Renovating your home is one of the most exciting parts of the homeowning journey━be it seeking the perfect ID, or picking out materials, the dilemmas one faces are universal. One common headache is cost, and that’s where HDB’s BTO Optional Component Scheme (OCS) comes into play.
Here, we’ve outlined what you need to know about the scheme, and asked homeowners who opted for the OCS to share their thoughts on it.
What is the BTO Optional Component Scheme (OCS)?
The BTO Optional Component Scheme (OCS) was designed to provide homeowners with a range of essential fixtures and fittings for their new HDB flats. Instead of scrambling to pick out every fixture for your brand new flat, you can opt into the OCS so it’s ready to move into ASAP.
Flooring options that come with the OCS.
Image credit: HDB
The packages differ based on the size of the home, with 3-room flats typically including a total of 4 doors while 4-room and 5-room flats come with five doors. Meanwhile, OCS-fitted homes come with vinyl floor strips for the bedrooms, while polished porcelain tiles are used in the living and dining areas.
Additionally, the sanitary fittings include a wall-mounted wash basin with a tap mixer. and a shower set with a bath/shower mixer for both the common and master bathrooms.
Is the BTO OCS scheme worth it?
While the decision to save on your renovation can be compelling, there are factors to consider when opting in to the OCS scheme. If you’re on the fence, here’s what some homeowners have to say about it.
Convenience
One of the most significant advantages of the OCS is the convenience it offers. Renovations can be a massive headache—especially when you’re trying to juggle work, life, and a Pinterest board full of home decor ideas.
With the OCS, you don’t have to worry about hunting down suppliers or contractors for basic fittings. Everything’s already done, leaving you to focus on personalising your space or, better yet, moving in ASAP. This was the deciding factor for homeowner Liv, or @dynalivv on Instagram.
“For us, our priority was to have our home in the most ready-to-move-in condition as we were renting a studio apartment, so we wanted to be able to move out as soon as possible to save costs on rent & put it towards our reno instead,” she admits. “We did not have to spend money and time on renovating our floors and our toilets. By doing so, we were able to channel our energy to other aspects of our reno, like painting our entire home.”
Value for money
Image credit: HDB
On the financial front, the OCS offers a solid bang for your buck, especially since you can use your CPF savings to cover the costs. It also comes with an HDB warranty, so you’re backed by a guarantee of quality.
However, homeowners @thebareloft also suggest that it might be prudent to just save up and pay for a more aesthetically pleasing renovation.
“[Since] you book the flat at least 4-5 years before it is complete, it’s more than enough time for a couple to save up for the renovation,” they advise. “By the time the flat is ready, they’ll also have their own idea of how they want the flat to look. It’s very unlikely that the OCS fittings are gonna match the aesthetics they’re going for.”
Aesthetics
Quartz is one of the materials offered under OCS.
Image credit: U-Home Interior Design
That being said, if you’re looking for bespoke fixtures or high-end finishes, you might be disappointed. The fixtures tend to be quite basic, and it may be difficult to align the aesthetic vision for your home with the OCS fittings.
Image credit: THESUAKUS
The problem is that once you opt in, there’s no turning back. Many homeowners, such as @thesuakus, end up hacking down their OCS fittings and replacing them to suit their style—a costly move that defeats the purpose of saving time and money in the first place.
Quality of fixtures
Another mixed bag of reviews that comes with opting in for OCS is the quality of the fittings. In particular, Liv commented that while the vinyl flooring does look good, it is harder to clean as dirt frequently gets stuck in between the panels. She also commented that the OCS toilet bowls and sinks get stained easily.
Should you opt into the BTO OCS scheme?
Deciding to opt into the OCS scheme will depend greatly on your priorities. If you’re looking to get your flat move-in-ready ASAP with cheaper fixtures, you’ll want to consider opting in, especially if you intend to move out of the flat after the Minimum Occupation Period (MOP).
However, homeowners with specific tastes who want higher-quality finishes in their home will want to think twice. The decision is not easily changed, and many homeowners regret not having the creative freedom to design their flat once all has been said and done.
Ultimately, the choice comes down to your lifestyle, future plans, and whether convenience or customisation is your top priority. Whether you’re looking to save time, money, or both, the OCS could be worth it—just make sure it aligns with your vision for your new home.
Read our other home & living guides here:
- Is it worth it to grout your HDB with marble gum?
- Hacks to get a BTO faster
- Complete guide to buying furniture on Taobao
Cover image adapted from: @livingatblk129, LinLin on Lemon8
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