Lifestyle

Renovating Your BTO? Here's How To Stretch Your Budget Further

This content is brought to you by COURTS Singapore.After waiting for 3 years, you finally collected the keys to your Build-To-Order (BTO). Yet, the wait is not over, it’s time to start planning for your renovation.You probably know the drill if this is not your first home purchase. But if it is, you are likely scrambling to figure out what to do with your first home. We know that renovation takes a lot of time and money to complete, with many homeowners spending an average of around $36,100 for a 3-room BTO, research showed.For those who have already planned in advance, you might have saved up for your renovation while waiting for your BTO flat to be ready. Based on the average cost of $36,100 and a 3-year wait time, that means you will have to set aside about $1,000 every month.But not everyone will have that kind of money stashed aside due to other financial commitments. You can still go ahead with your renovations, with some tips to help you stretch your budget further, and here’s how to do it:1. Renovate your home in phasesThe first mistake many young homeowners make is to prioritise aesthetic over functionality. But focusing too much on designing your dream home can easily lead to breaking your budget. Instead, you can break your renovation into phases, starting with the most essential one: the base stage.The base stage covers all the necessities to create a foundation for your home. Since modern BTO units have provided most of the basic fixtures, you can start from considering whether you need more plug points for certain areas. Make sure your kitchen or your bedrooms have enough sockets to power all your devices. Photo by COURTS Singapore​​Then, focus on installing the lighting and air conditioners in all your rooms. All of these are necessary to create a functional home and are much easier to set up before moving in. Air-conditioning piping and trunking may also need to be concealed, which can become more costly and disruptive to set up after you've moved in.Next, we move on to wall-painting. Not all paints are created equal; therefore, the type of paint you choose should match the function of each room. For example, eco-friendly paint is ideal for bedrooms and living rooms while moisture-resistant paint is a better option for humid areas such as the kitchen. To finally bring your bare unit to life, basic appliances such as a refrigerator, washing machine, and microwave oven are necessary for moving in. These essentials help make your days easier by supporting your daily hygiene and food storage needs from day one. Alongside this, you can purchase a mattress, bed frame, and wardrobe to create a comfortable space to rest and store your belongings.2. Use BNPL strategicallyNow we know what you’re thinking: how is it possible to cover all of these with savings only?After the basic fixtures and wet works, you may not have much budget left for the remaining purchases.Some people find ways to cut costs, while some turn to their families for financial support. Another option is to consider using Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) payment plans to manage your renovation costs. This option helps spread out your payments, so you can better manage the monthly repayments over the next few months. However, it is quite easy to drown yourself in debt if not managed responsibly.Photo by Blake Wisz on Unsplash​To ensure you can afford it, calculate the monthly repayment alongside your essential expenses. If you still have some room for savings, you can consider this option to support your furniture purchases. The BNPL route is an option to consider if it offers good deals.Some brands provide cashback or discounts when customers opt for BNPL payment plans.Take COURTS’ Flexi Complete Plan, for example. The appliance and furniture brand offers payment plans where their customers can enjoy cashback or $1 purchase-with-purchase offers on useful household items such asa Samsung QLED TV and a DREAME X50 Robot Vacuum, or redeem a brand-new iPhone 17 Pro Max.These savings may help you offset small purchases, giving you more wiggle room to purchase other household necessities, contribute towards your home emergency fund, or indulge in bubble tea!Crucially, it is important to note that BNPL is not to be used to finance everything. If managed recklessly, the monthly repayments can quickly add up and increase your debt burden. Therefore, it is best to apply for one only if it offers 0%interest or only use it for limited large purchases and do not sign up for more BNPL schemes than you can afford. 3. Know what to spend and save onIt is natural to look for areas to cut cost, but there are certain purchases you should not skimp on, because they may lead to higher costs down the road. While these home fixtures are available at various price points, opting for the cheapest option could lead to higher replacement costs down the road.Here are the essentials to not skimp on:Photo by Naomi Hébert on UnsplashCarpentry: Your kitchen cabinets are meant to be durable andmoisture resistant. So, it is encouraged to choose stronger materials for your cabinets, counter tops and hardware. Mattress and bedframe: They say you spend a third of your life in bed. The quality of your mattress can easily make or break your daily energy, so it is important to choose one that suits your comfort. Good locks: Break ins are more expensive than a sturdy and reliable lock. Spending on a good lock once can provide you peace of mind and safety within your own home. Refrigerator: A failing fridge is more than a broken appliance; you are also losing money if food spoils and risk water damage to your kitchen.​4. Join property group chats for good dealsThis may sound unconventional, but it helps if you are looking for a good bargain for your new home. By joining BTO or Housing Development Board (HDB) group chats, you get to have the first look at second-hand furniture or leftover renovation materials from homeowners. Who knows, you might even find neighbours to join your bulk-buying group for tiles or grilles!Photo by PexelsNowadays, Singaporean homeowners are reclaiming the “kampung spirit” by joining and sharing their renovation stories on BTO Telegram groups. The size of these group chats ranges from a few hundred to thousands of members. This is perfect for first-time homeowners, as it provides a platform for them to ask questions about their BTO units or any renovation-related concerns from people who may have had the same experiences.You can search for your estate’s BTO group chat online or start one yourself!Sponsored content by COURTS SingaporeMake your renovation costs more affordablePurchasing all your pre-move-in essentials can feel draining, with so many upfront costs to cover. The prices for your kitchen cabinets, lighting fixtures, and basic furniture can quickly add up, potentially breaking your budget.Renovation loan interest rates may feel too high to commit to, while rebuilding your savings could take months before you can fully afford your essentials.But you don’t have to wait that long to move into your new home. COURTS can help you afford your home furniture purchases with great savings. The COURTS Flexi Complete Plan provides fast, guaranteed approval for furniture, air con and large appliance purchases, so you can enjoy your purchases faster.You can also:Earn cashback of up to $1,688 based on your spending (minimum spend of $999).Redeem notable appliances or the iPhone 17 Pro Max for only $1 (minimum spend of $5,999).Learn more about COURTS Flexi Complete Plan here: https://www.courts.com.sg/flexi-plans/plans