Why you need a checklist before choosing a contractor
Choosing the wrong renovation company means delayed timelines, blown budgets, and legal disputes over poor workmanship. Most of the problem renovations we take over from other contractors began with a contractor chosen without clear criteria. We compiled a 10-point checklist to help you filter out unreliable contractors before signing any agreement. Each criterion is backed by specific examples and data, so you know exactly what to ask and what to look for when meeting with a contractor.
10 criteria for choosing a renovation company
1. A contract with a fixed price
A fixed price in the contract means the cost of renovation won't change after work begins without your written approval. This is the main protection against "additional estimates" that appear at every stage. A reliable company offers packages with a clear price per square meter and a detailed scope of work.
KyivReno works with three packages: Standard — from 17,900 UAH/m² (turnkey renovation from bare walls: wallpaper, laminate, stretch ceiling, plumbing), Comfort — from 26,200 UAH/m² (painted walls, decorative plaster, parquet flooring, doors with casings), Premium — from 37,200 UAH/m² (custom design project with 3D visualization, slabs, parquet, moldings, track lighting, drywall ceiling). The price covers labour, rough materials, and the installation of the finishes; the finish materials themselves (tile, paint, flooring, wallpaper, lights, sanitary ware) and furniture are paid for separately: we buy them with the client's money, and you choose and approve them. See the full scope of work for each package on the pricing page.
Red flag: if an estimate or contract says "approximately" or "starting from" with no upper limit, the final price will most likely be significantly higher. A "from" price on a price list is a guide; the contract must state a fixed amount.
2. A portfolio with real projects
A portfolio should contain photos of real projects showing area, location, and renovation package. Stock images or renders without addresses indicate a company lacks sufficient experience or is hiding the quality of its work.
What to look for: variety of projects (apartments of different sizes, different packages), before-and-after photos, close-up finishing details. KyivReno's portfolio includes real apartments across Kyiv and its suburbs: 72 m² in Patriotyka, 43 m² in Metropolis, Teremky, 65 m² in Start, 50 m² and 45 m² in Ridny, 42 m² in Optymisto. Browse all projects.
Ask to see not just the final result, but intermediate stages as well — rough work, utility routing, waterproofing. This reveals the real level of execution.
3. Warranty on completed work
A warranty is a written commitment by the company to fix defects that appear after handover, at no additional cost. Without a warranty, you're on your own when cracks appear in walls or plumbing starts leaking six months after renovation.
KyivReno provides a 1-year warranty on all completed work. If a defect related to workmanship appears within a year after renovation is complete, the company fixes it at its own expense.
Check what exactly the warranty covers: labour only, or materials too. Standard practice is a warranty on labour from the company and on materials from the manufacturer. Warranty terms must be written into the contract, not just promised verbally.
4. An estimate after an on-site inspection
An accurate estimate is only possible after inspecting the property. A company that quotes a price over the phone without a visit is either guessing or padding the quote — and you'll pay the difference.
KyivReno offers a free site visit before preparing an estimate. An engineer assesses the condition of the walls, floors, and utilities, measures the area, and records your requirements. After that, you receive a detailed estimate broken down by type of work and room.
What an estimate should include: a list of work by room, cost of each stage, and timelines. If the estimate is a single number without details, find another contractor. We show what a block-by-block estimate looks like in five real examples. Request a free site visit.
5. A physical office
A physical office indicates the company operates systematically and won't disappear after receiving an advance payment. Meeting at the office lets you see material samples, discuss the project in person, and evaluate how organized the team is.
KyivReno's office is located at Akademika Zabolotnoho St, 48A, Kyiv, 03187. Here you can view finishing material samples, review the full portfolio, and discuss details of your project.
A company without an office that schedules meetings in cafes or communicates only through messengers is an additional risk. It doesn't automatically mean bad faith, but verifying such a company is significantly harder.
6. Transparent stages and timelines
A renovation without a schedule is a renovation without an end. The contractor must provide a phased plan with specific timelines for each type of work: demolition, rough work, finishing, and equipment installation.
Approximate timelines depend on scope: Standard package — 3–4 months, Comfort — 4–5 months, Premium — from 6 months. These timelines are fixed in the contract along with liability for delays. See packages and timelines.
Each stage ends with an acceptance certificate. You don't move to the next stage until you've signed off on the previous one. This protects against situations where tiles are laid on uneven walls and can no longer be fixed.
Ask the contractor: "What happens if timelines are missed?" The answer should be specific and documented in the contract.
7. An in-house team, not subcontractors
An in-house team means the company controls quality at every stage. When a contractor hires subcontractors for each project, they become a middleman — and quality becomes unpredictable.
KyivReno has around 50 full-time specialists: designers, site supervisors, quality inspectors, electrical teams, plumbers, tilers, and painters. This lets us keep one quality standard on every project.
How to verify: ask whether workers are on staff or hired per project. If a company searches for workers on job boards every time, you're paying for management, not craftsmanship.
8. Reviews and recommendations
Reviews are important but not the only source of information about a company. Pay attention to detailed reviews with specifics: apartment size, type of renovation, timelines, what they liked and what they didn't. One-line "everything's great" reviews provide no useful information.
Where to look: Google Maps, specialized construction forums, company social media. Ask for contacts of previous clients — a serious company won't refuse.
Be realistic: any company with experience has negative reviews too. What matters is not their absence, but how the company responds to criticism. Ignoring complaints is a worse signal than the complaint itself.
9. Specialization in your type of renovation
Apartment renovation and house renovation are processes with different complexity levels and requirements. A company that specializes in your type of property better understands the nuances: ventilation and utilities in kitchens, waterproofing in bathrooms, insulation and foundation work in houses.
KyivReno does three main kinds of work: turnkey apartment and house renovation, rough renovation, and interior design. Each service is handled by specialists with relevant experience, and the designers work in the same team as the builders.
Ask the contractor: how many projects of your specific type have they completed in the past year? Look at the corresponding projects in their portfolio. A company that does "everything" without clear specialization often does everything at a mediocre level.
10. A clear communication process
Lack of feedback during renovation is one of the most common client complaints. You need to know who is responsible for your project, how often you'll receive updates, and through which communication channels.
At KyivReno, each project has a dedicated site supervisor who provides weekly photo reports. You can reach the team at +380 (97) 607-15-15 or +380 (97) 670-00-55.
Check before work starts: who will be your contact, how quickly they respond to messages, whether they provide photo reports. If the company goes silent for days during negotiations, it will be worse during renovation.
