Renovation Cost Singapore for 3, 4 and 5-room HDB Flats

Renovation costs in Singapore vary depending on the type of home renovation you require. Whether you’re looking for a basic home renovation to spruce up just one room, or a complete and utter home revamp using an interior designer and custom carpentry, the average cost of home renovation can span anywhere between $5,000 to $70,000.

You’ll need to consider labour costs, the square foot size of your rooms, what construction materials are required, the scope of the entire project and much more before you can retrieve a realistic ballpark figure. For resale flats, you’ll also need to familiarize yourself with the latest HDB renovation rules and ensure your home renovation project falls within these.

In some cases, you might need a personal or renovation loan to put towards your overall renovation costs, too. If so, the good news is that there are tons of different personal loan and renovation loan options available – from small personal loans to help fuel minor renovation project types, to specially-tailored renovation loans designed to cover your total estimated renovation costs.

Average Home Renovation Costs for 3,4 and 5-room HDB Flats

Carrying out a home renovation is something of a rite of passage for many Singaporeans. Maybe you want to transform your HDB Flat into your dream home, or perhaps your renovation project is more geared toward selling revamped resale flats to turn over a profit.

Whatever your desires, your first step should be to get a ballpark figure of what your renovation work might cost. Here are some typical renovation costs for a 3 room and 4 room HDB Flat, as well as an estimated budget for a 5 room HDB Flat:

The estimated budget for each home renovation project listed in the table above assumes an extensive home renovation and predicts the average cost for the entire renovation process – including labour costs, extensive hacking and full renovation work of all rooms at the property. It’s worth noting that resale flat renovations typically demand a higher premium, as may a renovation of a resale condo apartment.

In some cases, you might not require the full gamut of renovation services. You can obtain estimated renovation costs for individual projects using Qanvast’s very helpful renovation calculator here. Let’s break down a few typical home renovation project types. Below, we’ll review some ballpark renovation costs for renovating different rooms within a 3 Room HDB Flat of approximately 700 square foot. We’ll compare light moderate extensive works for each example. 

Estimated Home Renovation Costs for Living Room

Every dream home needs a beautiful living room, but the renovation cost in Singapore for living room renovations can escalate very quickly. Homeowners need to think carefully about the cost of masonry work, carpentry work and ceiling renovations, as well as whether extensive hacking will be required. Let’s see how light moderate extensive renovation costs compare:

Estimated Home Renovation Costs for Bedroom (one)

Many homeowners dream of designing and creating a master bedroom to die for – but getting interior designers involved can hike up the cost of your estimated budget significantly. If you’re considering any extensions, the same can be said for masonry work that may affect the structural integrity of your home. Here are some of the key costs to keep in mind, but the sky really is the limit!

Estimated Home Renovation Costs for Bathroom (one)

So, what’s the cost of renovation when it comes to bathroom work? Again, this all depends on your tastes and how far you’re willing to go to revitalize your home. Tiling floors with ceramic tiles, building shower kerbs and sourcing expensive construction materials can all affect the ultimate cost of renovation. Here’s what you can expect from light moderate extensive works:

Estimated Home Renovation Costs for Kitchen

With kitchen cabinets, custom carpentry and tiling floors often requiring interior designers and specialized fitting, the cost of carpentry can increase rapidly when planning a kitchen renovation. Just as when renovating a living room or master bedroom, homeowners need to consider ceiling, partition, and masonry work, as well as whether moderate extensive hacking is required.

Estimated Home Renovation Costs for Other Works

Regardless of which room or rooms will be included in your home renovation, there are always miscellaneous expenses you’ll have to account for as part of your estimated renovation costs. Every renovation project is different, but even the most basic renovation services will need to factor in the cost of any work undertaken to electrical wiring, for example.

Even if you aren’t having anything new fitted, the same goes for the painting and polishing of any existing built-in furniture or existing cabinets, whether they be kitchen cabinets, wooden cabinets or other built in cabinets.

