When an owner insists a tenanted Novena condo is "well-maintained," keep in mind that landlord maintenance is usually **reactive rather than proactive**. Tenants rarely report slow leaks, hairline issues, or minor wear until something completely breaks down.
Here is what you must scrutinize closely during your viewing:
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### 1. Aircon Systems (Often the Most Expensive Surprise)
* **Check the Fan Coil & Blower Wheel:** Don't just check if it blows cold air. Turn all units on simultaneously at 18°C for 20 minutes. Shine a torch inside the louvers: is the cylindrical blower wheel caked with thick black mold and jelly? Tenants often skip quarterly servicing or use cheap vacuum services that leave biological buildup.
* **Drainage Pipe Leaks & Staining:** Look directly below and around the wall-mounted units for bubbling paint or yellow water rings.
* **Compressor & Bracket on A/C Ledge:** Inspect the outdoor compressor on the ledge. In older Novena developments, look for heavy rust on the condenser casing, bracket decay, and refrigerant piping insulation that has disintegrated under sun exposure. Replacing an entire system (multi-split + piping through false ceilings) can cost S$4,000 to S$8,000+.
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### 2. Plumbing & Concealed Moisture
* **Under-Sink Vanity & Kitchen Basins:** Open the cabinet doors right below the sinks. Feel the cabinet base for sagging, damp wood, or bloated MDF boards caused by unaddressed slow P-trap leaks.
* **Concealed Storage Water Heater:** Open the false ceiling access panel (usually in the master bathroom). Check for rust marks on the tank shell, calcification around the pressure relief valve, or pooled condensation in the ceiling grid.
* **Shower Kerb & Dry Area Wall Skirting:** Look at the exterior wall of the bathroom in the adjacent bedroom. If the skirting board is warping, paint is peeling, or there are powdery salt deposits (efflorescence), the bathroom’s waterproofing membrane has failed.
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### 3. Flooring Defects (Hidden Under Rugs & Furniture)
* **Marble/Homogeneous Tiles:** Tap across high-traffic paths and near the balcony doors with a coin or key rod. Listen for hollow popping sounds (debonded tiles).
* **Parquet / Vinyl Delamination:** In bedrooms, inspect near windows and bathroom door thresholds. Look for blackened wood grain, lifting edges, or spongy spots caused by rainwater seepage or wet feet.
* **Check Under Rugs:** Always ask to lift heavy tenant area rugs or mats. Tenants often use them to hide stubborn iron burns, bleach stains, or deep pet scratches.
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### 4. Built-in Carpentry & Appliances
* **Hinges & Drawer Runners:** Slam-shut hinges and soft-close tracks in tenanted units take heavy abuse. Check for rust, sagging wardrobe doors, and peeling laminate edges near cooking hobs.
* **Integrated Kitchen Appliances:** Test the hood, induction hob, and oven. If the unit comes with integrated white goods, verify that the extractor fan actually draws air (not clogged with years of grease) and that the oven heating elements work.
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### Contractual Safeguard
Insist on a clear inventory and condition clause in your Option to Purchase (OTP): require that the property be handed over in **vacant possession and clean condition**, with all built-in fixtures, air-conditioners, and sanitary appliances in **good working order**.
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Gan Eng Joo Onassis 颜荣裕, REALTOR®
MSc BIT (Middlesex, UK); BBA (UniSA)
CEA Reg No: R021244C | Mobile:
(+65) 88899918
Email: onassis@sgagent.com
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