05/11/2025
🚚 SHIFT 101: Why Do HDBs Cost Lesser Than Condos Or Landed Bungalows To Shift?
Okay, let’s be honest — most people think “Eh, of course condos or landed houses cost more to move because the people living there are richer lah.”
👀 Well… that’s totally false.
At ShiftSG, we’ve been doing moves all across Singapore — from cozy 3-room HDBs to mega landed homes — and here’s the truth: it’s not about how atas the address is. It’s all about time, effort, and logistics.
Let’s break it down 👇
🧱 1️⃣ HDBs Are (Generally) Easier To Work With
HDBs are straightforward — open carparks, big lifts, no need for special access cards or “Permits To Work”. Movers can park, load, and move quickly. Everything’s compact and efficient — less waiting, less walking, less paperwork.
Condos? Totally different story. Most require:
✅ Permits To Work
✅ Deposits
✅ Lift padding & floor protection
✅ Post-move clean-up (removing all those paddings!)
All these mean extra prep time, extra labour, and yes, extra cost.
🚪 2️⃣ Access, Access, Access
In condos, movers usually can’t just zoom in and start. Access cards, resident escorts, guardhouse check-ins… the list goes on. Some even restrict use to Fireman Lifts — which are sometimes nowhere near the main unit.
And because many condos don’t allow loading/unloading near the lobby, movers might have to push items from the basement, through narrow corridors, or even around the block.
More time = more manpower = higher cost.
🏡 3️⃣ Landed Homes = More Stairs, More Sweat
Two or three floors sound lovely — until you’re carrying a fridge or piano up them 😅.
Tight staircases, delicate furniture, heavy items — all mean movers have to take extra care to avoid damage (and injuries).
On average, carrying items up/down stairs adds:
💲$10–$50 per floor (depending on size/weight).
Special items like pianos or marble tables? Custom quote based on effort and safety.
💡 4️⃣ It’s All About Time & Effort
Movers price jobs mainly on time and difficulty, not property type.
If your condo or landed home is simple — easy access, wide lifts, no obstacles — your cost can be similar to an HDB move.
That’s why reputable movers (like us 😉) always do a pre-shift assessment — to estimate fair pricing and avoid “hidden charges” later. No one likes a surprise bill.
😎 TL;DR
HDBs cost less to move not because the people are “poorer” — it’s just easier, faster, and simpler to shift. So next time your friend’s HDB move costs less than your condo move…
Don’t worry — it’s not because you’re richer. It’s because you’ve got fancier obstacles. 😂
👉 Read more at www.shiftsg.com
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