Renovation Process · Singapore
Renovation process,
step by step.
Your side of a renovation: what you will do, decide and expect, from your first message to the day you move in.
For owners of BTO, resale HDB and condo homes in Singapore. This is the journey you take with Luna Studio, and where you fit in at every stage.
Free · no obligation · Guo Lun replies within one business day
What is a renovation like for the homeowner?
A renovation asks different things of you at different times. In the first months you meet, compare and choose, at your own pace. Next comes your busiest stage: you make every decision about your home on paper, from materials to the final drawings. Once building starts your part becomes light: a plan each week, a video each week and four visits to your home. At the end you check the home together with Guo Lun, and move in.
From your first meet-up to moving in, in totalabout 6 to 12 months
- Stage 1You compare1 to 3 monthsA few meetings, at your pace
- Stage 2You decide3 to 6 monthsYour busiest stage
- Stage 3You are kept informed8 to 14 weeksA weekly update and four visits
- Stage 4You check, then move inOne walk-throughThen your home is yours
How quickly decisions are made is the biggest factor in the total. Waiting for BTO keys? Stages 1 and 2 can be done before you collect them. The four stages follow the four phases of Luna Studio's full service: what each phase includes, and its fees.
You
compare.
You are deciding who to trust with your home. This stage moves at your pace, and it costs you nothing.
What you will be doing
- Send your floor planYou send your empty floor plan on WhatsApp. A reply comes within one business day.
- Choose where to meetYou pick the place: your home or site, a material supplier, a mall or near your office. Guo Lun travels to you, for 1 to 1.5 hours.
- See real workYou look through real drawing sets, past quotations with client details hidden and finished homes, and ask anything you like.
- Describe your dayYou describe an ordinary day at home: who lives there, mornings, cooking, work, guests and what you need to store. You share your budget and your timeline.
- Read your layout and quotationAt the next meet-up you are given a proposed layout and an itemised quotation, to read at your own pace.
- Ask for changesYou ask for changes, as many times as you need, until both are right for you.
Decisions that are yours
- Whether the layout suits how you live.
- Whether the scope fits your budget.
- Whether Luna Studio is the right studio for your home.
How you will hear from Guo Lun
- A reply within one business day.
- Meetings in person, at a place that suits you.
- WhatsApp for questions in between.
Heads-up
- Every meeting in this stage is free, with no obligation.
- A quotation is valid for 21 days.
- If you already hold a quotation from another firm, bring it along.
- Guo Lun takes on three projects at a time, so an early start gives you the best chance of the dates you want.
This stage ends whenyou award the project.
“He was always open to our inputs and ideas and also had good expertise on how to bring our vision to life.”
You
decide.
This is your busiest stage. Every choice about your home is made here, on paper, where changing your mind is easy.
What you will be doing
- Choose your materialsYou choose materials, finishes, colours and lighting with Guo Lun, who goes with you to see and compare them in person.
- See your home in 3DYou look at 3D views of the key spaces and say what you would change.
- Buy what goes into the homeYou choose and buy your own sanitary ware, kitchenware, appliances and lights, from any shop you like, and send the spec sheet of each model.
- Collect your keysYou tell Guo Lun as soon as you have your keys, so your home can be measured on site.
- Approve your drawingsYou read the drawing set, ask for amendments and approve it.
- Confirm two quotationsYou confirm the electrician's and the aircon installer's quotations, which come to you directly.
- Receive your scheduleYou are given a written week-by-week schedule, so you know which trade is in your home, and when.
Decisions that are yours
- Materials and colours: settled before the drawings are finalised.
- Appliance and fitting models: settled before the carpentry is drawn around them.
- The drawing set: approved by you before any work starts in your home.
- Until you approve the drawings, changes are made on paper. After that, a change is priced and shown to you before it is built.
How you will hear from Guo Lun
- In person, when you choose materials together.
- Drawings and 3D views sent to you for comments.
- WhatsApp for day-to-day questions.
Heads-up
- Natural materials such as marble, granite and timber vary in vein, colour and tone. The piece in your home will not be identical to the sample.
- If a material you chose is no longer available, a comparable one is proposed and you are told first.
- Admin fees and refundable deposits to HDB, the Town Council or your MCST are settled by you.
- HDB and MCST approvals take time to be processed, and building starts after them.
- Waiting for BTO keys? This stage is usually done while you wait, so building can start soon after key collection.
This stage ends whenyou have approved your drawings and hold your written schedule.
“The whole process of renovation has been so exciting from ideation to selection of materials, fittings & home accessories.”
You are
kept informed.
Your decisions are made, so your part becomes light. You do not need to be at your home every day to know what is happening there.
What your home goes through
- DemolitionThe noisiest days of your renovation. Debris is cleared and the floors are protected.
- Pipes and wiringPlumbing pipes, electrical wiring and aircon piping are run. Little looks finished yet.
- Tiling and wet worksNew walls go up, wet areas are waterproofed and tiles are laid. Your home starts to take shape.
- First coat of paintThe walls get their base coat, and your carpentry is measured on site.
- CarpentryYour built-ins are made in the factory, then delivered and installed.
- Worktops and glassThese are measured only after the carpentry is in, so they arrive a little later.
- FittingsThe plumber, electrician and aircon installer return to fit taps, lights, switches and aircon units, along with the appliances you chose.
- Final paint and cleaningThe last coat goes on, debris is cleared and your home is washed, ready for you to check.
How you will hear from Guo Lun
- At the start of the week, the week's work is explained to you from your written schedule.
