Preparing for a home renovation
What to decide and document before the work starts: scope, layout and appliances, contract, records, neighbours and waste. The list adapts to the scale of the job.

[ ] Write down the scope of work, room by room
    What gets done, what stays untouched, what is postponed. Without this the budget grows with every conversation and the end is never in sight.
[ ] Approve the furniture and appliance layout
    Sockets, switches, water outlets and connection heights all depend on where the bed, sofa and fridge will stand. Deciding after plastering is too late.
[ ] Choose the large appliances with exact dimensions
    Built-in appliances define recesses to the millimetre. A list of models with dimensions and connection types is for the builders, not for you.
[ ] Check whether structural changes need approval
    Removing or moving walls, relocating wet areas and touching shared building systems are regulated almost everywhere. Check the rules before the work, not after.
[ ] Prepare a costed budget and set aside a contingency
    Opened walls and floors almost always bring surprises. Keep the reserve separate and do not spend it on upgrades along the way.
[ ] Choose the contractors and agree the order of work
    Look beyond price: timescales, what is included, who buys materials and how stages are signed off. Ask about comparable jobs they have done.
[ ] Sign a contract with the schedule, timeline and staged payments
    Paying everything upfront removes your leverage. Staged payments tie money to results rather than to promises.
[ ] Break the work into stages with sign-off for each
    A stage that slips is visible at once; a single end date lies to you until the final week. Schedule sign-off before the next stage starts.
[ ] Photograph the flat before the work starts
    Wide shots of every room, the state of windows, doors, pipes and appliances. This is the basis for any later conversation about what was already there.
[ ] Learn the building rules and warn the neighbours
    Hours for noisy work, the lift, waste removal. A warned neighbour tolerates a drill far better than a woken one.
[ ] Arrange construction waste removal
    Almost nowhere can it go in ordinary bins. Agree in advance who takes it away, where and at whose cost.
[ ] Move out or protect furniture, windows and doors
    Construction dust gets everywhere and damages appliances. Move out what you can and cover the rest properly, not just on top.
[ ] Decide where you will live during the work
    Living in the flat while it is renovated means a different schedule and a different price. Decide now, not when the water goes off.
[ ] Agree in advance about water and power shutdowns
    Shutdowns are planned, not accidental. Check who arranges them, how long they last and how the neighbours are told.
[ ] Buy materials with a margin and plan where to store them
    Tiles and flooring come from one batch and with a margin: buying the exact same shade later is usually impossible.
[ ] Photograph wiring and pipes before they are covered
    Shoot with reference points and a tape measure in frame. A year later these photos answer the question of whether you can drill here.
[ ] Accept the work against a list, not by eye
    Levels, joints, working sockets and taps, no marks left behind. Record the snags as a list and agree a deadline for fixing them.
[ ] Collect documents, warranties and leftover materials
    Appliance manuals, warranties, receipts, leftover tiles and paint for touch-ups. Put them in one place and label it.
[ ] Plan the post-renovation clean as its own job
    This is not \u201csweep up at the end\u201d but several passes against construction dust. Budget time and energy for it in advance.

Checklist from Unload: https://unloads.me/c/apartment-renovation-prep