Choosing a company for an apartment renovation is a key decision — a bad choice can cost tens of thousands and months of stress. Here are specific questions that will help you tell solid companies from problematic ones.
1. Can I see real references and view a completed job?
Every serious company will show photos of its work — ideally with the option to verify them through a real customer or via Google. If a company has no references or is reluctant to share them, that’s a warning sign.
2. What does the price quote look like — is it itemised?
An offer of “renovation of a 2+1 apartment for 650,000 CZK” without a breakdown of the work is a problem. You don’t know what is and isn’t included, and the company has room for extra work. A quality offer contains a bill of quantities, the labour price for each trade separately and a material specification.
Red flag: a lump-sum price without an itemised budget.
3. Who will physically be on site — employees or subcontractors?
Many companies act as intermediaries — they take the job and resell it to self-employed tradespeople. That isn’t bad in itself, but it’s important to know: who is responsible for quality? Will there be a permanent coordinator on site? How does communication work when problems arise?
What you want: one point of contact with clear responsibility.
4. What is the warranty and how are complaints handled?
By law, there is a 3-year warranty period on construction work. But how does the company actually handle warranties? Within how many days does it respond to warranty repairs? Do they have liability insurance?
Put in the contract: specific warranty periods and the complaints procedure.
5. How is extra work handled?
Extra work is inevitable in apartment renovations — during demolition something always turns up. The key question: is extra work approved in writing (email, protocol) before it is carried out? Is it priced in advance, or do you find out the price only on the invoice?
What you want: extra work approved in advance, with a price.
6. What is the payment schedule?
Serious companies require a deposit (20–30 % at the start) and ongoing payments tied to the completion of stages.
Red flags: a demand for the full payment in advance, cash payment without a receipt, an unclear link between payments and the progress of the work.
7. Do they provide a works contract?
A works contract must contain at least: the exact scope of work, the total price and conditions for extra work, the schedule and penalties for delay, the warranty conditions.
No contract = your risk.
Summary: What to watch out for
| Good sign | Warning |
|---|---|
| Itemised budget | Lump-sum price without specification |
| References with a contact | Only photos without verification |
| Works contract | Only a verbal agreement |
| Written extra work | Surprise on the invoice |
| One contact, coordination | Chaotic communication |
| Deposit 20–30 % | Demand for full payment in advance |
Take your time when choosing a company. Three offers, three viewings and three conversations are the minimum. The cheapest offer is often the most expensive in the end.
Looking for a company for an apartment renovation in Prague? Get in touch — we’ll gladly explain how we work and prepare a detailed offer.
Related: Our services — turnkey renovations · How an apartment renovation works