First, establish the apartment’s actual condition
Compare what the developer promised with what was actually handed over. Photograph the rooms, connection points, meters and visible defects. Keep the floor plan, specification and handover documents together. Record defects and the arrangements for correcting them separately from the work you commission from your own crew.
Do not count one defect both as a free developer correction and as paid work for your contractor. If urgent intervention is needed, first confirm in writing who will do it, who pays and what records will remain. This prevents new finishes from covering an unresolved problem.
Ask the building manager before trades arrive
- When noisy work and deliveries are allowed, and how to arrange crew access.
- Which lifts may be used and how to protect the cabin and common surfaces.
- Where to unload, store materials and collect waste before removal.
- Rules for temporary water shutoffs, risers, ventilation and shared services.
- Any access or renovation charges, their basis and the receipts provided.
Include the building’s rules in the contractor’s brief. Arrangements with the manager concern work organisation; any required building procedures for alterations are a separate matter. DIAM distinguishes work according to its effect on structures and shared engineering systems. Before changing the layout, ask an appropriate professional to establish which situation applies to your property.
Plan daily use before connection points
Electrical and plumbing work need a plan for using the rooms. Where is the bed? Which way does the refrigerator open? Can the washing-machine door swing fully? Where will someone work on a laptop? These decisions affect sockets, lighting, water, doors and furniture. Exact appliance locations matter more at this stage than the final wall colour.
| Decision | Needed before | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Furniture and appliance layout | Electrical and plumbing briefs | Connections must match how you will use the home |
| Concealed plumbing models | Service rough-in | Installation dimensions and maintenance access |
| Door and frame systems | Opening preparation and finishes | Different systems are installed at different stages |
| Floor finishes by room | Agreeing substrate levels | Thicknesses and transitions affect preparation |
| Kitchen plan | Concealed kitchen services | Appliance, sink and extractor locations |
Have the manufacturer or supplier confirm installation requirements. A catalogue picture without a product code or dimensions is not a sufficient instruction.
Build a sequence with readiness checks
| Stage | What must be handed over |
|---|---|
| Inspection, measurements and brief | Plan, recorded condition, scope and unknowns |
| Approved changes and design decisions | Agreed plans, drawings and required approvals |
| Rough-in and concealed work | Checked services, photographs and records before covering |
| Substrate preparation | Confirmed suitability for the selected finish |
| Finishes | Rooms ready for the agreed installations |
| Equipment and furniture | Completed connections and checks in use |
| Handover | Defect list, documents, responsible people and dates |
This is an organisational framework, not one installation method for every material. Flooring may require a residual-moisture check; concealed door frames may need early installation. Ceresit technical sheets illustrate how substrate suitability and readiness for subsequent work depend on the particular system. Support each calendar date with a readiness condition confirmed by the contractor.
Keep purchases from disrupting the schedule
Separate selection, ordering and delivery. Selecting the bath model before laying pipes is useful; delivering it to an unprotected room a month before installation may not be. For each item, record the latest selection date, supply lead time and preferred delivery window.
- Confirm concealed products and installation drawings early.
- Deliver preparation materials in agreed batches that match actual progress.
- Order finishing materials after checking quantities, batch and substrate compatibility.
- Take final furniture and worktop measurements at the room condition required by the manufacturer.
Do not treat curing or drying periods as free time for any other task. Traffic over a fresh layer, dust or additional moisture may compromise subsequent work. Agree overlapping activities with the responsible contractor.
Have a fallback plan for moving in
List what you cannot live without: required services, a usable bathroom, safe access and somewhere to cook and sleep. Finished wardrobes may be desirable without being critical. Whether living in the home during incomplete work is suitable must be assessed for the actual conditions.
Identify the dependencies for each critical item: the kitchen waits for measurement, measurement waits for walls and walls wait for concealed services. A late prerequisite shifts the entire chain. Budget for a possible rental extension, storage and repeat deliveries. A reliable completion date requires an inspection and selected specifications.
The folder you need before starting
- Apartment plan and initial-condition record with photographs.
- Work brief, equipment specifications and approved changes.
- Detailed estimate, exclusions and contingency.
- Schedule with readiness checks, procurement and responsible people.
- Agreements covering payment, acceptance and changes.
Create Reno Pro stages that match your schedule and attach decisions to the relevant work. “Electrical work ready” should mean the agreed, checked result; a status label does not replace inspection. The first-project guide explains how to build the structure.
Sources
- RIEL: starting a new-build renovation — handover and preparation context; advertising prices and timelines are not reused
- DIAM: apartment alterations — distinguishing changes to structures and shared systems
- Ceresit: technical documentation — application conditions must be checked for the particular product
Editorial source review: 18 October 2026. The numerical examples were created for teaching; they are not a contractor’s personal quotation. English translation reviewed on 18 October 2026.