How to Plan Your Renovation During the Festive Season

Renovating Around Festive Periods Singapore's festive calendar creates predictable busy and slow periods in the renovation industry. Planning around these can save you money and time. Chinese New Year (January to February) Most contractors shut down for 1-2 weeks around CNY. Some take up to 3 weeks off. Factor this into your timeline. The period after CNY (March to April) is peak renovation season. Many BTO owners who collected keys before CNY start their renovations. Contractor availability is tight and prices may be 5-10% higher. If possible, start your renovation in October or November so the bulk of work is done before the CNY shutdown. Seventh Month (August to September) Some homeowners avoid starting renovations during the Hungry Ghost Festival. This means contractors may have more availability. If you are not superstitious, this can be a good time to get faster service and potentially better rates. Year-End Period (November to December) Many contractors try to finish projects before the year ends. New projects may be delayed if the contractor is focused on completing existing commitments. Material suppliers may have year-end sales and clearance. This is a good time to buy tiles, sanitary ware, and appliances at a discount. Best Months to Start Renovation January (right after New Year, before CNY rush) April to May (post-CNY peak has subsided) October (enough time to complete before CNY) Worst Months to Start February (CNY shutdown) March (peak demand, higher prices) December (contractor fatigue, holiday disruptions) Auspicious Dates Some homeowners consult a feng shui master for an auspicious start date. If this is important to you, plan early as specific dates may not align with contractor availability. Most contractors are familiar with this practice and will accommodate if given advance notice.