Shopping for the perfect abode goes beyond looking at the prices of houses in Singapore and the location. Whether you are planning to buy your first family nest, or, relocating with children in tow, thinking about how to choose that perfect home can feel overwhelming. How can we tell if that place is “the one”?
Having purchased our second home, we’ve learned valuable lessons on what to consider and how to maximise space effectively. Armed with practical house-hunting insights, this guide aims to help you shortlist your ideal home with confidence! Follow me on Instagram for more #deehomereno snippets and behind-the-scenes updates!
Wondering How to Choose Your Perfect Home? Use this Checklist to Evaluate!
Purchasing a house is a major milestone, and aligning priorities with your spouse can smoothen the decision-making process. With better clarity on the essential factors and needs, you can avoid unnecessary disagreements too. With this checklist to help you evaluate if the house you’re eyeing is the perfect home, I hope it helps you make an informed decision together:
#1: Location and Accessibility
The location was a crucial factor as we have to consider how our kids will be travelling to school. A shorter commute means they spend less time on the roads, and get more sleep, especially when V starts Secondary school next year. As parents, logistics and schedules can be crazy, don’t you agree? *haha*
For someone who doesn’t drive, convenience and accessibility to the nearby MRT station and bus stops are important to me. This also impacts our children in the near future, as they will be moving around independently too!
Tips for primary school kids: If your child entered primary one with the home-distance priority, check that you’ve fulfilled the 30-month stay requirement. If your child needs to transfer to another school due to the move, be sure to plan ahead and register him/her at the shortlisted school(s) as vacancies may be limited.
Are you also planning to get a resale flat to live with or near your parents? You can save up to $30,000 thanks to the Proximity Housing Grant for families!
#2: Space and Layout of the House
A few friends thought that we “upgraded” to a condominium or landed property. Sorry to disappoint, you guys! Haha! Although shifting house during the PSLE year was something I was hoping to avoid, this unit became available and it was difficult to pass since it checked many boxes.
Fundamentally, it fulfilled our priority for a bigger space. This means accommodating space to our growing kids and their future needs, as well as the possibility of having an elderly parent move in when the time arises. It might seem weird to plan ahead but anticipating the future means we are more prepared when circumstances change.
Tips for families buying a home in Singapore: New condos and Build-to-Orders (BTOs) are way too small. If you’re looking for homes of bigger space like us, resale flats are perfect! However, do note that they have a shorter lease period.
The layout of the flat is also another consideration: location of toilets, bedrooms, designing the space to make it functional for our family, and storage. Although we will be doing a major overhaul (see point 6), the water pipes, location of windows and beams are critical as it affects interior space planning and how to design it aesthetically.
#3: Amenities in the Neighbourhood
Consider where the nearest supermarkets and wet markets are, nearest clinics and hospitals, other amenities such as recreational areas e.g. parks and nearest expressways too. Refer to point 1 on accessibility to public transport especially if you have children or don’t drive.
#4: Natural Light and Ventilation within the Unit
Sunlight and wind are considered positive energy flow. For practical reasons, insufficient sunlight and airflow means installing more lights, fans and air conditioners, resulting in a higher renovation cost and electrical bills. If there’s a good amount of indoor sun, you can consider having houseplants which elevates the interiors, improves air quality and adds some “life” to a space as well.
So, what’s the best sun direction and facing for a house in Singapore? A north-south facing house avoids direct sunlight while enjoying cool ventilation. The worst choice would be an east-west facing house as the morning and afternoon sun will be harshest.
#5: Existing Condition and Damages
Check for leakages, molds, worn out pipes, cracked walls or flooring, damaged ceilings and any possible pest infestation e.g. termites. Look out for such conditions inside the unit especially at nooks and crannies (e.g. behind doors and pipes in the toilets). Look outside the unit too – this includes the corridor, the areas in front or beside your unit.
Consider if the existing kitchen equipment or built-in carpentry are in good condition for you to take over, if you’re opened to that. For us, we have a design theme and prefer to have sleek yet functional kitchen appliances that integrate perfectly with our desired interior style and needs.
Our awful discovery during renovation – We uncovered a spalling concrete issue in the flat! Gosh! Unfortunately, this was only realised after the false ceiling was removed. Yes to extra cost and additional work added to the timeline.
Budget renovation idea: If the home is in good condition, you can reduce renovation costs by keeping existing fittings where possible. Repair work like changing pipes or fixing leakage may end up as additional cost to bear as the new owner. See point 6.
#6: Long-term Residence versus Short-term Investment Potential
This consideration only appears at the stage because decisions may change after discussing the first 5 factors when you want to choose your perfect home. It also depends on the available resale units that fit your criteria. The remaining HDB lease will also affect the property value, and whether you plan to stay there for long. For short-term stays, people typically buy from an investment perspective, hence may have differing considerations. This includes buying a newly launched condominium, landed property or newer flats at prime locations.
Purchasing a flat? HDB has a minimum occupancy of 5 years before you can sell it.
#7: Renovation Scope and Complexity
The amount of renovation work and budget for renovation are linked to your decision in point 6. For investments, short-term stay or potential rental, most people usually keep renovation simple. Remember that carpentry, furniture and fittings depreciate over time.
If the resale flat is for long term stay e.g. 20 years or more, investing in renovating it can transform this place into your forever nest. Additionally, you may wish to invest in better quality materials for better mileage.
#8: Budget and Financing Arrangement – Choose Your Realistic Perfect Home
Time to talk about the money – are you able to afford the property? Will the monthly mortgage repayment be made with cash and/or CPF? Will you be taking a HDB housing loan or consider the best bank home loan to finance it? While a house is technically an asset, it would be wise to work those sums with professionals.
That said, property value can be subjective to each person. Now that Singapore property prices are going upwards, you may need to adjust your criteria when shortlisting places.
Smarter house-shopping tips: Consider your financial capabilities and set a realistic budget. If a $10 million property is out of your league, don’t waste time arranging a viewing.
More Practical Tips for Home Viewing in Singapore
- Visit the shortlisted unit at different times of the day to check: amount of natural light and ventilation within the house, lighting and shelter around the estate and traffic conditions during peak hours,
- Observe the neighbourhood noise levels from the house – long term exposure to noise affects wellbeing. Consider installing soundproof windows and doors to reduce noise and enjoy better rest.
- If you’re a believer of Fengshui, seek advice from your Fengshui Master for elements that would favour you and your family, and things to avoid. This relates to your renovation work and furniture placement too.
- Bring your kids to view at least once, since it will change their life too. Some people also believe that children can “feel” things in the house and have kids going around the unit to see if they “sense” anything unusual.
Some people believe in metaphysics and intuition, while others rely on their gut feel. Would you?
Dreaming of Choosing the Perfect Home: Unsure if this is the Right Place?
If you and your spouse share the same thoughts on most of the 8 points above, then you may have found your family’s perfect home! Take your time to evaluate and visit multiple units before making a final decision. After all, to choose a perfect home for your loved ones is a major milestone, so embrace it with positive memories too. Happy house hunting!
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