The right renovation package is the one that matches your home’s current condition, must-have works and approval requirements, then gives you a clear way to adjust quantities and finishes after site measurement. Do not choose from the property label or headline price alone.
Start with the closest package category, compare the detailed scope line by line, and ask for a tailored quotation before committing. A good package is a useful starting framework. It is not a substitute for checking the actual unit.
Quick Answer: Which Renovation Package Should You Start With?
| Your situation | Best starting path | Confirm before signing |
|---|---|---|
| New BTO flat | A BTO package matched to flat size | Handover finishes, essential carpentry, flooring, electrical points and key collection date |
| Resale HDB flat | A resale or full-design HDB package | Hacking, disposal, rewiring, plumbing, waterproofing, repair work and retained items |
| New or resale condo | A condo package adjusted to the existing finishes | MCST rules, protection, access, deposits, approvals and what can be retained |
| Landed home | A room package or custom full-home scope | Structural, roof, external, waterproofing, electrical and authority-related work |
| One-room improvement | A kitchen, bathroom, bedroom or living-room package | Exact dimensions, connections to adjoining areas and whether the home stays occupied |
If two packages appear suitable, compare what you will keep, remove, replace and add. That usually reveals the better fit faster than comparing package names.
What Is Included in a Renovation Package in Singapore?
A renovation package usually groups common work categories into a starting scope and price. Depending on the package, these may include:
- Hacking, dismantling and disposal
- Masonry, tiling and waterproofing
- Flooring, skirting and painting
- Electrical points, lighting and switches
- Plumbing and sanitary work
- Kitchen cabinets, wardrobes and other carpentry
- Worktops, sinks, taps and selected fittings
- Doors, glass, metal work and installation
- Protection, cleaning and handover
The important word is usually. Two packages with similar names can include different quantities, materials, rooms and exclusions. Check the bill of quantities and specifications before treating them as comparable.
1. Match the Package to the Home You Actually Have
Property type is only the first filter. The home’s condition determines how much work the package must absorb.
New BTO Flat
A BTO package can be a practical starting point because the flat type and room count are known. Before choosing one, list the finishes you received, what you intend to retain and what you still need for move-in.
Prioritise the kitchen, lighting, essential storage, flooring where required and any works that are difficult to add after moving in. Avoid filling the flat with carpentry simply because a package includes an allowance for it.
Browse the BTO renovation package paths by flat size, then adjust the scope to the actual handover condition.
Resale HDB Flat
A resale package needs more investigation. Existing floors, cabinets, wiring, plumbing and previous renovation work may look serviceable but still require repair or removal.
Ask the contractor to separate:
- Items that will be retained and protected
- Items that will be dismantled and disposed of
- Repairs that can be priced before hacking
- Provisional work that depends on concealed conditions
- New work, measured quantities and selected finishes
For HDB flats, HDB says renovation contractors must be listed in its Directory of Renovation Contractors, and work that requires a permit should begin only after approval. Review the current HDB renovation permit guidance when checking the proposed scope.
Condominium
A condo package should account for both the interior work and the development’s renovation process. A new condo may already have usable floors, wardrobes, kitchen cabinets and fittings. A resale condo may need substantial removal and replacement.
The Building and Construction Authority advises owners to check the developer or MCST rules and the Sale and Purchase Agreement before starting work. Structural slabs, beams, columns and walls cannot be altered without proper professional assessment and approval. See BCA’s current condo owner renovation guidance.
Obtain the MCST renovation application pack before the quotation is finalised. Confirm deposits, protection requirements, approved working hours, delivery access and any professional endorsements.
Landed Property
A landed package is useful when the project is limited to a bedroom, kitchen, bathroom or living area. A full-home landed renovation may need a custom scope because roof, facade, drainage, external areas, multiple floors and structural work can change the programme substantially.
Use the landed renovation package paths to separate room-specific work from a full-home brief. Confirm early whether any part of the proposal needs professional or authority review.
One-Room Improvement
A room package can control cost and disruption when the rest of the home remains in use. Check how the room connects to existing floors, plumbing, wiring, doors and finishes. Protection, dust control and daily access matter more when the household stays in the property.
Compare kitchen, bedroom and living-room packages for a focused upgrade.
2. Separate Must-Haves from Optional Upgrades
Write your priorities before comparing quotations.
| Priority | Examples | How to use it |
|---|---|---|
| Must-have | Safety work, leaks, waterproofing, essential electrical or plumbing work, functional kitchen and required flooring | Protect these items in every package comparison |
| High-value upgrade | Storage, durable worktops, better lighting, ventilation and practical built-ins | Add after the must-have scope is secure |
| Nice-to-have | Feature walls, decorative carpentry, premium finishes and smart-home extras | Remove or delay if the quote exceeds the budget |
| Later phase | Loose furniture, styling, curtains and non-urgent built-ins | Keep outside the renovation package when flexibility matters |
This prevents an attractive package from spending too much on visible finishes while leaving essential work under-scoped.
For a deeper cost plan, use our home renovation budget planning guide.
