Apartment renovation stages in order: from handover to move-in

Stages marked “if…” aren't part of every renovation: window replacement, partitions or air conditioning, for example. Until the survey is confirmed, the route has all stages. At the end of “Planning”, once the apartment has been inspected, the survey asks what work will be done. The extra stages leave the route when you confirm the survey; if you're not sure, answer “Not sure yet” and the stage stays. More in the article on the survey.

Plumbing and electrical work swap places depending on the answer to “How will the wiring be run?”: via the floor, the electrical stage comes first; via the ceiling, plumbing comes first. Below is the order for wiring via the ceiling; this answer doesn't move any other stage.

Orders on time: the route asks you to order the kitchen, doors, tiles, built-in plumbing and air conditioners when it's time to order them. While they're being made and delivered, the work moves on instead of standing still.

1. Apartment handover

• Check the front door
• Check the windows
• Check the balcony door
• Check the walls
• Check the floor
• Check the ceiling
• Check the ventilation
• Check the radiators
• Check the water supply
• Check the electrical panel
• Check the meters
• Check the floor area
• Make a defect list
• Submit the defect list to the developer
• Do a follow-up inspection
• Sign the certificate and get the keys
• Complete the handover

2. Planning

• Define the renovation goal
• Set the budget
• Gather references
• Measure the space
• Mark the finished floor level
• Create the layout
• Place the furniture
• Choose the appliances
• Design the kitchen
• Plan the building systems
• Choose air conditioners and unit locations
• Check airflow in the existing shafts
• Decide on the ventilation scheme
• Plan lighting scenarios
• Check whether the layout change needs approval
• Get the required permits (if needed)
• Choose doors; order concealed doors and frames now
• Approve the tile layout
• Order the tiles
• Choose contractors
• Draw up a renovation schedule
• Hand the working drawings to the crew
• Draw up a specification with lead times
• Measure the openings
• Choose the windows and door
• Buy the built-in plumbing
• Protect common areas
• Arrange construction waste removal
• Approve the design

3. Demolition (if needed)

• Demolish partitions
• Strip the plaster
• Remove the floor screed
• Remove the radiators
• Remove the developer's wiring
• Remove the plumbing lines
• Clean up after demolition
• Accept the stage

4. Window replacement (if needed)

• Remove the old windows
• Install the windows
• Install the sills and drip caps
• Sign off the stage

5. Partitions (if needed)

• Mark out the layout
• Build the partitions
• Install backing in drywall partitions
• Prepare openings for concealed doors
• Build niches
• Check the geometry
• Record the result
• Accept the stage

6. Plumbing

• Mark the plumbing points
• Install the manifold assembly
• Run the water supply pipes
• Run the drain lines
• Install the toilet frame
• Prepare outlets for the bath or shower
• Install concealed mixers
• Prepare outlets for exposed mixers
• Prepare outlets for a bidet shower
• Prepare the water heater connection
• Install a leak protection system
• Prepare the water filter connection
• Prepare the waste disposer connection
• Prepare outlets for the washer and dryer
• Prepare outlets for a hydronic towel rail
• Pressure-test the system
• Flush-test the drains
• Record the result
• Accept the stage

7. Electrical

• Approve the wiring plan
• Mark out the points
• Cut wall chases
• Install the electrical panel
• Run the power cables
• Install back boxes
• Run dedicated circuits for appliances
• Run low-voltage lines
• Prepare circuits for lighting scenarios
• Prepare kitchen, mirror and cabinet lighting
• Prepare circuits for smart home and backup power
• Bond the bathroom: protection from electric shock
• Test the circuits and the insulation
• Record the result
• Accept the stage

8. Air conditioning (if planned)

• Run refrigerant lines
• Set up condensate drainage
• Prepare the power supply
• Pressure-test the lines
• Accept the lines before plastering

9. Ventilation

• Install the air ducts
• Prepare the kitchen hood outlet
• Drill holes for fresh-air ventilators and inlets
• Install the supply unit, if there is one
• Accept the stage

10. Rough finishing

• Check pipes and wiring are finished
• Build drywall boxing
• Board the second side of drywall partitions
• Photograph the window joints before the reveals
• Prime the walls
• Set guide beads and corner beads
• Plaster the walls and reveals
• Install concealed door frames
• Prepare recesses for flush skirting
• Order the front door
• Check geometry and moisture
• Accept the stage

11. Floor preparation and screed (if needed)

• Clean and dedust the base
• Prime the base
• Lay floor soundproofing
• Photograph the sound insulation before closing
• Check and protect pipes and cables in the floor
• Install the floor drain or channel body
• Install hydronic underfloor heating
• Lay the heating cable under the screed
• Fit the edge strip
• Record the result
• Accept the work before the screed is poured
• Pour the floor screed
• Measure the screed moisture
• Accept the stage

