Works & renovation
Running works from abroad is a method: the right quotes, the right lead, follow-up by photos and progress points. Our guides walk through every step, from budget to handover, without travelling.
17 articles
Small repairs and call-outs: getting things fixed without travelling
Repairs without travelling to France: tell real emergencies from work that can wait, give trusted access remotely, approve on quotation and prevent big damage.
Following a building site remotely: photos, reports, checkpoints
Remote site follow-up: a weekly checkpoint at a fixed time, photos by lot, surprises and decisions logged in writing: the routine that keeps you in control.
Bringing an old flat's electrics up to standard: where to start
Bringing an old flat's electrics up to standard: the signs of a tired installation, a professional survey first and the typical works sequence, step by step.
Façade works voted by the co-ownership: what an absent owner pays
Façade works in a French co-ownership: how they are voted, the call for funds, your share, the collective quote and access to the flat while works go on.
Building a renovation budget with the right contingency
Building a renovation budget for an old property: cost it lot by lot, keep a contingency for hidden hazards, phase the works and track every commitment.
Choosing a reliable tradesperson: checking insurance, guarantees, references
Choosing a reliable tradesperson: SIRET, insurance, decennial guarantee, detailed quote and reachable references, the checks to run before entrusting works.
Damage-to-works insurance: the obligation almost nobody knows
An owner having works carried out must take out damage-to-works insurance before the site opens. What it covers, what its absence costs, and at resale.
Your property is rated F or G: a landlord's four options
G has been banned from letting since 2025, F follows in 2028. Renovate, sell, change use or occupy: the decision table for a non-resident owner.
Handing over works remotely: snagging and power of attorney
Remote works handover: a photographed pre-inspection, numbered snags, a power of attorney for your representative and a retention before any final payment.
When to schedule building works when you live abroad
Scheduling works from abroad: access to the property, tradespeople's seasons, weather alerts and standalone phases for planning works without being there.
Renovating before letting: the works that really matter
Renovating before letting: target flawless bathrooms and kitchen, tell short lets from long lets apart, and prepare a home that lets faster and ages well.
Energy renovation of an older property: reading the DPE and planning
Energy renovation and the French DPE: read the label without being misled, order insulation, ventilation and heating, and steer an older property from abroad.
Project manager, architect or coordination: who should run your works
Who should run your works? Scopes, the legal threshold and the trade-offs for choosing between project manager, architect and coordination from abroad.
What to check before signing a building quote remotely
Scope, quantities, insurance cover, regulated payment stages and e-signature: the checklist for checking a building quote remotely, with full legal confidence.
Requesting and comparing tradespeople's quotes from abroad
One identical pack for every tradesperson, comparable line items and a clear reading grid: the route to comparing tradespeople's quotes from abroad.
Running building works from abroad: the complete method
Frame the job, cost it, delegate, track and sign off: the complete method for running building works from abroad, with a written record at every step.
Coordinating works in your Parisian apartment
Coordinating works in Paris: tradespeople, quotes, co-ownership and schedule, the complete method to run a Parisian project without being there all the time.