BTO Guides, The Ultimate BTO Guide

2023 Ultimate BTO Guide: Part 5 – Defects Inspection

BTO Guide HDB Build To Order Flats Style Degree Sg Singapore

Now that you have gotten keys to the flat, it’s important to ensure that your new home is in tip-top condition! Hiring a professional defects inspector has it benefits, but it will set you back at about $300 – $500.

Besides, it’s always good to know what to look out for when it comes to unearthing defects of your new home. In this post, we will go through everything you need to know about inspection process.


This post is a member of our 6-part series – View our complete guide below!

BTO Guide 2019 HDB Build To Order Flats Application Style Degree Sg Singapore

Preparation Stage:

  • Part 1 > Research: Eligibility & Location
  • Part 2 > Financing: Grants & Loans

Action Stage:

  • Part 3 > The Application: Balloting & Flat Selection
  • Part 4 > The First Look: Key Collection

Pre Move-in Stage:

  • Part 5 > Defects Inspection: Things To Look Out For
  • Part 6 > Home Improvements: Interior Design & Home Must-Haves

1. Getting Started

When you first receive the keys to your flat, you will obtain a Defects Feedback Form where you will be able to list down the defects spotted.

Upon submission, HDB will then look through the form and get them fixed. However, you have only got 7 days to get the form submitted after key collection!

To guide you in the process of defects inspections, we have a FREE Downloadable BTO Defects Checklist (specially for you!) that details out the important nitty-gritty details you have to be aware of.

This guide is designed to complement our printable checklist – we would highly recommend you to print it out on the day of the BTO defects inspection day!

Click here to download the comprehensive 2-page HDB BTO Defects Checklist here.

HDB BTO Defects Checklist PDF downloadable comprehensive checklist
HDB BTO Defects Checklist by Style Degree (Page 1)

Print it out before you head down for your BTO defects inspection and you’ll be so prepared!


2. Things To Bring

Ready to do a thorough check of your new flat? Remember to bring along the following items:

  1. Different colours masking tapes
  2. Non-permanent markers
  3. Spirit level
  4. Stools and ladder
  5. Camera or simply use your smartphone
  6. Tapping rod or a coin
  7. Torchlight
  8. Chargers & cables
  9. Portable fan and a couple of bottled drinks (to stay cooled and hydrated!)

The list above is non-exhaustive, feel free to add or remove items as you deem fit.

3. Things To Look Out For

With all your tools ready, let’s begin the inspection process. Follow us as we move from one area of the house to another with our handy check-list below:

Living Room & Bedrooms:

1. Flooring:

  • For bare concrete floors or those with made with natural rock, ensure that it is smooth with minimal open veins.
BTO Guide HDB Build To Order Flats Style Degree Sg Singapore
  • For floors made with natural wood, make sure that there are no extreme tonality contrast
BTO Guide HDB Build To Order Flats Style Degree Sg Singapore

2. Tiles:

  • Use a spirit level to ensure that tiles and flooring are level and even.
  • For areas with tiles, tap them lightly using a taping rod or a coin. It should sound solid and not hollow. Mark potential hollow tiles with a coloured tap.

3. Dents or scratches on walls: Take a visual scan of walls. Use markers to indicate areas with defects.

4. Charging sockets: Plug in chargers to see if charger point works.

Bathrooms

1. Water points: Turn on taps and flush toilet bowls to ensure that they work well.

2. Showering tiles even-ness: Use a spirit level to ensure that tiles are accurately levelled to allow for water drainage.

3. If your toilet is furnished, do a visual scan for cracks or scratches on mirrors, table top and toilet bowls

Kitchen

1. Water points: Turn on kitchen tap to ensure that water flow smoothly

2. Charging sockets: Plug in chargers to see if charger point works.

3. Kitchen table top: Do a visual scan for scratch & dents. Circle defects using marker.

4. Cabinets: Using a ladder if required, do a visual scan for scratch & dents. Circle defects using marker.

4. Highlight Defects

Once your are done with the checks, simply indicate them on the Defects Feedback Forms and submit it to HDB for them to rectify the issues identified. HDB will then get back to you on the things they rectified.

With your home checked and ready, it’s time to get them ready for move-in! In our next post, we discuss various interior design options and essentials that every new home owners should have.


This post is a member of our 6-part series – View our complete guide below!

Preparation Stage:

  • Part 1 > Research: Eligibility & Location
  • Part 2 > Financing: Grants & Loans

Action Stage:

  • Part 3 > The Application: Balloting & Flat Selection
  • Part 4 > The First Look: Key Collection

Pre Move-in Stage:

  • Part 5 > Defects Inspection: Things To Look Out For
  • Part 6 > Home Improvements: Interior Design & Home Must-Haves

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