale flat. Consider renting from the open market. If you are renting from a private property, the minimum tenancy period is 3 months, while HDB requires a minimum tenancy period of 6 months. For HDB rentals, you are only allowed to rent a bedroom from 3-room HDB flats and bigger. You can check average HDB rental rates here. With private properties, visit property listings to get an estimate.

After Signing the Option to Purchase (OTP) (Estimated 2—5 Months Before Key Collection)

- This is where the real planning begins! Finalise your ID or contractor. Try to lock this in early. With resale units, there’s often more back-and-forth to figure out what can be kept, what needs to go, and what hidden issues might be lurking behind that 90s built-in wardrobe.

- Arrange a site visit (if the seller allows). Bring your ID or contractor to assess the unit. They can take rough measurements, flag issues, and give you a clearer idea of what’s possible. This is super helpful when it comes to finalising scope and timeline.

- Start applying for HDB approvals. Older units may require more hacking and rewiring—so you’ll likely need permits or even PE endorsements. Be proactive. Your ID should know what’s needed, but it doesn’t hurt to double-check HDB’s guidelines yourself.

- Declutter and plan your move. Take stock of what furniture and appliances you’re bringing along. It’s a good time to start letting go of things you no longer need—especially if space is tight in the new place.

- Start shopping smart. Prioritise essentials like built-in appliances and sanitary fittings. These need to be locked in early so your ID can plan the carpentry and plumbing layout accordingly. Loose furniture can wait—but feel free to window-shop and build your wish list.

Upon Key Collection: Start of Renovation (Estimated 8–12 Weeks)

Image: Distinct Identity

- Do a detailed defects check. You’re not going to get the HDB defects liability period here—so you’ll want to do your own inspection for things like leaky pipes, hollow tiles, or water damage. The earlier you spot issues, the less time you’ll waste down the road.

- Renovation begins. Depending on the condition of the flat, this might involve full-on hacking and rewiring, or just some sprucing up. Either way, make sure the quotation you signed on is crystal clear on the scope of works and payment terms. (See our article on the red flags to spot on your renovation quotation.)

- Check to see if there are existing gas pipes. If not, and you're opting for piped town gas, you will need to contact CityGas to install your gas pipes. The pipe installation is preferably done before constructing your kitchen carpentry. Make sure you know where your cabinetry, hob and hood will go beforehand.

- Regular site visits are key. Drop by every 1–2 weeks to see how things are progressing. Take photos, document changes, and raise any concerns early. Renovation work in older flats is more prone to unexpected hiccups, so keep the lines of communication open.

- Final walkthrough. Test and check everything—switches, sockets, taps, drawers, flush systems, drainage, carpentry surfaces, and flooring surfaces. Note down anything that needs fixing or adjusting before releasing the final payment.

Post-Reno

Image: Authors Interior and Styling

- Do a final quality check. Double-check everything again—especially for older fittings that were kept. Test switches, run the taps, flush toilets, and slide every drawer. Flag issues early while your ID or contractor is still engaged.

- Clear the air. Like BTOs, resale renos also come with lingering VOCs. Ventilate the home, open the cabinets, and run an air purifier if you have one. Adding some greenery helps too.

- Deep clean everything. Older units may hold onto dust or grime in unexpected places, especially if heavy hacking was done. Hire a professional cleaning team if possible—it’s one of the best moving-in investments.

- Sort out your warranties. For anything new you’ve bought (appliances, fittings, electronics), register those warranties promptly. Store receipts, contacts, and renovation paperwork together—you’ll want everything in one place if problems crop up later.

Stage	BTO	Stage	Resale HDB
6–12 Months Before Key Collection	Research styles, layouts, materials Create mood board Set budget, cater for unexpected costs Shortlist IDs/contractors Join BTO groups	Before Finalising Home Purchase	Assess potential reno challenges esp. if older flat Estimate reno budget (include rewiring, plumbing, repairs) Research similar resale makeovers Shortlist IDs with resale experience Consider temp housing if needed
3–6 Months Before Key Collection	Narrow down ID shortlist Start contacting IDs Meet 3–5 firms at least Compare quotations	After OTP	Finalise ID Arrange site visit (if possible) to get more accurate measurements and assessment of site Discuss scope and approvals Start decluttering your possessions Shop for built-in essentials
1 Month Before Key Collection	Finalise ID Confirm renovation scope Shop for built-in appliances and fittings Prep for reno permits		–
Upon Key Collection to End of Renovation	Finalise reno contract Site visit for measurements Plan electrical layout Report defects to HDB (within 1 month) Activate utilities Monitor site weekly + document progress After reno, final walkthrough with ID before final payment	Upon Key Collection to End of Renovation	Defects check (spot problems early!) Reno starts (may involve hacking & rewiring) Confirm gas pipe needs Monitor site weekly + document progress Final walkthrough with ID after reno before releasing final payment
Post-Renovation	Ventilate home to reduce VOCs Engage professional post-reno cleaning if necessary Organise warranties & documents	Post-Renovation	Same as BTO: Air out space Deep clean + engage pro if necessary Register warranties and organise reno-related docs

BTO vs Resale Renovation Timelines: When to Start (So You Won't Panic)

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