Pre-renovation inspection, before the contractors arrive.

The blame-shifting problem

Most Singapore homeowners renovate within months of taking possession. The Defect Liability Period from your developer is twelve months, but as soon as renovation work begins, the developer's standard response to any defect claim becomes the same: "that was caused by your renovation."

Without a documented baseline before renovation, this is hard to disprove. A legitimate developer claim can fall apart this way, not because the defect was new, but because you can't prove it pre-existed.

What we document pre-renovation

• Every wall surface: paint, plaster, alignment, existing cracks (with measurement)
• Every tile and floor surface: alignment, hollow tile mapping, edge condition, grout state
• Plumbing baseline: water pressure, drainage rates, leak test of all visible pipework
• Electrical baseline: every socket polarity tested, RCD tripped, lighting verified
• Structural baseline: beam and ceiling cracks measured and photographed
• Door and window baseline: alignment, sealing, lock function, glazing condition
• Aircon baseline: performance, drainage, control unit function
• Bomb shelter baseline: door seal, hinges, certification stickers, ventilation test

How it works

1. Schedule before keys go to the contractor. Book the pre-renovation inspection between key collection and the day your contractor begins work. Even one day before is fine.
2. Standard inspection scope. Same scope as a defect inspection: every system, every surface, every fitting documented.
3. Pre-renovation report delivered. Photo-evidenced PDF, date-stamped, signed by the inspector.
4. You keep the report. When future defects emerge during the DLP, you reference the pre-renovation report. Anything not in it is clearly new: strong evidence against any attempt to blame your contractor.

When to combine with a handover inspection

If you've just collected keys and are renovating soon, a single inspection can serve both purposes: handover documentation for the developer + pre-renovation baseline for your contractor protection. Mention this when you WhatsApp us and we'll structure the report for both uses.

If you collected keys earlier and have only now decided to renovate, a standalone pre-renovation inspection is cheaper than a full handover inspection. See our full pricing for the focused-baseline rate by home size.

Pricing

Standalone pre-renovation inspection is fixed by home size, from $250. See our full pricing for the rate that applies to your unit.

If combined with a handover inspection in the same visit, no additional charge. It's the same scope, just framed for two uses.

Common questions

What if my contractor objects?

A professional contractor has no reason to object. The documentation protects them too, since they aren't liable for what was already there before they started. If a contractor pushes back hard against a pre-renovation record, that is worth a second thought.

Will the developer accept this report?

Our reports are submission-ready and CONQUAS-driven, suitable as supporting documentation in DLP disputes. The structured, photo-backed format, with dated measurements for each finding, is difficult to dismiss.

Can you verify the contractor's work afterwards?

Yes, that's a post-renovation inspection, a separate service. Combined pre + post is often the right pairing for major renovations.