Collecting your keys is exciting, and it is also the start of a long list. This guide puts the practical steps and the Feng Shui steps in one order, so you don't miss the ones that are hard to undo later.
1. Collect your keys
For an HDB flat you collect from HDB. For a condo in Singapore you collect from the developer. In Malaysia this is called vacant possession (VP), and you collect from the developer.
Before you leave, check that you have:
- All keys and access cards, and that each one works
- The handover documents and any warranty papers
- The floor plan. Keep a clean copy: you will need it for renovation and for Feng Shui
Feng Shui point: take a photo of the floor plan and note where north is. Everything else in Feng Shui starts from the direction your home faces.
2. The first entry
The first time you walk in as the owner sets the tone. You don't need a ceremony yet. Keep it simple:
- Pick a good day if you can. Avoid days that clash with the owners' zodiac signs
- Open the windows and the main door, and switch on every light
- Walk through every room once, calmly, with a positive intention for the home
This is not your move-in. It is a short visit to wake the space up. The full move-in ceremony comes later (see our move-in ceremony guide).
3. Check for defects before you renovate
Do this before any renovation starts. Once work begins, it becomes hard to tell the builder's defects from damage caused by the renovation.
Check walls and ceilings, floor tiles (tap for hollow sounds), doors and windows, taps and drains, and every power point.
| Where | Defect period | How to report |
|---|---|---|
| Singapore HDB (BTO) | Usually 1 year | Your estate's Building Service Centre |
| Singapore condo | Usually 1 year | The developer's defect form |
| Malaysia new property | 24 months from vacant possession | The developer, in writing |
In Singapore the defect period can start before you collect your keys, so your real window may be shorter. Check the exact dates in your own documents.
4. Plan the renovation with Feng Shui first
This is the step where Feng Shui saves you the most money. Moving a door or a bed later costs far more than drawing it in the right place now.
Settle these with your designer before the layout is final:
- Main door: keep the area in front of it open and bright. Avoid a straight line from the main door to a window or the back door
- Bed: headboard against a solid wall, not under a window, and not in line with the door
- Desk or study: sit with a solid wall behind you and a view of the door
- Stove: not directly facing the sink or the fridge, and not under a beam
- Missing corners: if your floor plan is not a full rectangle, check which areas are missing (see missing corners)
Also check the year's stars. In 2027 the Southwest holds Tai Sui, so avoid starting hacking or heavy works there.
5. Renovation
The usual order is hacking, wet works, electrical, carpentry, painting, then installation. A simple renovation takes about 4 to 6 weeks. A full one often takes 8 to 12 weeks or more.
If you can choose, start the first hacking on a good date. Many owners do a short prayer or offering on the first day of works.
6. Clean and prepare
When the contractors leave, deep clean the whole home: cupboards, windows, the inside of drawers. Dust and leftover debris hold stale energy.
Then install your appliances and lights, and open every window for a few hours to air the home out.
7. Move in
Choose your move-in date and time. Bring in the important items first, and spend the first night there. In Chinese tradition, the night you first sleep in the home counts as the real move-in. The move-in ceremony guide has the full list of steps.
8. Settle in
Keep the home lived in. Cook at home in the first weeks, keep the lights and air moving, and fix small things quickly. A home that is used and cared for builds good energy over time.
Quick timeline: key collection → first entry → defect check → renovation plan → renovation → deep clean → move-in → settling in.