Making the decision to purchase a 5 room resale flat renovation package is a huge commitment. But, there are also advantages to it. After all, there’s no waiting time involved anymore, so you can move in anytime you want. Plus, resale flats are often located in some of the most convenient places, so it’ll be closer to everything you need.
The issue is that resale flats are not brand new; people have lived there before. Although it is true that there are many companies that excel in interior design in Singapore, sometimes reparations are just not enough. Even when renovated, there might be some underlying issues that not even the previous homeowner might not have known about.
Below are a couple of things to check when buying a resale HDB flat to make sure that you don’t end up wasting your time and money.
1. Check Where The Unit Is Facing
The unit can face anywhere else, as long as it’s not the West.
Why? Because that’s where the sun sets, and you’ll be really feeling the heat, especially during the summer time. Sure, air conditioning exists, but that only adds to your electricity bill, and even your air conditioning unit might not be able to take the brunt of the heat once the temperature really rises during certain times of the year.
Bring your own compass and see for yourself which area the unit is facing. Better yet, feel the unit yourself – a cool breeze every now and then is always a good sign.
2. Don’t Be Ask Questions
At times like this, you should pop up with any questions that you have in mind as you don’t want to end up with a house with issues like plumbing problems or damaged furniture.
So do what you must and thoroughly check the water, walls, cabinets, ventilation, and so on, and if you can, bring a contractor with you during the checking to see if they can see anything that needs fixing.
3. Visit At Different Times Of The Day
Just how noisy a home becomes depends on the time of day.
If you prefer something less noisy and more peaceful, try to check just how noisy the house can get during peak hours. Make at least three trips to the units (more, if possible) at different times throughout the day and throughout the week to see just how different the noise levels can get.
You’d be surprised as to how deceptively quiet a place can be early in the morning only to be very noisy at night time.
4. Always Ask The Seller The Reason For Selling
There are various reasons why a seller may want to sell their HDB flat, and it’s up to you to find out why. Don’t be afraid to ask around, even from previous owners, as well as the agents, for the history behind the property, and check if the unit itself appeared in a news story a while back and for what.
When buying an HDB flat, you’re not buying it just for yourself, but also for the potential resale value, and while their reason for selling might not be a problem for you, the same can’t be said for a potential future buyer.
Buying a resale HDB flat doesn’t just happen in a blink of an eye. In reality, you will have to consider quite a number of things before you make a definite purchase.