Top Mistakes Homeowners Make When Rebuilding Their Landed House

Top Mistakes Homeowners Make When Rebuilding Their Landed House in Singapore

Rebuilding a landed home, whether it’s an older terrace in Serangoon Gardens, a semi-D in Thomson, or a bungalow in Bukit Timah, is a major investment. When done well, you get a brand-new house built exactly around your lifestyle, with better ventilation, more natural light, and a layout that flows smoothly.

But when mistakes happen, they are expensive, stressful, and sometimes irreversible.

This guide highlights the biggest and most common mistakes Singapore homeowners make during a rebuild, drawn from real experiences across landed estates such as Frankel, Kovan, Telok Kurau, Opera Estate, Upp Thomson, and more.

If you’re a condo upgrader stepping into landed living for the first time, these points will save you months of headaches.

1. Rushing the Design Stage

This is the No. 1 cause of regret.

Many homeowners get excited and want to “start building quickly,” but poor design leads to:

• awkward room sizes

• poor natural lighting

• wasted corridors

• tight kitchen layouts

• no space for storage

• aircon trunking issues

• long-term liveability problems

Good design requires deep conversations about how your family lives daily.

Real Singapore example

Families moving from condos often expect:

• large dry kitchens

• proper laundry rooms

• helper’s room with ventilation

• built-in storage

• enclosed dining area

But if the design stage is rushed, these needs get missed.

A well-designed house is cheaper to build than a poorly designed one.

2. Not Planning for Future Needs

Rebuilds are long-term, you’re designing a home for the next 20–40 years.

Yet some homeowners only plan for the “now,” which leads to major future regrets:

• No lift shaft allowed for aging parents

• Bedrooms too small for growing children

• No space for helper

• No study room (common post-pandemic need)

• Insufficient bathrooms

• Lack of storage (a HUGE issue for condo upgraders)

Especially important for districts with multi-gen households

Areas like Thomson, Watten Estate, Serangoon Gardens often house multi-generational families, so the design must anticipate:

• elderly-friendly bathrooms

• wider corridors

• gentle staircase slope

• room placement close to bathroom

3. Underestimating Budget (and Not Preparing a Buffer)

Rebuild costs in Singapore vary widely depending on:

• property type

• soil condition

• façade materials

• carpentry

• M&E systems

• structural changes

A common mistake is assuming:

“$800k should be enough.”

But once homeowners start asking for:
✔ bigger kitchens
✔ premium carpentry
✔ full-height glass
✔ better flooring
✔ open-concept spaces

Costs increase rapidly.

The biggest budgeting mistake:

Not keeping a 10–15% buffer for unexpected works.

Older houses in areas like Frankel, Opera Estate, Telok Kurau often reveal hidden problems during demolition:

• slope issues

• outdated sewer lines

• water penetration

• termites

• foundation cracks

These require additional structural rectification.

4. Choosing the Wrong Contractor

This is often the most expensive mistake.

Landed rebuilds are not renovations.
They require:

• structural knowledge

• BCA submission experience

• sequencing expertise

• deep understanding of foundation and drainage

• experience with URA envelope control rules

A contractor who mostly does condo renovations or kitchen makeovers cannot handle:

• RC framework

• slab casting

• structural beams

• sewer diversion

• attic reinforcement

• waterproofing of terraces and roofs

Warning signs of the wrong contractor:

• Very low price compared to market

• No structural engineer involvement

• No site supervision

• Outsourcing everything to subcons

• Vague quotations

District-specific reality

In areas like Bukit Timah or Upper Thomson, where houses tend to be larger and structurally more complex, the risk is even higher if you choose a contractor unfamiliar with rebuilds.

5. Not Understanding URA/BCA Rules Before Designing

Designing a house the authorities won’t approve is a huge waste of time.

