🏗️ Do You Need a Site Survey Before Rebuilding? (Yes, and Here’s Why)

Site / Grid Set Out @ Crowhurst Drive

Rebuilding your landed property is a big step — and whether it’s a terrace, semi-D, or bungalow, one crucial task is often missed at the start: the site survey.

Many homeowners skip it, thinking it’s optional. But as a Class 1 Builder, we can tell you: a proper site survey can save you time, money, and legal risk.

Here’s what a site survey is, why it matters, and when it’s non-negotiable.

🧭 1. What Is a Site Survey for Landed Rebuild Projects?

A site survey is a professional mapping of your property’s:

• Boundary lines and dimensions

• Ground levels and slopes

• Existing structures and vegetation

• Nearby public infrastructure (e.g., drains, lampposts, trees)

Typically done by a licensed land surveyor, it forms the basis for:

• Architectural design

• Submission to BCA, URA, and PUB

• Structural foundation planning

• Hoarding and access planning

💡 In rebuilds, this is often called a Topographic Survey or Cadastral Survey.

📏 2. Why Your Architect and Builder Need It?

Your Qualified Person (QP) needs the survey to:

• Draw to accurate site dimensions

• Ensure setback and envelope control compliance

• Assess buildability on sloped or uneven ground

• Show GFA calculation limits

Your builder needs it to:

• Plan earthworks and excavation depth

• Avoid encroachment onto neighbor boundaries

• Coordinate with LTA for driveway and hoarding access

• Lay foundations without alignment issues

💡 A design based on rough estimates or Google Maps will likely fail submission or lead to costly site variation works.

🚧 3. What Can Go Wrong Without a Site Survey?

• Boundary encroachment → legal disputes or URA enforcement

• Hoarding blocks public property → LTA fines and stop-work orders

• Foundation errors → rework and structural instability

• Miscalculated GFA → BCA submission rejection

• Driveway gradient issues → SCDF, LTA rejection or regrading costs

💡 We’ve seen projects delayed by months simply due to outdated site data.

🔧 4. How Hitomo Helps You Start Right

At Hitomo Construction, we:

• Coordinate early with licensed surveyors

• Align the survey with your architect’s drawings

• Use survey data for accurate cost estimation and logistics planning

• Ensure no encroachment, non-compliance, or technical delays

📞 Planning a Rebuild? Start with the Right Foundation.

Don’t leave your rebuild to chance. A proper site survey is your first line of defense against design errors, submission failures, and construction disputes.

👉 Contact Hitomo Construction today — we’ll walk you through every technical step, from site survey to final BCA clearance.