“It’s a 65-square-metre flat. New floors, a bathroom refit and a fresh coat of paint. What will it cost?”
To judge whether the refurbishment fits your budget, you need a quote for the work your flat actually requires. Whether you plan new floors or work in the bathroom, floor area alone does not tell you whether parquet must come up, pipework needs replacing or loose plaster needs repairing before painting.
You do not need a polished presentation to request a renovation quote. Send a clear brief, useful photographs and a rough plan. That lets the site visit focus on the choices and conditions that will affect your quote.
Include access in your first enquiry
Send the location, property type, approximate floor area and floor level. Mention whether there is a lift and where a van can unload.
A ground-floor flat with parking outside is a different job to an upstairs property reached through a narrow lane in Poreč or Rovinj. Carrying materials in and rubble out takes work. A photograph of the entrance and approach helps include that work in your quote.
Step back before taking the photograph
A close-up of a cracked tile is useful alongside a wider view of the room. Start with wider shots from opposite corners, then add details of damage, damp marks, exposed pipework and changes in floor level.
For the bathroom, include the basin, toilet, bath or shower, window and doorway. A slow video walkthrough can help explain what you want to keep.
Do not start stripping finishes just to improve the photographs. If an opening-up inspection is needed, we agree where and why during the survey.
A rough sketch will do
Send an existing floor plan if you have one, and point out anything that no longer matches. Otherwise, sketch the rooms by hand with approximate wall lengths, door positions and ceiling heights.
For painting work, the flat’s floor area is not the wall and ceiling area. For tiling, specify which surfaces you intend to cover. State what you measured and leave uncertain dimensions for the visit.
Describe the job through what stays and what goes
“Full refurbishment” means different things to different owners. Make your brief specific: lift the parquet, retain the internal doors, refit the bathroom without moving the fittings, and relocate the kitchen to the opposite wall.
Flag any proposed layout changes. Moving a basin can mean altering supplies and waste pipes, chasing the wall and making the surface good again. If it is only an idea, say so. We can assess it before treating it as agreed work.
Explain the finish you have in mind
You need not have bought every fitting. But standard tiles and large-format slabs can call for different preparation and handling. A shower tray and a level-access shower also need different planning.
Send a reference image and explain which details matter: the colour, layout, recessed taps or shower niche. Then state who supplies the materials. If you are buying the tiles and sanitaryware, keep that clearly separated from the contractor’s supply.
Put the deadline in the first message
Include any confirmed move-in date or first guest booking, and say if somebody will live in the property during the works. Working around furniture and a bathroom that must remain usable affects the sequence.
An approximate budget helps us discuss priorities early. The cheapest total is poor value if preparation, waste removal and making good have simply been left out. Compare the work included, not just the last line.
Make the first enquiry easy to act on
A useful message might describe an empty second-floor flat in Istria, the work you want, the items you will supply and the date you hope to use it. Attach photographs and a sketch. Mention the floor that flexes or the drain that runs slowly, too.
Send BUILD GRUPA the location, approximate dimensions and your proposed scope. If something is uncertain, say so. Having it checked at the property is more useful than relying on a figure that changes once work starts.