What working with us is actually like

How does the first contact work?

Most owners start by sending photos and an approximate floor area by email, WhatsApp or the form on our site. Useful photos are a general view of each room, the bathroom, the kitchen, the fuse board and anything damaged. A line or two on what you want to change, whether the property is let or occupied, and when you would like the work done completes the picture.

From that, we give you a first estimate and tell you honestly whether the job fits our scope. If it involves something we do not do — a technical project, asbestos, a pool, air conditioning — we say so at this point rather than later. You can write to us in English throughout.

What happens at the visit and in the quote?

The visit is where the first estimate becomes a real plan. We look at the services, measure each room, check floors and walls, ask about the community and access, and talk through what you want to keep and what you want to change. If we see signs of a structural, damp or roof problem, we tell you then and suggest a technician before we quote.

The quote that follows is itemised: every task on its own line with a description, a unit and a quantity, plus a list of exclusions and a phased plan. The guarantee terms are written into it. It is free and carries no obligation. If something is unclear, we explain it; if you want to compare it with another builder’s quote, we encourage that.

How are finishes and materials chosen?

You choose the visible finishes: tiles, flooring, sanitaryware, taps, kitchen, doors and lighting positions. We advise on what suits the room and the work behind it — a tile format that the walls can take, a shower tray that the floor can accommodate — and we can source and receive the materials so they are on site when each trade needs them.

If you prefer to buy certain items yourself, the quote shows those lines as labour only, and we ask for model details early. Decisions made before the start date are the single best way to keep a job moving.

What happens during the works?

The job follows the phased plan: strip-out, services, masonry and plastering, floors and tiling, painting, fitting. We coordinate each trade, including the authorised partner installers who carry out electrical and gas work, so that nobody starts before the previous stage is ready and checked.

You remain the decision-maker. If strip-out reveals something unexpected, we photograph it, explain the options and price any extra work as its own line. Nothing extra goes ahead without your written acceptance. In apartment blocks, we protect the lift and common areas and remove debris at agreed times. This is coordination of our own job; we do not offer a separate remote management or reporting service.

How does the job end?

Before handover, the whole property is cleaned — not only the rooms we worked in. Installations are tested, taps are run and drains checked. Then we walk through the property with you, or with someone you nominate, and list anything that needs attention: a joint to redo, a door to adjust, a missing cover plate.

Those snags are closed, and you receive what you need to live with the work: the installers’ documentation where it applies and the references of the main materials used. The guarantee and our liability insurance continue to stand behind the job as set out in the quote.

What do we ask of you along the way?

• A clear brief and honest information about the property and how it will be used.
• Notifying the community and filing the town hall paperwork as owner — see our permits guide.
• Timely decisions on finishes and on any extras.
• Access arrangements: keys, alarm codes, any concierge.
• Stage payments as set out in the quote.

That is the whole of it. If this way of working suits you, our turnkey renovation and full renovation pages describe the scope, and you can see real photos of our team’s work in the gallery.