In this guide · 8 sections
- 01The registrations homeowners check, and how to show them
- 02Permits and compliance pages that answer real questions
- 03Project pages: real photos, labelled renders, client permission
- 04Reviews: what is allowed after the September 2026 fake-review case
- 05Explain pricing and payment terms clearly
- 06Turn visits into site-visit bookings
- 07Do it yourself or get help?
- 08Frequently asked questions
Short answer
Show your HDB Directory of Renovation Contractors (DRC) listing, any BCA registrations (CRS workheads, approved window contractor status) and CaseTrust accreditation, with links people can check. Add real project pages, a clear payment outline and online site-visit booking. Never post bought or AI-written reviews.
The registrations homeowners check, and how to show them
Most renovation enquiries in Singapore involve an HDB flat, and HDB's own page on renovation responsibilities says the Housing & Development (Renovation Control) Rules 2006 require flat owners to engage only contractors from the Directory of Renovation Contractors. That makes your DRC listing the first thing a careful homeowner looks for.
| Registration | Who issues it | What to put on your website |
|---|---|---|
| Directory of Renovation Contractors (DRC) | HDB | Your registered company name exactly as listed, plus a line telling visitors they can check it on HDB's contractor e-Service |
| Contractors Registration System (CRS) | BCA | Workheads and grades if registered (for example CR09 Repairs & Redecoration). Since 1 June 2025, firms hiring construction S Pass or Work Permit holders must register |
| Approved window contractor | BCA, listed by HDB | Only if you hold it. HDB requires a BCA-approved window contractor for all window installation or replacement |
| CaseTrust accreditation | CASE | The CaseTrust mark with tier, plus a link to your listing on the CASE site |
| Licensed electrical worker | EMA | If your team includes one, say so; HDB says all electrical work needs an EMA-licensed electrical worker |
Put a short registrations block in the footer of every page and a fuller version on your About page. Use the exact legal name and UEN from ACRA so the details match what homeowners see on HDB, BCA and CASE directories. If a registration lapses, remove it from the site the same day.
Permits and compliance pages that answer real questions
Homeowners worry about permits, and they cannot apply for most of them themselves. HDB's renovation permit page says renovation contractors submit the flat's floor plan with the electronic application for works that need HDB's evaluation, such as demolishing walls. Some works also need a Qualified Person to certify or supervise them.
A short 'How permits work' page earns trust and saves your sales team time. Keep it general and link to HDB rather than copying HDB's rules, because they change.
- Which kinds of work need an HDB permit, with a link to HDB's renovation guidelines
- Who applies (you, as the DRC contractor) and roughly how long approval takes in your experience
- Works that need other licensed people: electrical (EMA-licensed worker), windows (BCA-approved window contractor), structural (Qualified Person)
- Condo projects: management corporation approval and renovation deposits are set by each MCST
- What you need from the homeowner: floor plan, unit details and move-in date
Project pages: real photos, labelled renders, client permission
Project pages sell renovation work. They also carry the most risk of misleading people, because it is easy to mix 3D renders, supplier photos and finished jobs. Keep three rules: label every image, show what was actually done, and get the homeowner's written permission.
Before a project page goes live
Large photo galleries slow sites down, especially on phones. Resize images to about 1,600 pixels wide, use WebP, and lazy-load galleries. Our Core Web Vitals guide explains the fixes.
Reviews: what is allowed after the September 2026 fake-review case
On 30 September 2026 the Competition and Consumer Commission of Singapore took action against 45 businesses and a fake review provider. The provider used generative AI to write reviews that looked genuine. The businesses had to remove the reviews and post a public apology for six months, and CCS said a second phase of the investigation is under way.
For a renovation firm the safe approach is simple. Ask every real customer for a Google review at handover, reply to every review including the bad ones, and never buy, write or swap reviews. Our guides on setting up a Google Business Profile and automating review requests show how to collect genuine reviews steadily.
On your own website, embed or quote Google reviews with the reviewer's first name and date only. Do not edit the wording, and do not cherry-pick a single sentence that changes the meaning.
Explain pricing and payment terms clearly
Payment is where renovation disputes start, so put your payment approach on the site in plain words. If you are CaseTrust-accredited, the CaseTrust renovation scheme requires a deposit performance bond, the CaseTrust Standard Renovation Contract, payments collected in phases upon agreed milestones, an initial deposit capped at 20% of the total cost, and a 12-month workmanship warranty.
Even if you are not accredited, a short 'How payment works' section helps: deposit, progress stages, how variation orders are priced and signed, and what is held until handover. Our guide to renovation quotes, deposits and progress payments covers the billing set-up behind it.
Avoid 'from S$X' package prices unless the package truly exists at that price for a named flat type. A clear starting range with what is excluded is more believable than a headline number that never applies.
Turn visits into site-visit bookings
Most renovation enquiries end in a site visit, so make that the main action on the site. A short form beats a WhatsApp button alone, because you get the details you need before you call back.
Ask the right questions up front
Property type (HDB, condo, landed, commercial), new or resale, key collection date, rough budget band and the rooms involved. Keep it to one screen.
Offer real time slots
Connect an online booking tool to your designers' calendars so homeowners pick a slot. Show weekday evening and weekend slots if you offer them.
Collect personal data properly
State why you collect the phone number and address, keep the form on HTTPS, and link your privacy policy, as the PDPA requires.
Confirm and remind automatically
Send an email or WhatsApp confirmation with the designer's name and what to prepare (floor plan, inspiration photos).
Track where leads come from
Tag enquiries by source (Google, portals, referrals) so you know which marketing pays.
Do it yourself or get help?
You can build a decent renovation site yourself on a template builder: a home page with your registrations, five to ten honest project pages, a payment page and a booking form. The work is mostly gathering permissions and good photos, not code. Budget figures for each route are in our website cost guide.
If you want it done for you, our Business Website package (S$1,490) builds the site on accounts you own, with project pages and a registrations block. Online Booking System (S$390) adds site-visit booking with reminders, and Speed & SEO Fix (S$390) sorts out slow, image-heavy galleries on an existing site.
Frequently asked questions
Yes. HDB says the Housing & Development (Renovation Control) Rules 2006 require flat owners to engage only contractors listed in the Directory of Renovation Contractors. Homeowners can check the listing through HDB's contractor e-Service, so show your registered company name exactly as it appears there to make the check easy.
Yes, as long as they are clearly labelled as design renders and not presented as completed projects. Mixing renders with finished photos without labels can mislead homeowners about what you have actually built. Keep renders in a separate section or caption each one, and use your own site photos for completed jobs.
Posting or buying fake reviews is treated as an unfair practice under the Consumer Protection (Fair Trading) Act. In September 2026 the Competition and Consumer Commission of Singapore required 45 businesses to remove fake reviews and post public apologies for six months. Ask real customers for reviews instead.
Ranges help, as long as they are honest. Give a typical range per flat type and list what is excluded, such as appliances or permit-related works. Avoid headline package prices that rarely apply. Explaining your deposit and progress payment approach often builds more trust than a single number.
BCA's Contractors Registration System is needed to tender for public sector projects, and since 1 June 2025 any firm hiring construction S Pass or Work Permit holders must register. Specific works have their own rules, such as BCA-approved window contractors for window replacement. Check BCA's pages for your situation.