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Will be worthwhile putting an article up assisting buyers instead of sellers as most of the posts are about protecting sellers. Understand the reason is because more sellers than buyers engage agents and as such the commission and income is from the sellers' side but sellers who craftily abuse the 30 day timeline will result in the buyers being at a disadvantage.

For buyers, step 1 if you are proceeding along please capture every discussion in black and white. Even if it was something verbally discussed, send a message summary to the seller's agent for records. Otherwise the seller's agent will automatically go back to the 30 day clause to favor the seller.

This scenario happens when buyers out of their good heart agree to an extension post completion. Make sure you calculate backwards and put the dates of the exercise for OTP and resale application submission in writing.

1. So just say you are looking to move into your resale flat that you had just bought by 1st Jan.
2. Calculate the 3 month extension backwards, which means the clock starts on 1st Oct.
3. Add another 8 weeks for HDB approvals to that; that brings the time to 1st Aug.
4. Then 30 days for the clause to exercise the the resale application, we are at 1st July.
5. Finally add 2 weeks for evaluation of the property by HDB and 2 weeks (max) for bank to grant LO (assuming you do not have an IPA); you will be in 1st Jun.

Now usually the 3 month extension starts from date of completion, so in order to protect himself the buyer will need to either put a end date to the effect of "the 3 month extension would end by 31st Dec." or something to that effect OR agree on the dates in writing to enable the end date to be on 31st Dec so the buyer can move into his new home on his planned date of 1st Jan. Otherwise if the timelines are maximized by the seller then the buyer may end up getting his home later than his planned date.