Key Factors that Affect Your Overall Renovation Cost

If there’s one point we really want to hammer home in this article, it’s that home renovation costs in Singapore vary depending on different factors. These factors range from type of home right through to what kind of renovation works are required and what construction materials or labour is needed. Here are the key factors that will affect your total renovation cost in Singapore:

1. Type of Home

Whether you’re renovating a landed property, a 4 Room HDB Flat or a resale condo, the cost of renovation will always be dependent on your property type – and you may have to abide by certain HDB renovation rules, too.

2. Amount of Work Desired

Similarly, the level of renovation work required will have a big impact on the average cost you’ll pay. Moderate extensive hacking, alterations to masonry and difficult plumbing or electrical wiring work will usually incur the biggest bills. The same goes for anything that requires an interior designer or specialist, as we saw in the comparison tables explored earlier.

 3. Types of Materials Used

Construction materials can come as cheap or expensive as you want them to be. Ceramic tiles, wooden cabinets and tailor-made built in furniture can attract upwards of thousands of dollars, while relying on budget materials can significantly reduce your renovation costs.

4. Interior Design Preferences

While refurbishing existing cabinets or existing built in furniture will only require polishing and painting costs, a complete renovation of your dream home using interior designers will inevitably cost more. Many homeowners in Singapore opt for swanky Scandinavian design but choosing a more minimalist option could help you save money while still reinventing your home in stylish way.

5. Your Choice of Renovation Contractor

Shopping around is essential when hiring a renovation contractor. Look out for project management services that roll multiple renovations into one entire project. Specialist or extensive renovation works may require more than one contractor – as well as an interior designer. If so, you’ll need to make sure you appoint a trustworthy and legit renovation contractor each time. HDB-approved contractors are highly recommended.

HDB Home Renovation Rules – Do’s and Dont’s

Carrying out a home renovation on a HDB Flat is a little different to paying to refurbish a traditional or landed property. HDB lists extensive information regarding its renovation rules and your responsibilities as a flat owner here, but we’ve narrowed down the key things you need to know, which are:

• The flat owner (i.e. you) is solely responsible for anyone renovation works carried out
• You should only ever appoint a legit renovation contractor from the Directory of Renovation Contractors (DRC)
• You must put up an official Notice of Renovation from HDB outside your property while works are being carried out
• You must always seek written approval from HDB for any hacking or demolition of walls, particularly where structural integrity of the building is concerned
• You must never instruct a contractor to carry out non-approved hacking or demolition work
• You must take steps to avoid disturbing your neighbours by ensuring your home renovation is completed within a strict time limit set by HDB
• Drilling or noisy work can only be carried out between 9am to 6pm on weekdays
•  You could be at risk of facing personal prosecution if you are deemed to have broken any of the above rules, or any other HDB regulations stipulated here.

Renovation Contractor, ID or Design and Build – Which is Best?

Renovation contractors come in different shapes and sizes, with some offering a fully-fledged project management service that will see you through to completion, and others charging on a task-by-task basis. The key types of contractor you’ll need to be aware of, include:

1. Contractors

Who can complete functional work only and are unlikely to help with design or theming.

2. Interior designers

Who offer professional design works, 3D renovation previews and highly specialized services.

3. Design and Build services

Who offer design and conceptualization capabilities as part of one package, but in a less specialized way (think standardized units and built in furniture).

The table below runs through a few more details as to what you can expect from each type of contractor:

How to Find Trusted Renovation Contractors

Finding a legit renovation contractor, interior designer or design and build service can prove tough if you don’t know where to look. HDB lists details of approved renovation contractors on its website here. We highly recommend appointing trusted providers only to avoid the risk of structural damage to your property, or poor-quality workmanship that may result in further repairs. When searching for a contractor, we suggest being careful to:

• Research the company’s history beforehand
• Read up on past customer reviews
• Ensure they are HDB-approved
• Ask about any hidden charges and secure a transparent quote
• Make sure you get a contract detailing the work required (and total costs to be incurred)

Home Renovation Loan options in Singapore

Once you’ve done your research and appointed the contractors and designers you need for your home renovation, you should have a pretty good idea of the overall renovation cost for your project. At this point, you need to decide how you will finance your home renovation – and what personal or renovation loan options are best suited to the renovation work required. 

