Before requesting quotations

  • Record the property type, location and approximate area involved.
  • Collect a floor plan and recent photographs of each relevant room.
  • Separate essential improvements from optional additions.
  • List finishes, furniture and fittings that must be retained.
  • Set a working budget range and preferred completion window.
  • Identify who will make design and budget decisions.

Describe the problem as well as the desired appearance. “We need storage for everyday items near the entrance” gives a designer more useful information than a photograph alone.

Before agreeing the scope

Walk through the work room by room. Specify what will be removed, retained, supplied and installed. Mark selections that are still undecided and identify any areas that require inspection before they can be priced confidently.

Ask who is responsible for design information, dimensions and coordination between trades. If you plan to buy appliances or fittings yourself, discuss their specifications early so they can be accounted for in the layout.

Before setting a start date

Check the applicable requirements with your building or community management for the proposed scope. Ask about working arrangements, access, deliveries, waste handling and any required submissions. The details vary by property and work, so this checklist is not a substitute for that confirmation.

Identify materials with longer lead times. Ask for a sequence that connects procurement, site activities and decisions. A date should reflect these dependencies rather than assume everything can happen simultaneously.

Before work begins in an occupied home

  • Agree which areas will be inaccessible and when.
  • Plan arrangements for cooking, bathing and working from home.
  • Move or protect belongings and document retained finishes.
  • Discuss separation of work areas and household access.
  • Agree a contact person and a regular progress-update format.
  • Record how questions and changes will be approved.

If the scope prevents normal use of the home, discuss temporary arrangements before the work starts. A phased plan may help in some cases, but it also needs to account for repeat protection and mobilisation.

During the renovation

Keep approved drawings, selections and change records together. When a change is proposed, ask for its effect on cost and timing before authorising it. Confirm the updated decision in writing so the site team works from the current information.

Review samples and measurements at the agreed stages. Avoid leaving connected decisions, such as cabinetry and appliance dimensions, until installation is already scheduled.

At handover

Walk through the agreed scope and record items that need attention. Review operation and finish quality where appropriate, and agree responsibility for closing out the list. Collect care instructions, product details and any agreed warranty documentation.

Ready to organise your own project? See Karigari’s apartment renovation or villa renovation pages. Share your location, photographs and priorities to start a focused discussion. For help comparing proposals, read our Dubai renovation budget guide.