A completed house has one big advantage over a launch-stage one: you can see exactly what you are buying. That only helps if you look carefully. At Belgravia Ace, Fairview Developments (part of Tong Eng Group) has obtained TOP for the 107 freehold semi-detached and terrace houses on Belgravia Drive, so a viewing means walking through finished homes rather than a show unit. These are five things worth doing when you go.
Walk the whole house, not just the highlights. Start at the gate and finish on the roof terrace or attic, whichever the house type has. The project details page lists the configurations: three storeys, a basement or attic depending on type, a household shelter and a private lift. Open every door and window, run every tap, and ride the lift both ways.
Compare the finish with the specification. Ask for the written specification and hold the house up against it. Look at tile joints, paint edges, window seals and cabinetry. Visit once in daylight and again in the evening, because lighting shows flaws that sunshine hides. Note anything off in writing, with photographs, and ask how it will be dealt with. Do not rush this part: a slow second visit with a torch, a tape measure and a friend who has no stake in the purchase will often turn up things the first visit missed.
Understand what is shared. Strata landed living is not the same as owning a plot outright. About 40% of the land area at Belgravia Ace is communal open space, which someone has to maintain. Ask who looks after what, how upkeep is funded, and how each house type's share value comes into it. Get the answers on paper before you decide. It also helps to ask what the shared grounds look like when nobody is showing them off, since the long-term appeal of a strata estate depends on how well the common areas are kept over the years.
Look beyond the fence line. Belgravia Drive is a quiet road off Ang Mo Kio Avenue 5 leading into Seletar Hills Estate, and District 28 has no MRT station of its own. Drive in and out at a weekday peak and again on a weekend. Pay attention to road noise, afternoon light and how the grounds drain after rain, since all of that is part of daily life there. Walk the immediate neighbourhood as well, because the street outside your gate is the part you cannot renovate.
Bring a lawyer to the paperwork. The sale and purchase agreement, any defect-correction arrangements and the conditions attached to the purchase deserve a professional read. Eligibility and approvals can depend on who is buying, so check with your lawyer and the relevant authority rather than relying on a brochure.
A finished house rewards a patient visit. Keep notes, photograph what you see, and compare house types side by side instead of relying on memory. When you are ready to walk through, set up a private viewing with the team and bring your list along.
General information only, not financial or legal advice.