Common misunderstandings include:

• Wanting a 3-storey house in a 2-storey landed zone

• Encroaching into setback areas

• Over-designing roofs

• Planning balconies where not allowed

• Not understanding attic height requirements

Houses in Serangoon Gardens, Kovan, and Frankel are often in mixed zones, where rules differ by street.

If the design conflicts with URA envelope control, the entire plan must be amended and resubmitted, costing months.

6. Over-Focusing on Façade, Under-Focusing on Liveability

Many homeowners love designing the outside of the house, minimalist, tropical, modern, glass façade, timber fins, stone cladding.

But liveability matters more:

• Is the kitchen functional?

• Are the bedrooms well-sized?

• Is there cross ventilation?

• How does airflow move?

• Is the house naturally bright?

• Can furniture fit comfortably?

Real example

Terraces in Kovan or Opera Estate often have darker center zones. If homeowners only focus on façade design, they forget to design skylights or light wells to brighten the interior.

The façade is what people see.
The layout is what YOU live with every day.

7. Poor M&E Planning (Major Cause of Regret)

M&E = Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing.
This is crucial yet frequently overlooked.

Poor M&E leads to:

• noisy aircon

• insufficient power points

• plumbing pressure issues

• poorly placed trunking

• leaks in bathrooms

• incorrect water heater capacity

• weak ventilation

Common mistakes

• No exhaust system in kitchen

• Poor placement of DB box

• Insufficient lighting points

• Not upgrading sewer lines

• Poor aircon placement in long, narrow terraces

In older estates like Telok Kurau and Frankel, plumbing reruns are almost always needed, ignoring this results in leaks later.

8. Not Maximising GFA (Especially Corner Terraces & Semi-Ds)

Many homeowners don’t realise how much extra space they’re allowed to build under URA envelope control.

Common underutilisations:

• Not adding an attic

• Not extending rear fully

• Not adding balcony

• Not pushing side walls (semi-Ds)

• Not optimising roof space

• Not considering future lift shaft

This is particularly common among condo upgraders unfamiliar with landed allowances.

A properly maximised GFA increases resale value significantly.

9. Over-Specifying Premium Materials Too Early

Homeowners often get excited exploring Pinterest or Instagram ideas and start selecting:

• marble slabs

• full-height glass

• exotic veneer

• imported stone

• designer fittings

But doing this too early, before confirming structural and spatial needs, can lead to budget overruns.

Finishings should be chosen after the major structural decisions are made.

10. Not Considering Natural Light & Ventilation

This is a common mistake in long intermediate terraces like those in Serangoon Gardens, Kovan, Opera Estate, and parts of Thomson.

If natural light is not considered early:

• the middle of the house becomes dark

• rooms feel cramped

• reliance on artificial lighting increases

• ventilation is stagnant

Solutions include:

• light wells

• courtyard design

• skylights

• full-height windows

• open riser staircases

These must be designed from day one, not patched in later.

11. Not Planning Storage from the Start

Storage is one of the biggest concerns condo upgraders express after moving into landed houses.

Without early planning:

• bomb shelter becomes messy

• bedrooms lose usable space

• kitchen feels cluttered

• bathrooms lack shelving

• living room accumulates items

Built-in storage should be part of the initial floor plan, not added as an afterthought.

12. Changing Design Mid-Way

This is one of the worst mistakes because:

• structural works may need redoing

• additional fees apply

• timelines extend

• workmanship may be affected

• tender pricing becomes inaccurate

You must be 100% aligned with your design before foundation work begins.

Useful Links

For homeowners wanting a structured process from start to finish:
🔗 Step-by-Step Guide to Rebuilding a Landed Home in Singapore

If you're comparing between small upgrades and a full rebuild:
🔗 Rebuild vs A&A: Which Option Is Better for Your Landed Home?

For homeowners who want to know how long a rebuild realistically takes:
🔗 How Long Does a Landed House Rebuild Take? (Timeline Breakdown)

If you're preparing your budget for a rebuild:
🔗 Cost to Rebuild a Landed House in Singapore (2026 Guide)