12. Waterproofing

• Waterproof wet areas
• Photograph the waterproofing
• Flood-test the waterproofing
• Accept the stage

13. Ceilings (if planned)

• Check the backing is in place
• Mark the ceiling level
• Install the drywall frame
• Install mounts for light fittings
• Install concealed curtain tracks
• Install shadow-gap profiles
• Record the result
• Board the drywall frame
• Plaster the ceiling
• Accept the stage

14. Tiling (if tiles are used)

• Order the flooring
• Check the materials are on hand
• Check the waterproofing
• Install the bath or shower tray
• Lay heating mats under the tiles
• Tile the walls
• Tile the floor
• Lay large-format tiles
• Miter-cut at 45°
• Fit hatches, grates and drain extensions
• Grout the joints
• Measure the glass shower screen
• Accept the stage

15. Wall finishing

• Take check measurements
• Order custom furniture
• Measure openings and order doors
• Order stretch ceiling, fixtures, lighting and curtains
• Skim the walls
• Prime for the finish coat
• Skim and paint the ceiling
• Paint the walls
• Hang wallpaper
• Apply decorative plaster
• Install wall panels
• Install moldings
• Mount wall mirrors
• Accept the stage

16. Stretch ceiling (if planned)

• Install mounts for lights and curtain tracks
• Photograph the space above the ceiling
• Install the stretch ceiling
• Accept the stage

17. Flooring

• Check the base
• Bring the flooring in 2-3 days before laying
• Lay the underlay
• Lay the main flooring
• Finish the flooring transitions
• Install flush skirting
• Protect the flooring
• Accept the stage

18. Final installation

• Install interior doors
• Install skirting
• Remove the front door
• Install the front door
• Install the radiators
• Install sockets and switches
• Install light fittings
• Install the units and start up the system
• Check the air conditioners
• Install bathroom fans
• Install fresh-air ventilators and inlets
• Install vent grilles
• Check the ventilation works
• Install plumbing fixtures
• Install the glass shower screen
• Install the water heater with a safety group
• Install the filter and waste disposer
• Connect the leak protection system
• Install underfloor heating thermostats
• Check all systems
• Accept the stage

19. Furniture and appliances

• Install the kitchen
• Template the worktop
• Install the worktop
• Tile the splashback and fit its sockets
• Install built-in furniture
• Install appliances
• Place freestanding furniture
• Install curtain rails and curtains
• Accept the stage

20. Final acceptance

• Make a punch list
• Check the building systems
• Give the punch list to the contractor
• Follow up on the fixes
• Get a professional clean
• Collect documents and warranties
• Make the final payment
• Sign the acceptance certificate

21. Move-in

• Submit meter readings
• Set up utility accounts
• Monitor the home in the first weeks
• Complete the digital property passport
• Mark the renovation complete

Resale apartment, house and office

Resale apartments, houses and offices have their own routes in the app, but the principle is the same: utilities before plastering, screed after it, waterproofing before the tiles, furniture last. Each has stages of its own: riser and service line replacement in a resale apartment, the roof before the windows and the facade after the indoor wet work in a house, low-voltage systems and fire safety with testing after the final installation in an office.

• Resale, 22 stages: Apartment inspection → Planning → Demolition (if needed) → Riser and service line replacement → Windows and entrance door replacement (if needed) → Partitions (if needed) → Plumbing → Electrical → Air conditioning (if planned) → Ventilation → Rough finishing → Floor preparation and screed (if needed) → Waterproofing → Ceilings (if planned) → Tiling (if tiles are used) → Wall finishing → Stretch ceiling (if planned) → Flooring → Final installation → Furniture and appliances → Final acceptance → Move-in
• House, 25 stages: House inspection → Planning → Demolition (if needed) → Roof (if needed) → Windows and entrance door replacement (if needed) → Water, sewerage and power supply → Partitions (if needed) → Heating and boiler room → Plumbing → Electrical → Air conditioning (if planned) → Ventilation → Rough finishing → Floor preparation and screed (if needed) → Waterproofing → Facade and insulation (if needed, runs in parallel) → Ceilings (if planned) → Tiling (if tiles are used) → Wall finishing → Stretch ceiling (if planned) → Flooring → Final installation → Furniture and appliances → Final acceptance → Move-in
• Office, 23 stages: Landlord and building management approvals → Planning → Demolition (if needed) → Partitions (if needed) → Low-voltage systems → Fire safety → Plumbing → Electrical → Air conditioning (if planned) → Ventilation → Rough finishing → Floor preparation and screed (if needed) → Waterproofing → Ceilings (if planned) → Tiling (if tiles are used) → Wall finishing → Stretch or suspended ceiling (if planned) → Flooring → Final installation → Fire safety testing → Furniture and appliances → Final acceptance → Office move and launch