From First Viewing to Collecting Keys

Buying a unit in a building that is not yet complete feels unfamiliar the first time. The sequence is more orderly than it looks, and knowing it in advance helps you prepare each decision before it arrives. This guide lists the stages in order, without dates or costs, because those depend on your own situation and on the paperwork you are given.

1. Look and shortlist. You start by reading the brochure, floor plans and specifications, then viewing the sales gallery. Bring a list of what your operation needs, such as floor loading, power, ceiling height and vehicle access, and tick items off as you go. The aim at this stage is a short list of units, not a final choice.
2. Confirm what is still available. New launches release and sell units over time, so check the current balance with the sales team. Ask which units suit your list and ask what is still open on the floors you prefer.
3. Arrange your financing early. Speak to a bank or adviser before you commit, so you know what you are likely to be able to borrow and what documents they will want. Lenders look at both the property and the buyer, so preparation saves time.
4. Secure the unit and sign the paperwork. This is the stage where the commitment becomes legal. Read the sale agreement carefully, ask your lawyer to review it, and make sure the unit number, area and stated completion timing match what you were shown.
5. Wait through construction. The building rises in phases and you are normally kept informed of progress. Use this period to plan your fit-out, equipment orders and any approvals your activity requires, since lead times on machinery can be long.
6. Completion and collection. Once the building is ready, you inspect the unit, note any defects for rectification, and take possession. Fit-out and the start of operations then follow.

One thing that surprises newcomers is how much happens between signing and collection without any visible activity at the site. Keep your own checklist of approvals, equipment lead times and insurance arrangements so that the day you collect keys is the day you can begin installing, not the day you start planning.

A word on records: keep every document in one folder from the first brochure onwards. Brochures, price lists, option papers and correspondence help if a question comes up later about what was described at which stage. It sounds mundane, yet it is the habit that experienced buyers most often recommend to first-timers.

Ask each party what happens next whenever a step ends. A clear answer from the sales team, the bank and the lawyer about the next action, who takes it and what you must supply, keeps momentum without pressure. Vague answers are a signal to pause and ask again before moving forward.

Also remember that sequence matters more than speed. Rushing from viewing to commitment without having talked to your bank is the commonest way for a purchase to become stressful, because the time you saved at the start is spent later in a hurry.

For KeyStone @ Mandai, developed by Bayswood Pte Ltd, the project pages give an estimated TOP of 31 December 2028. It is a freehold B2 ramp-up building in District 26 with 69 units, made up of 68 factory units of roughly 1,647 to 2,045 sqft plus one canteen. The project details page lists the full specification, which is the best document to check against your shortlist from stage one.

If you are somewhere in this sequence already, reach the team through the contact page and say which stage you are at.

General information only, not financial or legal advice.