3. Compare Scope, Quantities and Materials Line by Line
The total price is meaningful only when the work is comparable.
| Quote item | What a useful description should show |
|---|---|
| Location | The exact room or area |
| Work | What will be supplied, installed, removed or repaired |
| Quantity | Square feet, linear feet, points, units or another measurable allowance |
| Material | Brand, model, thickness, finish, size or stated selection range |
| Existing condition | What is retained, protected or assumed to be serviceable |
| Exclusion | What the homeowner must buy, arrange or pay separately |
| Variation | How additional work is approved and priced |
If one contractor includes rewiring, two bathrooms and full kitchen carpentry while another does not, their totals do not describe the same renovation.
Our HDB versus condo renovation cost guide explains why condition, retained finishes and exact scope often matter more than the property label.
4. Check Rules, Access and Approval Work
Approval work can affect both price and timeline.
For an HDB flat, ask who will submit the permit application, which proposed works need approval and which licensed trades are required. For a condo, ask who will handle the MCST submission, common-area protection, lift booking and contractor access.
For a landed home, confirm whether the proposed work affects the structure, building envelope, services or external areas. A room package may not cover the professional assessment needed for a larger alteration.
Put these responsibilities in writing. A package that ignores site rules is incomplete even if its interior scope looks attractive.
5. Look for a Transparent Quotation and Contract
A transparent package should show:
- The included rooms and work categories
- Measured quantities and material specifications
- Items that are excluded or supplied by the homeowner
- GST treatment and other fees
- A written variation process
- Payment milestones
- The expected programme and approval dependencies
- Warranty and rectification terms
CASE states that CaseTrust-accredited renovation businesses must use a standard renovation contract with clear work and payment schedules. Payments are progressive, initial deposits are capped at 20 percent, and additional costs or variations must be communicated and agreed in writing. Review the current CaseTrust renovation protections when comparing contractors.
The lowest total is not the safest choice when important quantities, exclusions or variation rules are missing.
6. Decide Whether You Need a Package or a Custom Scope
A package is usually a good starting point when:
- The property and room type match the package
- The existing layout will mostly remain
- The included quantities are close to what you need
- Standard material choices suit the brief
- The approval process is straightforward
Ask for a more customised scope when:
- The home is resale with extensive removal or repair
- You plan major layout, structural or service changes
- You want to retain and integrate many existing elements
- The project covers a large landed home or several floors
- Premium detailing or specialist work drives the design
- The site rules add unusual access, protection or endorsement requirements
Customising a package does not mean starting from zero. It means using the nearest package as a checklist, then changing only what the actual home requires.
7. Choose the Home Reno Package Path That Fits
Home Reno groups its starting scopes by homeowner situation:
- BTO renovation packages for new 2-room, 3-room, 4-room and 5-room flats
- HDB and condo packages for new and resale flats, executive homes, condos and selected combined scopes
- Home improvement packages for kitchen, bedroom and living-room work
- Landed house packages for room-specific and full-home starting paths
- The full renovation package index when you are still deciding which category fits
The published scopes help you compare a baseline. Your final quotation should still reflect site measurement, retained items, material choices, approval requirements and confirmed quantities.
Home Reno is not GST-registered and publishes nett package prices. Ask for the GST treatment, exclusions and final total to be stated clearly in every quote you compare.
Questions to Ask Before Committing
Bring these questions to the consultation:
- What is included and excluded from this package?
- Which quantities are fixed, and which will change after measurement?
- What existing work will be retained, removed or repaired?
- Which materials, brands and finishes are included?
- Who handles HDB, MCST or other required submissions?
- Are protection, disposal and cleaning included?
- How are upgrades and variations approved and priced?
- What payment is due at each completed milestone?
- What is covered by the warranty?
- Which homeowner decisions could delay the programme?
If the answers remain vague, the package is not ready to sign.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is usually included in a basic home renovation package in Singapore?
Common inclusions are painting, flooring, selected electrical and plumbing work, kitchen or wardrobe carpentry, and basic installation. The exact rooms, quantities and materials vary, so compare the detailed scope rather than the package name.
How do I choose between a BTO and resale HDB renovation package?
Choose a BTO package when the starting condition is a new flat and the scope focuses on move-in essentials. Choose a resale package when removal, repair, rewiring, plumbing, waterproofing or replacement work is likely. A site inspection should confirm the final path.
Can a renovation package be customised?
Yes. A package should act as a starting scope. Quantities, materials, retained items and optional works can be adjusted after site measurement, provided every change is reflected in the final written quotation.
How do I compare renovation packages from different contractors?
Normalise the quotes by room, work category, quantity, material, exclusion, payment stage and warranty. Do not compare totals until both contractors are pricing the same work.
What does a no-hidden-cost renovation package mean?
It should mean the included work, exclusions, quantities, fees and variation process are stated clearly before work begins. It does not mean that genuine homeowner changes or concealed site conditions are free. Those should be explained and approved in writing.
Are renovation packages cheaper than hiring separate contractors?
They can be more efficient because one team coordinates several trades and one programme. The result still depends on the scope, quantities and project management. Compare the complete delivered outcome, not only individual trade rates.
When should I request a site measurement?
Request it once you have the floor plan, access to the unit and a clear must-have list. Site measurement is what turns a published package into a quotation that reflects the actual home.
Start with the Closest Package, Then Confirm the Real Scope
Choose the package that best matches your property condition and must-have work. Then use site measurement and an itemised quotation to remove assumptions before you sign.
When you are ready, request a tailored quotation with your floor plan, property condition, timeline and priority list. Home Reno can compare the nearest package against the work your home actually needs.