THINGS TO KNOW FOR YOUR BTO HOME AND RENOVATIONS
Your Helpful Guide To BTO Home & Renovations
Settling down with your partner, getting a new house, refurbishing it into your dream home… So exciting! Yet at the same time, settling into adulthood and getting your first house can be daunting. We want to share some tips from our experience for the new homeowners.
#1 BALLOTING FOR A BTO FLAT TAKES TIME AND LUCK
Not getting your BTO on the first try is absolutely normal! However, in the interest of time, some homeowners who did not try to apply early may end up purchasing a resale home which may be quite old and would cost a bang to remodel and renovate. A resale home also tends to have unforeseeable issues that may even arise during the course of the renovation.
You should: Plan ahead of time and apply early for your BTO!
#2 CONSIDER IF YOU REQUIRE THE OCS
The HDB optional component scheme (OCS) offers a package deal of flooring and other built-in furniture for the house. Even though this may be a possible option, homeowners should always consider if these items are what they truly want.
We do encounter homeowners who approach us asking to take down what was done by OCS because it does not “suit the aesthetics” or just simply wasn’t to their liking.
You should: Do your research and figure out if the OCS is something you want.
#3 RENOVATION PACKAGES MAY NOT BE COMPREHENSIVE
We’ve encountered many homeowners asking us if we offer package deals, the short answer is no. This is because no two home owners will have the same exact needs and wants even if they stay in a similar unit. Package deals may appear enticing initially, but the deliverables are very much limited to the items offered with certain dimensions and there’s little room for any changes. You would often end up topping up further on top of the package deal to get what you truly need. A quote that is presented only after understanding the needs of the home owners during a consultation will tend to be more realistic and paint a better picture.
You should: Compare the standard package deals to itemized quotes and look out for the specifics. Always have a clear picture of how you want your house to look like, and having a quote that can reflect the costing as accurately as possible from the onset might be a good idea so as to avoid any surprises later on.
Get minimalist home inspo and renovation tips from us. Be in the know with our latest happenings.
#4 IS THIS FOR THE LONG TERM?
As interior designers, we always ask our homeowners – How long do you see yourself living in this house. This is so these homeowners are able to budget their spending wisely. For homeowners that see themselves living in this house for less than 5 years, we may encourage them to get more off-the-shelves furniture so that they can move it to the next home. This will allow them to repurpose these furniture again in their future homes.
You should: Map out your life goals and see if this house is for the long term.
#5 FLOORING
If you are looking to be easier on your wallet, one alternative is to consider using vinyl flooring instead of tiles! Vinyl flooring is also easy to maintain and fits well with most aesthetics. But again! Keep in mind what you want for your home and if this purchase is worth it.
You should: Consider to have vinyl flooring as a viable alternative!
#6 DIY
At a glance, doing the interior design by yourself may seem like an easy and cheaper job. But let’s not make the rookie mistake here! There are many beginner’s mistakes that you may make such as mixing up the order of works, focusing too much on the details, etc. Beyond that, you may not be able to source for a good and reliable contractors for the different scope of works. The lack of experience may lead you to making grave mistakes that needs to be corrected with additional costs and time.
#7 DEALS AIN’T EVERYTHING
Understandably, with (possibly) the wedding coming in the way and other expenses, new homeowners would rush to get their home appliances or furniture during a sale. Truth be told, these “fire sales” are a constant regardless any time of the year. However, when you get too kan chiong and start splurging on big buys, you might end up getting items that do not match the look of your overall home aesthetics… #regrets.
You should: Always buy your furniture only after you have a clear picture of how you want your house to look.
Speaking from an interior designer perspective, it gives us more space to be creative with your space. It may also be a wise idea to customize furniture based on dimensions that cater to your exact needs, instead of just buying off-the-shelf pieces that might not be the most efficient use of space or of a suitable design or colour.
You should: Plan what you have in mind and see if this is something you need to hire someone for.
Which are your favourite tips? Spread the love to your friends getting their BTO homes too!
Like us on Facebook to see our latest portfolio.
The Minimalist Society is a brand that focuses deeply on purpose and social good for our society at large. We do so by crafting experiences that makes people’s lives simple through interior design. We have been featured extensively by renowned online portals, in print and on screen, such as The Straits Times, Business Insider, Lianhe Zaobao, The Business Times, Singapore Home and Decor, Lookbox Living, Houzz, Cromly, Qanvast, Vulcan Post, Yahoo and MM2 Entertainment Singapore. At Team Minimalist, simplicity is a goal, a work style, and a measuring stick. By leading a life of purpose, our home owners can embrace only on the things that will add to the mission of significance and ultimately living their best story.
