“We Rebuilt Our Landed Home — Here’s What We Wish We Knew Sooner”

Rebuild / New Erection @ Treasure Island

Rebuilding a landed home sounds like the dream — more space, modern layout, a home that finally reflects your lifestyle. But as many homeowners have discovered (and shared with us), the rebuild journey is filled with things no one tells you upfront.

At Hitomo Construction, we’ve completed dozens of rebuilds in Bukit Timah, Serangoon Gardens, East Coast, and beyond. We’ve heard firsthand from clients about their regrets — and how much smoother the process became once they got the right support.

Here are 7 “We wish we knew” insights every homeowner should read before tearing down their house.

1. It’s Not Just About the House — It’s About the Paperwork

“We thought once we hired an architect and builder, they’d just submit everything. We didn’t realise how complex the approvals were.”

• URA envelope control

• BCA structural plan clearance

• PUB drainage approval

• SCDF fire safety plans

💡 What We Wish We Knew: Rebuilding is just as much about navigating authorities as it is about design. Hire a team familiar with the entire submission chain, or risk months of delays.

2. You Need a Contingency Budget — Not Just a Quotation

“Our builder quote was $1.2M, but we ended up paying $1.4M because of soil issues and material upgrades.”

Many homeowners forget to budget for:

• Authority fees

• Site preliminaries (toilets, fencing, temporary power)

• Unexpected soil or drainage works

• Mid-project material changes

💡 What We Wish We Knew: Always set aside 10–15% contingency. Even with the best builder, the ground (and your heart) will change a few things along the way.

3. Plan for 12–15 Months, Not 9

“We thought it’d be done in under a year. But between submission approvals, rain delays, and inspections… it took 16 months.”

Rebuilds are long-haul projects. Each phase — submission, demolition, foundation, structure, finishes — comes with dependencies, inspections, and downtime.

💡 What We Wish We Knew: Add buffer time for TOP application, reinstatement works, and final SCDF/BCA clearance. If it finishes earlier — great. But don’t count on it.

4. Some Builders Will Omit Key Items to Appear Cheaper

“The first builder quoted $300K less… but their quote didn’t include site works, haulage, authority fees, or even waterproofing.”

Homeowners are often drawn to the lowest price, only to discover huge omissions that become costly variations later.

💡 What We Wish We Knew: Compare scope line by line, not just total cost. Ask what’s excluded and what “provisional sums” cover.

5. The Design You Want May Not Be Buildable (or Permitted)

“Our original plans had an open rooftop garden and full-height glass wall — but URA didn’t approve, and SCDF required fire-rated access.”

Singapore has strict codes for:

• Floor-to-ceiling height

• Setbacks and envelope control

• Fire escape access

• Drainage zones

💡 What We Wish We Knew: Work with a design-and-build team who knows local codes inside-out, so you don’t waste months redesigning.

6. You’ll Want Visual Updates — Even If You Live Nearby

“We visited weekly but still missed details. Having visual updates helped us make faster decisions.”

Builders who document their progress visually help:

• Avoid scope misunderstandings

• Track timeline accountability

• Record decisions or approved changes

💡 What We Wish We Knew: Ask your builder to include progress photos/videos in their process. It creates transparency and peace of mind.

7. The Right Builder Is a Long-Term Partner, Not Just a Vendor

“Our first builder vanished once the house was done. Hitomo? They stayed until our CSC was approved and the driveway reinstated.”

Choose a builder who:

• Communicates clearly

• Handles authority matters professionally

• Has a post-handover service process (e.g., defect rectification, CSC submission)

💡 What We Wish We Knew: Relationships matter. The cheapest contractor is rarely the most reliable one.

Rebuilding the Right Way Starts with the Right Builder

At Hitomo Construction, we’ve walked this journey with clients who rebuilt for the first time — and with those who were rebuilding after past regrets.

We’re not just your builder. We’re your:

• Site planner

• Authority liaison

• Construction team

• Compliance guardian

• Defect support partner

Thinking of Rebuilding?

“We Want To Rebuild Our Landed Home — I Know What To Look Out For Now”

Let us show you how rebuilding your home can be structured, stress-free, and fully transparent.