Warning signs when choosing a renovation contractor
A single sign condemns no one; two or three together at the visit, in the quote or in payment terms are a reason to stop and ask.
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Guides: Before you hire
BCN YARD guides: Before you hire. 45 articles to help plan your project in Barcelona. Page 1.
A verbal quote with no contract: why it is a real risk
A verbal quote fixes neither scope, materials, timing nor payment terms, and in a dispute nothing can be proved. Where expectations usually clash and how to get it onto paper.
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Why to be wary of a contractor who only accepts cash
Paying without an invoice or receipt makes it harder to establish the agreed work and payments. Check legal cash limits and retain the contract, invoices and payment evidence.
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How to verify a renovation company’s tax number and legal existence
A few minutes with BORME, a nota simple and the insolvency register confirm that the company exists, who runs it and whether it is insolvent.
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The contractor’s civil-liability insurance: why to ask about it
Without liability insurance, damage to neighbours or shared areas during the works can end up on you. How to check the policy before signing.
View detailsA contractor with no verifiable registered address: what it means
A contractor’s address is not decoration: it is where claims reach them if a defect appears after the works. How to check it in half an hour.
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Pressure to decide fast: a tactic worth recognising
Demanding a decision today is almost always a sales tactic. Real urgency comes with documents, and deciding takes as long as comparing does.
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A quote far cheaper than the rest: what it can mean
If a quote is far cheaper for the same scope, something is almost always missing. Check it line by line against your most detailed quote.
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Price changes mid-project: when they are legitimate and when they are not
An increase is legitimate if you change the scope, a hidden defect appears, measured quantities differ under a remeasurement contract or you pick a pricier material. Anything else deserves questions.
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Substituting materials for lower-quality ones: how to spot it
A swap is not caught by eye but by checking references against the approved specification before installation. Where to look and what to do about a mismatch.
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A renovation abandoned mid-project: what options the owner has
Document the state, stop paying, demand in writing with a deadline, and get the work valued before another firm steps in.
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Verifiable reviews and references: how to actually check them
A review is worth something when you can check who wrote it and which job it describes. How to read Google reviews, verify project photos and what to ask a former client.
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What a renovation works contract must include
A serious renovation contract pins down eight things: parties, scope, price, changes, timeline, payments, permits and liability, and warranty with dispute resolution.
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What to do if you believe you have been scammed on a renovation
Document first, make a written demand, then choose a route; what you do in the first 48 hours often decides the outcome.
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How to verify that a renovation contractor is trustworthy
The final checklist: what to check about a contractor at each step, from the first call to signing the contract and the first payments.
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How much it costs to renovate a flat in Barcelona: what determines the price
Renovating a flat in Barcelona with BCN YARD costs from €1,000/m² excluding VAT: a 100 m² flat at Premium starts at €100,000. What pushes the price up and how to get an exact quote.
View detailsFull renovation price per m²: BCN YARD’s three tiers
Premium from 1,000 EUR/m², Luxury from 2,000 and Signature from 3,000, excluding VAT. The exact price comes in the estimate after a site visit.
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Kitchen renovation budget: what items make it up
A kitchen quote is seven or eight independent items, from electrics to worktop. That is how offers should be compared, not by the bottom line.
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Bathroom renovation budget: what items make it up
In a full renovation the bathroom sits within the overall price from €1,000/m² excluding VAT, yet it packs in more items than any other room. We go through them in site order.
View detailsVAT on home renovation in Spain: 21% or 10%
On our resale-home renovations VAT is usually 21%. Building a new home is taxed at 10%. We explain why, and when a renovation can drop to 10%.
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Hidden costs in a renovation: what is often left out of the quote
What most often sits outside a renovation quote: permits, logistics, hidden services, utility connections and everything that is not building work.
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Fixed-price or measured quote: what is the difference
A fixed price gives predictability when the design is fully defined; measurement is fairer where quantities are unknown. In practice a mix of both, with agreed unit rates, usually works best.
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A reasonable renovation deposit: how much is normal to pay upfront
A reasonable deposit covers the contractor’s specific start-up orders. Around 10–30% of the quote is common; 100% upfront is a reason to stop.
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Staged payments in a renovation: how to tie them to actual progress
Paying against verifiable milestones and progress valuations, with a final retention, stops you paying ahead of the work.
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