Before furniture goes in, sort what you see into three: dirt and grease, signs of pests, and visible growth or dampness. Each has its own service, scope and quote, and one home can need more than one. Photograph everything first, do not touch growth or damaged surfaces, and confirm timing and return rules before your move-in date.
This is for an existing home you are about to occupy: a resale, a rental or a place that has stood empty. A new BTO flat has its own issues, covered in our guide to mould in a new BTO flat. Four Solutions offers cleaning, pest control and mould work as separate services, and this guide helps you work out which one a problem belongs to. It does not assume any of them.
Viewing a rental or resale flat: leak, mould and pest checks before you sign
Take ten minutes and your phone torch to the viewing. These are clues, not a diagnosis.
- Ceilings under bathrooms. Look for stains, bubbling or peeling paint. A ceiling under a neighbour's bathroom, or one that stays stained, points beyond ventilation. A freshly painted patch can hide marks, so ask why it was painted.
- Wardrobes and built in cabinets. Open the doors, check the back panel and corners, and notice any smell.
- A musty smell in a room with no visible mould can mean hidden mould.
- Kitchen cabinets and under the sink. Small dark droppings like ground pepper and egg cases in dark corners point to cockroaches. Small dark pellets along walls or near food can be rat droppings.
- Timber frames, skirting and furniture. Tiny pellets or what looks like fine sand can be droppings from drywood termites.
- Ask the owner or agent about past leaks, repairs, repainting and pest or mould treatment, and ask for the answers in writing.
See where to look, room by room.
Photograph before anyone cleans
Walk through each room with your phone before any cleaning, painting or furniture delivery. Take a wide shot and a close shot of anything odd, and note the room and the date. Cleaning can remove the very evidence a pest or mould assessor wants to see, and fresh paint can hide marks.
Three different problems
- Dirt and grease: grime in kitchen cabinets, grease on the hob and hood, dust, dirty windows and stained bathrooms. This is a cleaning job. Four Solutions' move-in and move-out cleaning is quoted on the property type, size, location, the current condition shown in your photos or a short video, and the date you need it. The scope is confirmed before the quote. Cleaning removes dirt and does not treat a pest or the cause of mould.
- Pest evidence: live or dead insects, droppings, shed skins or casings, gnawed items or packaging, ant trails, or damaged timber. These suggest a pest problem and call for an assessment of the pest, where it hides and where it comes from. See residential pest control. If you are bringing in an old mattress or sofa, check them too, as the bed bug guide explains.
- Mould or dampness: dark or fuzzy growth, water stains, peeling or bubbling paint, a damp musty smell, or a patch that stays wet. This points to moisture. The US EPA's advice is that mould control depends on dealing with the moisture, and that surfaces should be cleaned and dried before repainting or caulking. Four Solutions' mould removal page describes treating mould at the source and assessing the moisture, rather than painting over it. Do not touch or scrub growth or a damaged surface yourself.
Small pale insects in a damp cupboard can be booklice, which are linked to humid conditions. If you see them, read the booklice guide.
Photos and history to collect
- Photos of every spot of concern, wide and close, with the room and date noted.
- What you know of the home's history: pest treatment, leaks, repairs or repainting, how long it has stood empty, and what the previous occupant or agent tells you.
- Whether the smell, stain or insects are in one place or several.
- The access you will have: key collection, water and electricity, and any times the building restricts work.
Who should arrange or pay for any work depends on your own tenancy, sale or other agreement. This guide does not decide that.
Timing and order
If building works are involved, use the separate renovation pest-check schedule to record exposed areas and checks before new cabinets or finishes conceal them.
Your move-in date is the constraint, so ask each provider early and ask about sequence. Ask whether the cleaning should come before or after any pest or mould work, and before or after furniture arrives, so that a deep clean is not disturbed by a later treatment. A pest quote should state the preparation and access needed. For bed bugs, the technician confirms when it is safe to return to the room. For mould, find out whether a drying or finishing step affects your date.
What each written scope should say
- Cleaning: the rooms and items included, the date and time, and the access needed.
- Pest control: the pest identified or assumed, the areas to be treated, the preparation, the time before you can return and bring in food and furniture, and the follow-up and warranty conditions.
- Mould: the areas, the suspected moisture source, whether a separate repair may be needed, what removal, protective coating or painting is included, and warranty options and exclusions.
Four Solutions' mould page says that any separate repair needed to stop moisture should be identified before you agree to treatment, and this guide does not claim that any of these services includes repairing a leak or other building work. Ask what each provider can and cannot cover.
What these steps do not give you
Each service works to its own written scope. None of them is a certificate that the home is pest-free or mould-free, and this guide cannot say who is responsible for a defect. Ask any provider what record, if any, it will supply. Confirm the scope and price of each service you need before booking.
When you are ready, send the property details, move-in date and photos on WhatsApp.
Source: the US EPA's guidance on mould cleanup in your home, paraphrased. It is United States general guidance and not an assessment of any Singapore home. Source checked 8 October 2026.
Before moving in FAQs
Should I clean before a pest or mould check?
Photograph first. Cleaning can remove the evidence an assessor wants to see, so ask the pest or mould provider whether to wait. Then ask each provider about the order of the work and your move-in date.
Does move-in cleaning deal with pests or mould?
Move-in cleaning removes dirt and grease and is quoted on the property and its condition. A pest or a mould problem needs its own assessment and quote, so describe what you see when you ask.
Do I have to treat for pests before I move in?
Not automatically. Look for evidence such as live insects, droppings or damage and photograph it. If you find signs, ask for an assessment. A clear visual check does not rule out hidden activity. Share any relevant property history and ask whether further assessment is useful.
Can I paint over a damp patch or stain before the furniture goes in?
Painting over a stain hides it and does not deal with the moisture. Get the patch assessed first, and do not scrub or touch visible growth or a damaged surface.