How to Choose a Renovation Firm in Singapore

Choosing a renovation firm is mostly about reducing risk, because the money leaves your account long before the work is finished. Four checks do most of the protecting.

1. Verify the HDB DRC listing

For HDB flats you must engage a contractor in HDB’s Directory of Renovation Contractors (DRC) — it is a legal requirement, not a nicety. HDB requires a private limited company to hold at least S$50,000 in paid-up capital to be listed, and runs a Demerit Points System against firms that breach the rules. Ask for the firm’s DRC registration and verify it on HDB’s DRC e-service before you pay anything.

A four-step check before you engage a renovation firm.

2. Prefer a CaseTrust-accredited firm

CaseTrust is CASE’s accreditation scheme for renovation businesses. An accredited firm must:

• Keep the initial deposit capped at 20% of the total contract value, with the rest collected progressively against agreed milestones.
• Carry a deposit performance bond that safeguards your prepayments if the firm closes, winds up or is liquidated — ask for proof of protection stating the covered amount.
• Adopt the CaseTrust Standard Renovation Contract, with progressive payments tied to work stages, a service warranty and transparent pricing.

That protection is why accreditation matters more than whether the firm calls itself an ID or a contractor.

3. Compare at least three quotes

Consult at least three firms, visit their showrooms where you can, and compare itemised quotations on a like-for-like scope — not just the bottom line. A quote that is dramatically lower usually leaves things out that reappear later as variation orders. Use the HDB renovation cost guide as a sense-check on whether a number is realistic.

4. Check the alert lists and watch for red flags

Check CASE’s non-exhaustive Company Alert List for businesses that have attracted complaints, and the CaseTrust Watchlist for suspended or expelled businesses and unauthorised use of the CaseTrust logo. Check them before you sign. Beyond the registries, treat these as warning signs:

• “Today-only” or event-only pricing designed to stop you comparing.
• For a CaseTrust-accredited firm, an initial deposit above 20% conflicts with the scheme’s requirement; for any firm, treat a large upfront payment or cash-only terms as a major risk and negotiate milestone-based payments.
• No written, itemised contract, or vague answers about licences and who does the work.

Ask the firm, in one sitting and in writing, for its DRC number, its accreditation, its payment schedule and its warranty. A professional outfit answers without hesitation.

Related

• Interior designer vs contractor
• HDB renovation permit: what you need
• First-time renovation: the full guide

General information only. We do not recommend or endorse specific firms; do your own checks before committing.