What Are The Things To Check In The New BTO Flat After Collecting Keys?

To all new owners of BTOs, this articles might be helpful for all of us.

All newly built flats are ‘managed’ by a HDB appointed contractor, who normally set up shop downstairs said estate, and they can provide you with clearer answers.

As to your first question, here are some things that are commonly overlooked as most people focus on the obvious (paint work, floor tiles etc). Home hunters of second hand homes might find this helpful also:

TOP 10 THINGS TO LOOK OUT FOR ASIDE FROM THE OBVIOUS:

In general, USE every thing in there. And only run checks during the afternoon with full natural light.

1. Check that all your keys opens your main door properly. Don’t forget your letter box key.
2. Turn on all the lights (if it comes with), make sure they’re working perfectly. Make sure none of the lights are blown or any of the starters are faulty. If your wiring are hidden as some new flats are, pray that everything is wired properly.
3. Turn on all the taps, faucets, showers and let the water run. If water chokes in your sink, something’s in it’s way. Could be plaster etc. Since BTOs do not come with showers installed, bring a hose along with you, stick it into the sink’s tap and flood your floor. If water collects on the bathroom floor and takes forever to drain, your floor isn’t slopped properly to encourage proper drainage.
4. Taste the water. It might sound silly, but it should taste… clean, and free from corrosion. Not that stainless steel pipes corrode easily, and this being a new flat and all. But just because the pipes are newly installed doesn’t mean the pipes are new (they’re not). Bring along a clear drinking glass. Fill it up and see if there are any unnatural particles.
5. Open ALL the windows to their fullest. Check to see if they function properly. Pay attention to the handles to ensure they’re not loose. Also check that they all turn and lock properly. If you have to force the handle into lock position, the handle will loosen up within a short time. This is a problem because most handles are dead bolted onto the frames. And once they are loose, there’s nothing to be done but re-bolt them onto another area, leaving unsightly holes on your frame and your handles will not be level with your other windows.
6. Use all the toilets. You don’t have to leave behind a souvenir ;) Just flush them and ensure they work properly. Don’t just walk away – see how long it takes for the water tank to fill up and flush again. Faulty water tank plumbing may hinder replenishment of the tank’s water. Nothing’s worse that having a flushing system usable only every 30mins after a night of fish curry, beer and mayonnaise.
7. If your unit comes with a fancy accordion pole hanger for drying clothes, play around with it to ensure everything is bolted properly and its mechanisms are functioning smoothly.
8. If your walls are tiled, take a thick (50c works) coin or marble and start tapping on each of them to check if any of the tiles are hollow or loose.
9. You won’t be able to confirm this within 7 days, but be on a constant look out for water leakagedamage on your ceilings after your upstairs neighbor has moved in.
10. Always remember that just because it’s a newly built flat doesn’t mean everything in it is new. That means piping, gates, windows etc. Check for rust, LISTEN for defects, look for cracks (on the toilet bowls and sinks), and ensure window rubber linings are not dried or rotten.
11. Lastly, HDB appointed contractors tend to be the ‘lowest bidder’. Now this does not mean that they are lousy contractors, it just means that there is a higher chance that they are ;) So if you wanna be sure that your flat gets the attention it needs, you’ll have to project manage it yourself and watch the contractors while they work.

Hope this helps and happy home moving!

Source: Launch Property Singapore