How a condo renovation job runs, step by step
If you’ve had a renovation go sideways before, or heard about a board fight over a neighbor’s project, this page is for you. Here’s exactly what happens at each stage, how long it actually takes, and what we do when something needs to change along the way.
Step 1. The call and the site visit
You call or request an estimate, and we schedule an in-home visit, usually within a few days. We look at your unit, ask about your building's specific renovation rules, and go over scope and finish options with you. This takes 30 to 45 minutes.
Step 2. The written quote
Within a few days of the site visit, you get a written quote covering the scope by room, materials, the electrical and plumbing work involved, the association approval and permit process, a timeline, and a payment schedule. Nothing is quoted verbally, and nothing starts until you've approved it in writing.
Step 3. Selections and ordering
Once you approve the quote, we finalize finishes, fixtures, and materials and place the order. This typically takes four to eight weeks depending on scope, and runs alongside Step 4 rather than adding time on top of it.
Step 4. Permits
Before anything else, we submit whatever your condo association requires: insurance certificates, plans, and a work schedule. That review typically takes one to four weeks depending on how often your board meets. Once it's documented, we file the town permit for any work touching structure, electrical, or plumbing, which usually clears within one to two weeks.
Step 5. Demolition and protection
Materials arrive, and we schedule your start date. On day one, we protect your floors and the path from your unit to the elevator or loading dock, then demolish the rooms being renovated. Plan on one to three days depending on scope, and on what we find once walls and floors are opened.
Step 6. The build
Framing, electrical, and plumbing go in first, and the town inspector reviews the rough-in before we close any wall. Drywall or plaster repair, flooring, cabinetry, and finishes follow. This is the bulk of the job and varies widely by scope: two to three weeks for a cosmetic refresh, four to six weeks for a full kitchen and bath, and eight to twelve weeks or more for a full-unit renovation with layout changes.
Step 7. Inspection and punch list
Once finishes are in, we go through the unit ourselves before we ever ask you to look: checking fit, finish, and function room by room. Anything that needs adjusting gets fixed before we call it done. This takes a few hours to a full day depending on scope.
Step 8. Final walkthrough and warranty
We walk the finished unit with you, room by room, and address anything you flag before we call the job complete. The work is covered under our workmanship warranty ({WARRANTY_TERMS}). This step takes 30 to 45 minutes.
How We Handle Change Orders
If something needs to change once we’re into the job, whether it’s a wall that turns out to need more than expected or a selection you want to revise, we price it in writing and get your approval before that work continues. You will never be asked to make a decision standing in a demolished room with no context for what it costs. If you say no to a change, we proceed with the original scope wherever that’s still possible.
How We Keep Your House Liveable
We work within the hours your building and the town allow. Brookline’s own rules for contractors run 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays and a shorter window on weekends, and most buildings layer their own restrictions on top of that, which we confirm at the estimate. We seal off the work area with plastic sheeting and run a HEPA vacuum during cutting and demolition, and we lay down floor protection along the full path from your unit to the elevator or loading dock, not just inside your own door, since that path is shared with your neighbors.
Parking and access are real constraints in Brookline specifically. Street parking is metered or permit-only in most of the town, and buildings rarely have guest spots to spare, so we coordinate a loading zone or drop-off arrangement directly with your property manager rather than assuming we can just park outside. If your building uses a freight elevator, we book it in the window your building allows rather than tying it up during resident hours.
Ready to start with a site visit? Call 857-832-6869, see the full scope of the work on the service page, or reach us through the contact page.
