What should be on a renovation checklist in Singapore?

Before works start: a signed contract with an itemised quotation, a payment schedule tied to stages, and an HDB renovation permit or condo management approval where the works need one. During works: dated photos of waterproofing, concealed pipes, wiring and carpentry before they are covered, and written variation orders for any change. At handover: a room-by-room defect check with a photo of each item, plus warranties and receipts.

What does HDB require for bathroom waterproofing?

HDB's renovation guidelines say that when bathroom or toilet floor finishes are replaced, a waterproofing membrane must be laid with pre-packed waterproofing screed before the new tiles, turned up at least 150mm against the walls and kerbs. Ask your contractor for a photo of the membrane before tiling.

What should I check at renovation handover?

Walk every room with your ID or contractor. Run every tap and check the drains clear, try every switch and socket, open every door and drawer, and look along walls and tiles in daylight for cracks, gaps and hollow tiles. List each defect with a photo and agree a date to fix it.

Can a homeowner invite their interior designer to Synify?

Yes. A homeowner can start a project on Synify and invite the interior designer or contractor doing the renovation by email. When they accept, they run the project and the homeowner stays on as the client. The client's side is free on every plan.

Renovation checklist for Singapore homeowners

By the Synify team · 14 October 2026

Your ID sent a photo of the bathroom waterproofing three weeks ago. Today the tiles are on, and you're scrolling a WhatsApp group of 400 messages to find it.

Most of a renovation ends up behind tiles, plaster and a false ceiling. This checklist covers what to have before works start, what to ask for while they're on, and what to check at handover.

Before works start

A signed contract with an itemised quotation. Every item, its size and finish, and the price. "Carpentry, lump sum" is hard to check later.
A payment schedule tied to stages. Each payment linked to finished work, not to dates. The payment schedule guide shows a common split and the 20% deposit ceiling for CaseTrust firms.
The permit or approval. For an HDB flat, works such as hacking need an HDB renovation permit, applied for by an HDB-registered contractor. Condos usually need management approval and a deposit. Ask to see it.
A start date and a target handover date in writing.

During works: the photos to ask for

Your interior designer (ID) or contractor is on site more often than you. A dated photo at each of these points costs them a few seconds, and it is the only way to see the work once it's covered.

Stage	Ask for a photo of	Covered by
Wet works	Waterproofing on the floor and up the walls, and the ponding test if one is done	Screed and tiles
Plumbing	Concealed pipes and where they run	Plaster and tiles
Electrical	Conduits, new points and the DB box	False ceiling and walls
Carpentry	The carcass and internal fittings before installation	Laminate and doors

A starting list. Your contract and your ID decide the actual stages on your job.

HDB bathrooms. HDB's renovation guidelines say that when bathroom or toilet floor finishes are replaced, a waterproofing membrane goes down with pre-packed waterproofing screed before the new tiles, turned up at least 150mm against the walls and kerbs. That membrane is the photo to ask for.

Changes and payments

Changes: a written variation order with the price before the extra work starts. "Ok can" in a chat is easy to dispute later.
Payments: which milestone each payment is for, and a receipt for each one.

At handover: the defect check

Walk every room with your ID or contractor, in daylight if you can.

Run every tap and shower, and watch the floor drain clear.
Try every switch, socket and light.
Open and close every door, drawer and cabinet.
Look along walls, ceilings and tiles for cracks, gaps, stains and uneven grout. Tap the floor tiles and listen for hollow ones.
Photograph each defect, list it, and agree a date to fix it.
Collect warranties, manuals and receipts. CaseTrust-accredited firms give a 12-month workmanship warranty from completion.

For the full room-by-room list, see the HDB renovation handover checklist.

Keeping it in one place

A chat group works for "contractor coming at 9". It is harder to use as a record. Photos get buried under the daily messages, and a new phone can lose the lot.

Synify keeps the site photos, schedule, variation orders, payment milestones and defect list in one dated record that you and your ID both see. Your side is free.

If your ID doesn't use Synify yet

You can start the project yourself and invite them. It takes about five minutes.

Start the project. Sign up as a homeowner and add your address.
Invite your ID or contractor. Enter their email. They get an invite from you.
They accept and run it. They post the photos, set the schedule, add the payment milestones and bring in their team.
You follow along. You stay on as the client and approve changes from your phone. They can't remove you from the project.

Your ID gets one live project free. Firms running several jobs pay from S$9.90 a month. You never pay, on any plan.

Common questions

How do I track my renovation progress if I'm not on site?

Ask for a dated photo at each stage, especially before work is covered up. Keep the photos, schedule and payments in one place you and your ID can both open, not a chat group. You can start the project in Synify yourself and invite your ID.

Do I have to pay?

No. The client's side is free on every plan.

Does my ID have to pay?

Their first live project is free. If they already run other jobs on Synify, they may need a paid plan to take yours on.

Can my ID remove me from the project?

No. If you started it, they run it but can't remove you or change your role.

What if my ID doesn't want to use it?

Nothing about your contract changes. You can withdraw the invite, or invite the main contractor on the job instead.

Where is the data kept?

Hosted in Singapore. The app works in eight languages, including Chinese, Malay and Tamil.

Start your project and invite the ID or contractor doing your renovation. Free for homeowners, no card.

Start your project

Sources and a note

General information, not professional advice. HDB's current guidelines and your contract with your ID or contractor take priority over this page.