A checklist of must-dos before you cosy up in your new home upon receiving the temporary occupation permit.
A checklist of must-dos before you cosy up in your new home upon receiving the temporary occupation permit.
1. DECIDE WHAT GOES, WHAT STAYS
Declutter and sort through your possessions so you won’t move stuff you no longer want into your new pad. If you plan to reuse furniture, ensure it all fits into the new space; compare the measurements of the items and the floor area (you can obtain a floor plan from the Housing Development Board or the developer). Also, check the size of the doors to make sure that the items will go through without damage.
2. HIRE A PROFESSIONAL MOVER
Yes, even if your new place is just down the street from your existing one. You really don’t want to break that precious china passed down from your great-grandmother. Tip: Look for companies that offer free quotes – such as Shalom Movers, which charges customers based on the number of trucks (10-, 15- or 24-foot long) required to move the items – so you can compare costs. For fragile pieces, get them insured for the move.
3. NOTIFY THE GOVERNMENT OF YOUR CHANGE OF ADDRESS
Just go to any police post or the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority of Singapore (ICA) building (the One-Stop Change of Address Reporting Service system operated by ICA will inform government bodies and statutory boards of the change). Need time to notify friends and private organisations? Sign up for Singpost’s Mail Redirection Service (it costs $20 for the first month), which will redirect all your mail to the new address.
4. GET YOUR HOME INSPECTED BY A PROFESSIONAL
New homes come with a defects liability period (DLP), during which the developer will rectify defects for free; typically, the DLP is 12 months after the date of completion. Minor imperfections can often escape the untrained eye, so hire a professional, who will carry out a thorough check for architectural, mechanical and electrical defects, and produce a report which you can submit for a claim, says Shaun Wee, business development and sales executive at property inspection specialist Inspect First. Home inspection packages start from $680 for homes that are 1,130 sq ft and smaller.
EXPERT SOURCE: Sam Baker, CEO of Streetsine Technology Group, which owns real estate portal SRX (Singapore Real Estate Exchange) Property
