For most Singapore homes, the safest approach is to DIY only very simple, low‑risk tasks and hire a vetted handyman or licensed specialist for anything involving electricals, plumbing, structural works, gas, or work at height. This balance keeps costs reasonable while protecting your family’s safety, your HDB or condo warranty, and your home insurance coverage.
This guide explains Handyman: DIY Tips vs Hiring Professionals in a practical, Singapore-specific way so you can decide, task by task, what to handle yourself and when it is smarter to use a verified handyman Singapore or specialist home repair service through Homejourney.
How this cluster fits into your Homejourney homeownership plan
This article is a focused companion to Homejourney’s Complete Guide to Handyman Services in Singapore Complete Guide to Handyman Services in Singapore | Homejourney . While the pillar covers the full landscape of handyman and fix it service options, this cluster zooms in on a single question: “Should I DIY or hire a professional for this specific job?”
Whether you just collected keys for a BTO in Punggol or Tengah, upgraded to a resale condo in Queenstown, or own a landed property in Serangoon Gardens, understanding this decision will save you time, money, and unnecessary risk. Homejourney’s mission is to make these calls safer and more transparent, by combining price data, verified reviews, and clear safety guidance.
DIY vs Hiring a Handyman: Fast Decision Checklist
If you only remember one framework, use this quick rule-of-thumb for Singapore homes:
- Safe to DIY (usually): No electricity, no water or gas lines, no drilling into unknown walls, no ladder above your head height, no permits needed. Examples: tightening loose cabinet hinges, replacing IKEA shelves in existing holes, assembling flat-pack furniture.
- Hire a handyman: Simple but tool-heavy or time-consuming work that does not require a licensed electrician/plumber. Examples: installing curtain rods, mounting TV brackets, fixing door closers, minor carpentry, basic sanitary fittings.
- Hire a licensed professional (not just any handyman): Anything involving electrical rewiring, new power points, water heater installation, concealed plumbing, gas, or large built-in carpentry that may affect fire safety or structure.
In Singapore, many reputable handyman companies charge around S$60–S$120 per hour or task-based rates such as S$80–S$180 for basic plumbing or electrical jobs, and S$80–S$250 for door/window repairs.[3][1] Some offer “2–3 hour handyman packages” at about S$150–S$250, popular with new BTO owners who need several small tasks done in a single visit.[1]
Common Singapore Home Tasks: DIY or Pro?
1. Wall drilling, mounting and minor carpentry
In BTO estates like Sengkang or Tengah, it is common to spend the first few weekends installing curtain tracks, shelves, and hooks. This is where many owners consider DIY to save money.
- Usually safe to DIY: Mounting light shelves on non-structural walls using existing holes, assembling freestanding bookshelves, installing adhesive hooks (especially in HDB bathrooms where drilling tiles may risk damage).
- Better to hire a handyman: Drilling near electrical points, in bathrooms with concealed pipes, or for heavy items like a 55–65" TV bracket. A mis-drilled hole can hit concealed wiring or water pipes and cause outages or leaks.
Experienced handymen in Singapore often carry proper wall scanners and SDS drills, and know HDB wall construction (e.g., reinforced steel in structural walls vs light partition walls in newer condos). From local experience, it usually takes a pro about 20–30 minutes to mount a TV safely, whereas a first-time DIY attempt can stretch to a few hours plus patch work if you misjudge the location.
Typical pro cost: Installing TV brackets or shelves from about S$70–S$100 per item, sometimes lower when bundled in a 2–3 hour handyman package.[2][1]
2. Electrical tasks
Under Singapore law, many electrical works must be carried out by a licensed electrical worker (LEW) registered with EMA, especially for rewiring, new power points, and work on the main distribution board. Incorrect work can cause fires and void insurance.
- Reasonable DIY tasks: Changing light bulbs, replacing batteries in smoke detectors, plugging in Wi‑Fi routers or basic smart-home gadgets (without altering wiring).
- Professional only: Adding new sockets, installing ceiling fans, rewiring, replacing distribution board components, or installing instant or storage heaters.
Average prices in Singapore for electrical repairs/installation range from about S$80–S$180 per job, with full home rewiring for a 4‑room HDB starting from around S$3,800–S$4,800 including materials, depending on scope.[3][5]
Safety note: If breakers trip repeatedly in your HDB in Yishun or your older walk-up in Tiong Bahru, do not DIY. Call a licensed electrician through a trusted platform like Homejourney, and never bypass safety devices.
3. Plumbing and sanitary fittings
Leaky taps, choked basins and loose shower sets are extremely common in older HDBs in estates like Ang Mo Kio or Bedok. Many owners try to DIY first to save on call-out fees.
- DIY-friendly: Replacing a shower head or hose with hand tools, using a plunger or simple drain cleaner for mild clogs, replacing tap aerators, tightening accessible nuts under the sink (without applying too much force).
- Hire a plumber/handyman: Persistent leaks in concealed pipes, major chokes backing up to multiple drains, replacing toilet bowls or basins, or works that require hacking tiles.
Basic plumbing repairs in Singapore (e.g., fixing a leaking tap, clearing simple chokes) typically cost S$80–S$180 per job.[3][1] For more complex work like replacing a toilet bowl, indicative rates start from around S$200–S$350 or more depending on materials.[2][1]
Insider tip: In HDB rentals around city-fringe areas like Boon Keng or Redhill, landlords often expect tenants to handle minor clogs themselves first. Check your tenancy agreement: many specify a threshold (e.g., tenant covers first S$150 per repair). When in doubt, ask the landlord before calling a plumber so there is no dispute later.
4. Painting and cosmetic touch-ups
Singapore’s humid climate means walls, especially in north-facing bedrooms or service yards, can show mould and peeling paint within a few years.
- Good for DIY: Small patch painting, touch-ups around skirting, using anti-mould spray and wiping down affected areas, repainting a feature wall.
- Hire a pro: Full 3‑, 4‑ or 5‑room repainting, extensive mould issues, or when you are preparing a rental or sale and want a uniform, professional finish.
Painting a room in Singapore typically costs around S$180–S$350 per room.[3] Full HDB packages in the market often exceed S$1,000 for a complete 4‑room repaint, but a professional job can significantly improve resale or rental appeal, especially in competitive areas like Punggol or Jurong Lake District.
Cost Comparison: DIY vs Professional
To decide between DIY and hiring, consider three cost components: tools & materials, time, and risk.
- Tools & materials: A decent drill set from a DIY store in IMM Jurong or Parkway Parade can cost S$80–S$150. If you only need it once (e.g., hanging a few frames), a handyman visit at S$80–S$120 may be more economical.
- Time: In practice, a simple 20‑minute pro task can take a beginner 2–3 hours, including cleanup and multiple trips to the hardware shop.
- Risk: A single wrongly drilled hole into a concealed pipe can easily cost S$200–S$400 or more in repair and repainting, wiping out years of supposed DIY savings.
Homejourney’s Home Service Packages Cost Guide 2025 estimates basic handyman work at around S$80–S$200 per visit, with 2–3 hour multi-task packages at S$150–S$250