Below, we’ve compared our top five banks for personal loans and renovation loans in Singapore:

It’s important to note that different personal or renovation loan types will have differing eligibility criteria – which you’ll need to make sure you can meet before you apply. Generally speaking, personal loans will offer lower interest rates and processing fees than specialized renovation loans. That said, a purpose-made renovation loan might offer sign up benefits or bonuses, and ultimately better suit your unique circumstances.

Top Five Tips for Reducing Your Home Renovation Budget

If you want to save money on your renovation bills, there are tons of ways you can reduce your overall renovation costs. Our top five tips for reducing your home renovation budget, are:

1. Choose Your Materials Wisely

Many Singaporeans might think that renovating your dream home means installing gold and marble furnishings all round. In actuality, a good designer can usually accomplish a premium appearance using imitation materials – or by minimizing the number of centerpieces and details in your home that utilize the most expensive ones.

 2. Choose Overlays Over Hacking

Hacking away existing cabinets and furnishings to replace them with new ones can cost major money. Consider overlaying your existing fittings with newer, spruced-up materials to reduce the labour hours and extensive hacking work required as part of your home renovation.

 3. Go for Ready-Made Products

Pre-made fittings and furnishings will always cost considerably less than tailor-made or hand-designed fare. You can save money on carpentry costs by browsing ready-made furniture and designs as opposed to hiring specialized carpenters to build bespoke units.

 4. Take it One Room at a Time

Renovating a home one room at a time rather than all in one go can be a great way of reducing your renovation bills in the short term. Prioritize what’s most important and don’t overstretch your budget. Spend big on the rooms that need it most first and consider smaller (or later) renovations elsewhere. And don’t forget that competitive renovation loans are readily available whenever you need them.

 5. Consider Alternative Flooring Products

Tearing up floorboards and laying down marble or ceramic tiles can cost mega money – and might not always be necessary. Consider laminate flooring and tile overlays instead of ripping apart an entire kitchen or bathroom. You’ll be surprised how good modern home improvement products can look when fitted by a good contractor!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Renovation Loan and Renovation Costs

1. How Much Does a Basic Renovation Cost?

The average renovation cost in Singapore of even the most basic home renovation can vary considerably depending on exactly what kind of work you wish to have done. Ultimately, you can expect to pay anywhere from $5,000 up to tens of thousands of dollars.

2. Can You Renovate a House in Singapore for Under $50k?

Yes, by shopping around to compare renovation services, prioritizing the most essential renovations and cutting down on expensive materials, it is entirely possible to renovate your home for less than $50k. That said, it’s important to avoid unscrupulous contractors, stick to trustworthy companies that are verified by HDB and sign a transparent contract that meets all HDB rules – as well as your own expectations.

3. How Much Does a Partition Wall Cost?

The average cost of a partition wall in Singapore can range between $3.50 to $13 per square foot.

Final Thoughts – Which Renovation Loan or Strategy is Right for You?

So, the estimated budget for a typical Singaporean home renovation can range anywhere from a few hundred dollars to tens of thousands of dollars depending on your property type, tastes and expectations. Likewise, there are tons of different types of personal loans and renovation loans on the market for those who wish to borrow money to fund their home renovations.

If you’re considering a home renovation in Singapore, don’t forget:

• It’s important to prioritize which renovation work is most important and not overstretch yourself – which might mean budgeting and shopping around
• You’ll need to abide by HDB rules when renovating a HDB flat – which includes only hiring approved contractors
• Both a renovation loan and a personal loan are great options for covering your overall home renovation cost – but it’s crucial to compare the market and explore all that’s available to get the best deal.

Here at Instant Loan, we want to connect Singaporeans with the best value personal loan and renovation loan options on the market. Try out our loan comparison service to retrieve up to three loan quotes from financial institutions today absolutely free. Compare Renovation Loans Now!