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I'm currently rebuilding my house so I do have some advice for you. You first need to either get an architech, or a all-in-one (AIO) designer-builder that do both design and building to get started on the building plan. Look and ask around to get reliable architech / AIO builder with style that you like (and budget that suits you). Different architechs and AIO builders have different architerural styles so ask for their portfolio to have a feel. How high you can build up to depends on the location - It ranges from 2.5 all the way to 4.5 storeys for residential homes. I believe the plot ratio for your address can be found in the URA masterplan website https://www.ura.gov.sg/maps/?service=MP . However, plot ratio is only a guide to the max height that you can build up to and does not set the limit of your buildup area - Your architect is probably the best person to advise you on that. If rebuilding, you'll also need to do prep work like soil study to determine whether you need piling work to be done for your building (esp in coastal/ soft soil area) and also specialist inspection of the existing sewerage system to determine their existing condition. After your architech is done with the design (with your input and approval), the plan will got to the architect's professional engineer (PE) for the structural calculatio, design & drawing. Once that's done, the architect will ask for an open tender(with all the required building specifications listed in the tender document) to select your builder (this step skipped if you're using an AIO builder). Invited builders who're interested in participating will submit their bid and portfolio. Select your builder based on their price, track record, workmanship, feedback from previous owners etc and willingness to negotiate. I strongly suggest that you have at least 3-4 buildier participating in the bidding exercise and make sure you have at least 1-2 who're not recommended by your architect (in case your architect recommends someone who's paying him a kickback). Don't be afraid to negotiate for a better price with the builder and make sure everything is written down on the building contract before signing cos after that, anything will be considered a variation order (VO) and that's when you'll face the harsh reality of escalating costs Building cost ranges from 250 to 300 psf on the average depending on the finish that your choose and may cost up to 350 psf for higher end finishing. Some items will add significant costs - Lifts (including lift shaft) adds another 80-100k, piling will add 100k+ and basement will add another 150+k. If you can afford it and have elderly at home, I would highly recommend a home lift. Basement usually not recommended due to the extra cost and problem with moisture/water leakage - It's cheaper and better to build 3.5 storeys rather than 2.5 storeys plus basement (unless height limit is an issue and you want as much build-in area as possible, and don't mind the cost and risks of basement). Hope this is enough to get you started on your journey of building your dream home!

Hi everyone Something happened to me last Friday that got me quite upset that I'm compelled to write this as a fair warning to everyone. I went down to this flooring company to get a quote on some flooring works I want done in my living room. It was my 2nd visit; on the 1st visit I didn't bring my floorplan so this time, I remembered to bring one so they can give me a more accurate quotation. The person who tended to me wasn't around so his colleague served me. I gave him my floor plan and he went to make a copy, as is the usual practice. He took some time to come back which got me curious. Make photocopy take so long meh? Anyway, he came back and we talked a little bit. He asked me what was the quote his colleague gave me, and I said it was abt $13K for estimated 600 square foot area (I was asking for engineered wood floor). So, he started using his ruler to measure the area in the floor plan, I was sitting right in front of him when he did that, and then when he finished, he made a face and announced that the area is actually more than 600 square foot, it's actually 700+ square foot. My jaw literally dropped. I told him he must have made a mistake because lo and behold, I unveiled my secret weapon, which is I've done my own measurement and know roughly that the area is about 538 square foot, not even 600! And just a few days before, I had gone to another reno contractor, and he also measured, using the floor plan, that the area to be floored is about 500+. So how can my house suddenly expand by more than 20%?? I still didn't suspect anything, in fact I asked the guy if the area is high because they've already factored in wastage. He said yes but then I realised even with 10% wastage, the area cannot be off by so much. So I asked him to compare the areas with my measurements, section by section, and when he put the ruler on the paper and start measuring, that's when I noticed it with my own eyes. THE FLOOR PLAN HAS BEEN MAGNIFIED. One of the area was 4.4 x 1.2 m in my floor plan. In his it was 5 x 1.7. I asked him "Did you magnify the floor plan?" He just kept quiet, and that silence was all the answer I needed. I remained calm even though inside I was quite angry. I told him that although this quote is just an estimation, and the actual price will depend on onsite measurement, I would still like to have a rough idea of how much it'll cost, and don't want to be turned off by such a high price, that I don't even want to proceed anymore. So instead of gaining a customer, he's losing a potential one. He reassured me that yes, actual price will be based on actual measurements, but inside I've already discounted this company. If they can't even be honest with measuring the floor plan (when I can verify their calculations so easily), how can I trust them to be honest in their other dealings with me? When I went back, I keep thinking back to what happened, and trying to understand their motive. What is their plan? To use the inflated measurements to give the quote. And then what? When they need to calculate actual price do they have an inflated measuring tape for onsite measurement? Or is the inflated quote the binding price? Did they think I'm not the type who'd bother or know how to use a ruler or measuring tape to find out the dimensions of the floor myself? I may be way off in my assumption that he was trying to fraud me. But the whole episode just left me with a sour taste in my mouth. I'm just so disappointed with the company because I had hoped to engage them since they're the only direct supplier I can find which supplies both engineered wood and resilient flooring.The guy let me have the inflated floor plan with the prices so that I can refer to them. Yes, as evidence you're trying to cheat me! When I have the chance I'll upload the pic and compare it with the actual floor plan so you all can judge for yourself. My question is - is this an isolated incident, or is this the norm? Am I over-reacting ? Could this have been a misunderstanding? Anyway, let this be fair warning to everyone. If you have a floor plan, do your own measurements so that the contractor doesn't have a chance to bluff you. And monitor what they're doing. Don't leave everything to them. If something feels fishy, it probably is. Thank you for reading and if you have similar experiences, do share!