Checked 17 October 2026. A showflat visit is most useful when you leave with evidence about the exact unit you might buy. Beautiful lighting, small furniture and an attractive scale model can make a home feel easy to live in. Your job is to test that impression against the floor plan, written specifications and the realities of the site.
This checklist is for private condominium launches. Executive condominiums have additional eligibility requirements. Use it alongside our new-launch buying guide, loan IPA guide and floor-plan guide.
Before you go: set your limits
Write down your maximum purchase price before seeing the sales gallery. Keep a separate limit for monthly household spending and available cash after buying. A banker’s maximum loan estimate does not tell you how comfortably you can live with the repayments. Obtain your financing assessment before committing a deposit. URA recommends checking bank eligibility early.
Bring the dimensions of your own bed, dining table, sofa and work desk, plus a tape measure if the gallery allows measurements. Decide what matters most: a usable third bedroom, space for a helper, an enclosed kitchen, step-free access or a quieter outlook. Choose three requirements that an attractive discount cannot override.
Ask for the project brochure, site plan with north arrow, floor plan for each shortlisted layout and the current specifications. Save dated copies. If prices are not released, record that clearly rather than treating an indicative range as a unit quotation.
At the model: find the real unit
- Identify the exact block, stack, floor and unit type. A show unit for one layout does not demonstrate every variant.
- Trace the pedestrian route from your block to the actual exit, then to the MRT, bus stop or school route. Check crossings, slope, shelter and whether a side gate has confirmed operating hours.
- Locate the main road, vehicle entrance, drop-off, carpark ramp, loading area, refuse facilities, substations, ventilation outlets and communal facilities.
- Identify neighbouring buildings and undeveloped land. Ask what evidence supports any claim about a lasting view.
- Check the pool, playground, barbecue pits, function rooms and sports facilities relative to the bedroom windows. A pool view can come with activity and conversation.
These are questions to investigate, not findings that a particular stack is defective. Distance on a scale model does not establish the noise heard inside a future bedroom.
Inside the show unit: distinguish supplied items from styling
Ask the salesperson to identify which features are actually supplied: floors, kitchen cabinets, wardrobes, air-conditioning, appliances, sanitary fittings, doors and balcony finishes. Record the brands and models where confirmed. Mark loose furniture, wall treatments, mirrors, lighting, storage additions and other display works separately.
Ask which parts of the display differ from the unit you are considering. Then compare the answers with the written unit specifications and contract documents. URA’s buyer resources explain the role of approved plans and required project information. Do not replace those documents with a photograph of a furnished display.
| Area | Practical test | Evidence to request |
|---|---|---|
| Bedroom | Fit your actual mattress dimensions; allow for the bed frame, wardrobe opening and a route around the bed. | Dimensioned plan and actual wardrobe configuration. |
| Living and dining | Check whether chairs can move back while someone passes, and whether a sofa blocks the balcony door. | Wall-to-wall dimensions, door positions and structural elements. |
| Kitchen | Consider fridge depth, cabinet doors, preparation space and how cooking smells might travel. | Appliance specifications, ventilation and kitchen enclosure details. |
| Study | Check whether a desk and chair fit with access maintained. Do not assume it is a lawful extra bedroom. | Approved room description, dimensions and ventilation. |
| Service spaces | Work out laundry drying, cleaning storage, shoe storage and luggage storage. | Yard, utility room, shelter and air-conditioner ledge layout. |
| Bathrooms | Consider shower access, door clearance and cleaning practicality. | Sanitary fittings, ventilation and threshold details. |
Sun, privacy, noise and views: ask better questions
Use the north arrow and the orientation of the actual living-room and bedroom windows. “North-south facing” alone does not resolve afternoon sun on every room. Nearby buildings, overhangs, height and the season affect exposure. Ask for a documented sun study if one exists and label unverified claims accordingly.
For privacy, compare facing windows and balconies at the shortlisted floor. A higher floor can change the sightline without removing it. For road noise, visit the public surroundings at a time that resembles your daily routine. Keep site observations separate from assumptions about the completed building’s glazing and insulation.
Ask whether “unblocked” means the present situation or an assured future condition. An undeveloped parcel is not automatically protected green space. Record the source, date and scope of any planning information used to evaluate it.
Questions about everyday living and running costs
- What are the estimated maintenance charges for my unit, and what is the basis of that estimate?
- How many lifts serve the block, and how do deliveries and visitors reach it?
- What parking and electric-vehicle charging arrangements are confirmed?
- How do children, older relatives and wheelchair users reach the entrance and facilities?
- Which facilities are confirmed, which illustrations are indicative, and what operating rules remain undecided?
- What completion dates appear in the contract, and what accommodation plan will I use if my preferred moving date changes?
Write the answer next to the document that supports it. When an answer is not confirmed, leave it as an open item. An estimate of maintenance fees should stay labelled an estimate.
A simple comparison sheet to use after each visit
Create one row per exact unit: project, unit number, floor, layout, area, dated quoted price, price per square foot, cash requirement, fully drawn loan payment, maintenance estimate and expected moving window. Add your own scores for layout, commute, noise/privacy and household fit. Weight these before comparing prices.
For each unit, complete three sentences: “I would buy this because…”; “The compromise I am accepting is…”; and “I still need evidence for…”. If you cannot explain the compromise, pause before booking. Keep two fallback units and a walk-away price rather than deciding under queue pressure.
Before paying anything
Confirm the payee and payment instructions through an independently checked channel. Verify the salesperson using the CEA Public Register. Ask your conveyancing lawyer to explain the actual booking documents, deadlines and consequences of not proceeding. Do not assume financing failure gives you a free exit.
Leave with the exact unit details, written price quotation if available, specifications, unresolved questions and a timeline for obtaining answers. A useful visit produces a defensible decision, even when that decision is to buy another home.
Need a brochure, price list or professional introduction?
Planning your next property purchase? Contact Lin Xuan at 82222556 or Ade at 81888871 to request a project’s full brochure and latest available price list, discuss a viewing, or ask for introductions to bankers who can help you compare home-loan rates and packages to find the best available option for your needs.
WhatsApp Lin Xuan | WhatsApp Ade. Please include the project name and your question. Brochures, prices and unit availability are subject to developer confirmation; loan eligibility, rates and approval are determined by the bank.
Lin Xuan: ONG LIN XUAN, CEA registration R069812H. Ade: CHUA MUAY MUAY (ADE CHUA), CEA registration R014252F. ERA REALTY NETWORK PTE LTD, estate agent licence L3002382K. If you need legal advice, contact Lin Xuan or Ade and we can introduce you to property lawyers.