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Renovation project checklist

Everything here happens before the first tool comes out of a van. Skipping it to start sooner is the most common way a renovation runs over budget.

25 items

Makes your own editable copy. No account needed.

The items

  1. Scope written down before a single quote is asked forA trade quoting against a vague brief will quote against their own assumptions, not yours.
  2. At least three quotes compared like for like
  3. Same specification given to each trade
  4. Payment schedule and deposit asked for
  5. Public liability insurance checked
  6. Planning permission or building regulations checkedCheck the current rules for your specific project rather than assume it's exempt.
  7. Party wall agreement sorted with neighbours if it appliesThis carries a legal notice period, so start it earlier than feels necessary.
  8. Budget set with a contingency of at least ten per centSomething is almost always found once a wall is opened up.
  9. Contract or written agreement signed before work starts
  10. Start and finish dates
  11. Payment stages tied to completed work, not the calendar
  12. What happens if either side wants to end it
  13. Utilities isolated or protected where the work will happen
  14. Rooms not being worked on sealed off from dust
  15. Access agreed
  16. Parking for skips and vans
  17. Who holds a key while work is underway
  18. Working hours agreed with neighbours
  19. Materials ordered with a lead time checkedTiles and specific fittings can take weeks — order before the trade needs them, not when they ask.
  20. Skip or waste removal booked
  21. Insurance checked for cover during building workSome standard home policies exclude damage during major renovation — check before, not after.
  22. Photographs taken before work startsFor the inevitable dispute about what was already damaged.
  23. Daily point of contact agreed with the lead trade
  24. Snagging list started from day oneA small issue noted immediately is a fraction of the argument it becomes once everyone's moved on.
  25. Final payment held back until snagging is finishedTake advice on retention if the contract doesn't already cover it.

Makes your own editable copy. No account needed.

Questions people ask

How much contingency should I budget for a renovation?
At least ten per cent on top of the quoted price. Something is nearly always found once a wall or a floor is actually opened up.
Do I need planning permission for a renovation?
It depends on the project and where you live — check the current rules rather than assume it counts as permitted development.
What if the trade wants full payment before starting?
Be cautious. Tie payments to stages of completed work instead, and take advice before agreeing to pay everything up front.