Planning a small renovation: a checklist before the first quote

Know what you want

Write down the result you are after in a few lines: which room, what changes, what stays. Collect two or three photos of finishes you like. The more precise the brief, the closer the quotes will be to each other, and the easier they are to compare.

Separate what matters from what would be nice. When a quote comes in high, you will know what to drop.

Set a budget with a margin

Fix the amount you are prepared to spend and keep about a tenth of it aside. Older buildings in particular hide surprises behind walls and under floors, and a margin turns a surprise into a decision rather than a crisis.

Check what needs approval

Some work needs a permit from your commune, especially anything that changes the outside of a building. In a flat, the co-owners' rules may also require the syndic to agree before work on shared parts or noisy work begins. Ask before you book anyone.

Plan the order of the trades

Most renovations involve more than one trade, and the order matters: the electrician and the plumber work before the plasterer, and the painter comes last. Ask each professional how long their part takes and what they need finished before they arrive.

Ask for quotes the right way

Send the same brief to everyone, ask them to visit before they price, and ask for the quote in writing with materials, labour and VAT listed separately. Then compare like with like.