How to Choose a Renovation Crew and Not Regret It

Renovation is expensive, time‑consuming, and stressful. But if you choose the right people to do it, you can at least remove some of the stress. Here is a step‑by‑step guide on how to find professionals and avoid amateurs.

Where to look for a crew

Bad options:

Ads on poles and building entrances.
“Trusted guys” recommended by a friend who never actually hired them.
The cheapest offers on classifieds websites.

Good options:

Recommendations from people you know who personally hired the crew and are still satisfied after a year.
Construction forums and specialized social media groups (with real reviews).
Companies with a website and an office (not a guarantee, but a first filter).
Specialized services for hiring crews (with ratings and work history).

The rule: never hire a crew that cannot show you a single real completed project.

What to check before work starts

Experience. Ask how long they have been working. A crew that has existed for 1–2 years is a risk. Good tradespeople are booked for months in advance.
Portfolio. Ask for photos and videos of completed projects. But keep in mind: you can download photos from the internet. So ask for photos of specific stages (screeding, chasing, tiling) – these are harder to fake.
Projects to visit. Ask for an address of a project the crew worked on 1–2 years ago. If they refuse or say “it’s not convenient to disturb the owners” – that is a bad sign. Good crews will offer to show you a finished project.
Documents. A private crew probably won’t have a registered business. But they should at least provide a simple work contract. The contract should include: deadlines, cost, payment schedule, warranty. Without a contract, you have no protection.

How to spot a bad crew on the first call

Several red flags:

Price significantly lower than the market rate (“we’ll screed your whole apartment for 3,000 currency units” – false).
The tradesperson does not ask about the scope of work, does not want to visit for a measurement – they quote a price over the phone.
They demand a 70–100% deposit before starting.
They cannot show a single finished project.
They start criticizing others (“everyone else is bad, only we do good work”).

If you see even one of these signs, look elsewhere.

How to check qualifications

When the crew comes for a measurement, you can assess their level yourself. Ask questions:

“How will you level the walls?” Good answer: using guides and a laser level. Bad answer: “by eye, we are professionals”.
“What soundproofing do you recommend?” Good answer: they name materials (mineral wool, acoustic panels, floating floor). Bad answer: “foam” (which does not stop sound, only heat loss).
“How will you do waterproofing in the bathroom?” Good answer: brush‑on waterproofing in 2–3 layers going up the walls, with corner tape. Bad answer: “with regular plastic sheet” or “why, the tiles won’t let water through”.

A professional will immediately point out what to look for in your apartment: old pipes, crooked corners, possible mold. An amateur will say “everything is fine, we’ll do it”.

How to handle payments

Never pay the full amount before the work is finished. Even a good crew can delay or make mistakes once the money is in their pocket.

Standard arrangement:

10–30% deposit to buy materials.
Then payment by stages (screed done → pay for screed, walls done → pay for walls).
Remaining 10–15% after full completion and fixing all issues.

All payments with a receipt or bank transfer with a note “deposit per contract”. Cash without paperwork is a risk.

When to walk away before work starts

Sometimes a crew seems fine but shows its true colors during discussions or at the very beginning. Signs that it’s time to find others:

They constantly postpone the start date (“tomorrow, the day after, next week”).
They demand extra payment for something already included in the estimate.
They disappear for several days without notice.
They are rude or argue when you ask questions.
They buy cheaper materials than agreed (different brand, lower grade).

A renovation is a long‑term relationship lasting 2–6 months. If communication is unpleasant from the start, it will only get worse.

Summary: a checklist for a good crew

Before you say “yes”, check:

They have real projects to visit (and you have visited them).
They have a contract with clear deadlines and warranty.
The price is reasonable (not the lowest, not crazy).
The tradesperson asks questions and suggests solutions, not just nods.
They do not ask for a large deposit.
Communication is reasonable, both on the phone and in person.

If all these checks pass, you can proceed.