- At the end of the week, you are sent a private progress video.
- At any time, you can message Guo Lun directly on WhatsApp.
When you come to your home
- After demolition.
- After tiling and wet works.
- At carpentry installation.
- For the final walk-through, in Stage 4.
Decisions that are yours
- Only changes. If you would like something changed, it is priced and shown to you before it is built.
Heads-up
- Keep the water and electricity running at your home throughout the renovation.
- No work is done on weekends, public holidays or the eve of public holidays.
- Once walls and floors are opened, something hidden may appear, such as an old leak or old wiring. It is shown to you and priced for your approval before any work on it.
- Where the next works can start earlier, your schedule is brought forward. This is a possibility, not a promise.
You will see four trades come back a second time.
- Plumbing
- First: pipes. Later: taps and fittings, near the end.
- Electrical
- First: wiring. Later: switches, sockets and lights, after the carpentry.
- Aircon
- First: piping. Later: the units, after the carpentry.
- Painting
- First: a base coat, before the carpentry. Later: the final coat, near the end.
This stage ends whenyour home is cleaned and ready for you to check.
“Knowing we live on the opposite side of the island, he takes video of the progress and sends us.”
You check,
then move in.
Your home is finished. You check it together with Guo Lun before it is handed back to you.
What you will be doing
- Walk through togetherYou walk through every room with Guo Lun, with the drawings you approved in hand.
- Point things outYou point out anything you would like looked at, and it goes on a list.
- See the list clearedThe items on the list are put right, and your home is cleaned.
- Receive your keys and recordsYou are handed your keys, the final drawings and the warranty and supplier details.
- Move inYou move in. Guo Lun is still a WhatsApp message away.
Decisions that are yours
- Whether each room matches the drawings you approved.
- Anything you would like adjusted before you move in.
How you will hear from Guo Lun
- In person, at the walk-through.
- On WhatsApp afterwards, for upkeep advice and questions about your home.
Heads-up
- Keep your final drawings and supplier details for future reference.
- Workmanship carries a 12-month warranty from handover. The details are on the Full Service page.
This stage ends whenyour keys are back in your hand.
“We remained in contact and Guo Lun continues to provide excellent after-sales service and offer advice when consulted.”
Your decisions, in order.
Eight decisions are yours. Six of them are made before building starts, on paper, where changing your mind is easy.
- Whether the proposed layout suits how you liveStage 1Revised as often as you need, free.
- Whether to award the projectStage 1Made at your pace. Nothing is owed before it.
- Your materials, finishes and coloursStage 2Settled before the drawings are finalised.
- Your appliance and fitting modelsStage 2Settled before the carpentry is drawn around them.
- Your drawing setStage 2Approved by you before any work starts in your home.
- The electrician's and aircon installer's quotationsStage 2Confirmed by you, directly with each of them.
- Any change during buildingStage 3Priced and shown to you before it is built.
- Whether your finished home matches the drawingsStage 4Checked together, room by room, at the walk-through.
“…Guolun very calmly and confidently guided us from start to finish of the reno.”
What can move your dates?
Four things. Whenever a date moves, you are told.
Your decisions
How quickly decisions are made is the biggest factor. Quick decisions shorten Stages 1 and 2.
Approvals
HDB and MCST approvals take time to be processed, and building starts after them.
What is behind the walls
A hidden condition found once walls or floors are opened can add work.
Supplier timing
Materials and fittings arrive on their suppliers' lead times.
Your part in a renovation: common questions
How much of my time does a renovation take?
Most of it is asked of you before building starts. The first stage is a few meetings at your own pace. The second is your busiest: choosing materials, buying your fittings and approving your drawings. During building your part is light: the week's plan, a weekly progress video and four visits to your home. The last stage is one walk-through.
Do I need to be at my home during the renovation?
No. Guo Lun explains the week's work to you at the start of each week and sends you a private progress video at the end of it. You are asked to come in person at four moments: after demolition, after tiling and wet works, at carpentry installation and for the final walk-through.
Which decisions will I make, and when?
Eight, in this order: whether the layout suits you, whether to award the project, your materials and colours, your appliance and fitting models, your drawing set, the electrician's and aircon installer's quotations, any change during building, and whether your finished home matches the drawings. The first six are made before building starts.
Can I change my mind after the drawings are approved?
Yes. Before you approve the drawings, changes are made on paper. After that, a change is still possible: it is priced and shown to you for approval before it is built.
What should I prepare before the first meet-up?
Your empty floor plan, the date you expect your keys, a rough budget, and a few notes on how you live: who is at home, how you cook, where you work and what you need to store. If you already hold a quotation from another firm, bring it along.
Can I live in my home during the renovation?
It depends on the scope of works. It can be possible for lighter works, such as carpentry only. For a full renovation, the home needs to be empty. Tell Guo Lun your situation at the first meet-up and he will advise you.
What can delay a renovation?
Four things: how quickly decisions are made, the time HDB or your MCST takes to process approvals, hidden conditions found once walls are opened, and supplier lead times. How quickly decisions are made is the biggest factor. Whenever a date moves, you are told.
What happens after I move in?
Guo Lun stays a WhatsApp message away. He still advises on upkeep and answers questions about your home after you have moved in. Workmanship carries a 12-month warranty from handover.
Ready to begin Stage 1?
Have these ready if you can, then send your floor plan. Guo Lun replies within one business day and comes to you for a free first meet-up.
- Free, no obligation
- 1 to 1.5 hours, at a place that suits you
- Reply within one business day
- 3 projects at a time