Home renovation checklist before you start
Most budget overruns on residential projects are not caused by “expensive taste”—they come from surprises in the shell: water ingress, tired electricals, or structural tweaks discovered after demolition. A clear checklist before you sign off on interiors keeps your contingency for real issues, not avoidable rework.
Before demolition
- Measured survey: Confirm dimensions, slab-to-slab heights, and column positions; old plans may not match as-built.
- Wet-area checks: Inspect bathrooms, kitchen sinks, and balconies for leaks, slope, and waterproofing history—fix the substrate before new tiles.
- Services audit: Map existing circuits, earthing, and MCB sizing; note where you need dedicated lines for AC, ovens, or pumps.
- Approvals: Clarify society or municipal requirements for structural changes, façade, or utility shifts.
During execution
- Sequence: Civil → plumbing and drainage → electrical conduits → plaster and moisture control → finishes. Skipping sequence traps moisture and voids warranties.
- Mock-ups: Where budgets allow, sample a short run of flooring or a paint corner in real light before full spread.
- Storage of materials: Keep bags off uncured screed; protect stone and wood from site dust and direct sun.
Interiors should respond to the building you have, not only the mood board you like. For a walkthrough of your site and a prioritized scope, book a consultation with NXterio—we integrate civil, services, and design so the finish phase stays predictable.