HDB stands for Housing and Development Board, a housing agency in Singapore that gives residents houses. Many Singaporeans live in these houses and may like to renovate them at one time or another. However, the major concern does arise when it comes to finding the right renovating services. Even though renovation companies do exist, getting the one that does the job to your exact specification may be the problem. Even if you end up getting a good company, you want to know how much they will charge you for renovating your HDB apartment. With the proper knowledge of the approximate HDB renovation cost, you can avoid falling prey to rogue contractors who lurk in the market.
Even with $10,000, you are still not sure if you will complete the project. But if you want to do partial renovation, that could be okay. Partial renovation could include renovating only two bathrooms and a kitchen. The average HDB renovation cost in Singapore is estimated to be between $14000 and $16,000. This is in fact just for a 3 bedroom house. On the other hand, the full HDB renovation cost for a 4-bedroom house is in the range of $16,000 to $20,000.
What affects HDB Renovation Cost?
1). Size
As you can see from above, the size of the house is the first thing that affects the HDB renovation cost. This is for the simple reason that larger houses will require more materials than smaller houses, for instance, if you are painting a 2-bedroom house, you will pay less compared to someone who is painting a 5-bedroom HDB house.
2). Is it new or old?
If it is a relatively newer flat, the HDB renovation cost will be significantly less compared to an old house. For a 4-bedroom flat, the cost of renovation can be in the region of $11,000 t0 $15,000. This is noticeably cheaper if you have to compare it against the price of renovating an old house. Therefore, if you live in an older house, know that it will require more materials and more labor, hence it will cost more.
3). The project scale
This basically has to do with the extent of work that needs to be done towards renovating the house. Does renovation also include plumbing? Do you want to adjust existing room or do you want whole new rooms to be included in the renovated house? In normal circumstances, scale of a project can be viewed in two terms. Projects that are small in nature are known as mid-range projects since they require minor fixes. On the other hand, projects that require major fixes are known as “major renovation” or “upscale” projects. Needless to say, upscale projects do cost more than mid-range projects.
4). Materials
The kind of materials you have chosen to use in the renovation of the HDB house will greatly affect the final HDB renovation cost. If you go for fixtures that are of higher quality, the cost will naturally go up. But the solution is not opting for cheaper products because they may not last long. Before undertaking a renovation project, it is important to do some homework and seek expert advice when choosing the materials for your renovation project.
5). Project Region
Where do you want the project to be undertaken? Although this may not have a big effect on price since Singapore is just a city, it may have small variations on the final price. If you live on the outskirts of the city, you will not pay the same amount as someone living right at the heart of the city. In order to get closest estimates regarding HDB cost in the area where you live, it is important to obtain it from local renovators.
6). Contractor’s Valuation for the Project
A contractor’s valuation of a renovation project has significant effect on the final HDB renovation cost. For this reason, it is very important that you find someone who can deliver quality work but on a price that is fair and reasonable. Experts advise that you insist on a detailed bid showing what constitutes the quoted price. If you encounter shady contractors that give vague bids that are not backed by details, pleases avoid them. And it is also very important to know that the lowest price is not always the best in the market.
Conclusion
Although there is a normal price range for HDB houses renovation, this could vary given some factors. Therefore, do not have a fixed mind as several factors will come into play when determining your HDB renovation cost. But on the whole, the prices do fall within a certain range. Anything that looks too cheap compared to the average cost or too expensive should be avoided.