Demand for BTO inspections rises by 20%, despite additional costs

SINGAPORE: The demand for pre-purchase home inspections has surged by a sizeable 20 per cent year-on-year, according to a recent survey of several home inspection firms by the press.

Homeowners increasingly seem to want such inspections, despite their substantial cost, to ensure their prospective properties are in good condition before they move in.

The heightened interest in pre-purchase inspections has been attributed to homeowners’ growing awareness of their rights and responsibilities when it comes to reporting defects to the authorities.

Some firms reported a substantial increase in inquiries for their services and indicated that more and more homeowners are seeking to understand the condition of their properties before making one of the most significant financial investments of their lives.

One such firm is SG DefectScan. The company’s head Mohamed Ismail told CNA that common defects that may be uncovered in inspections include broken water pipes, water leaks, hollow tiles and such.

He added that it is quite common for vinyl flooring to be poorly joined and leading to gaps, revealing that built-to-order (BTO) flats in a particular area had such an acute case of this issue that a contractor had to replace the vinyl flooring for all units.

The Housing Development Board (HDB), however, holds that the amount of feedback received about defects in HDB flats remains unchanged and assured that it sends HDB personnel to check each residential premise before handing over the keys to the homeowners.

Despite this assertion, the increasing demand for independent pre-purchase inspections suggests that many homeowners may still have concerns about the overall condition of their properties and indicates a growing trend among homebuyers to be more proactive in safeguarding their investments and ensuring that their new homes meet the standards they expect.