Renovate to Stay

Choosing a turnkey company means entrusting your entire project to a single partner, from the design stage through to the handover of the keys. You gain peace of mind and time.

• A single point of responsibility: no more coordinating the architect, the tradespeople and the suppliers yourself, everything is managed for you.
• A budget under control: a detailed quote, line by line, with no hidden costs or unpleasant surprises once the works begin.
• Deadlines that are kept: a team that plans every trade avoids the idle gaps between contractors.
• Consistent quality: the same standard from the first sketch to the finishing touches, with no dilution of responsibility.

At Lumiera, this promise rests on a simple principle: one point of contact and a salaried, in house team covering every trade, from the first sketch to the handover of the keys.

The cost of a renovation depends above all on the scale of the works and the condition of the property. Every project is unique, but a few benchmarks help you get your bearings.

• A refresh: paintwork, flooring and minor repairs often fall somewhere between 400 and 700 euros per square metre.
• A full renovation: with the kitchen, bathroom and electrics redone, expect roughly 900 to 1,500 euros per square metre.
• A high end renovation: fine materials, bespoke work and structural changes can exceed 2,000 euros per square metre.
• The factors behind the variation: the initial condition, the plumbing and electrics to be redone, the co ownership constraints and the level of finish.

These ranges remain indicative, because your apartment, your wishes and your constraints are all your own. Only a detailed quote, drawn up after a visit, can price your project precisely.

Overruns usually come from a poorly scoped project or an incomplete quote. A few habits sharply reduce the risk.

• Scope it upfront: define precisely what is included, and what is not.
• Anticipate the state of the home: plumbing, electrics and structural fixes are the main source of surprises.
• Insist on a clear quote: a line-by-line breakdown, with no vague items or loose contingencies.

At Lumiera the quote is detailed item by item and signed off before work starts, so you move forward with no surprises during the site.

Choosing the right renovation company saves you months of stress and budget overruns. A few objective criteria help you decide with confidence.

• The clarity of the quote: a good provider itemises every element, with no grey areas or vague wording.
• The nature of the team: favour an integrated team over a cascade of subcontractors with diluted responsibilities.
• Guarantees and insurance: check for the ten year structural guarantee, the guarantee of completion and the guarantee of proper working order.
• Site monitoring: ask how you will be kept informed of progress, ideally in a regular and transparent way.

By reviewing these few points, you quickly tell a serious provider from a mere sales promise.

A turnkey renovation can range from a simple refresh to the complete transformation of a home. The advantage is bringing everything together under a single coordination.

• Structural work: opening up walls, creating partitions and reworking the layout of the spaces.
• The technical trades: plumbing, electrics, heating and ventilation brought up to standard.
• Wet rooms and kitchens: bathrooms and kitchens designed and fitted to measure.
• Finishes and fit out: paintwork, flooring, joinery, lighting and interior decoration.

Bringing all these trades together under a single coordination avoids the back and forth between contractors and clarifies responsibilities.

Not all energy works have the same impact: it depends on the state of the home, how it is used and your priorities.

• Insulation: often the best return on comfort and savings, starting with the weak points of the building.
• Heating and ventilation: a well sized, properly tuned system weighs heavily on running costs.
• Windows and doors: mostly worth it when the frames are old or draughty.

The key is to prioritise what genuinely works for your home, without spending on things that will not pay off.

Some works can be carried out freely, others require prior authorisation. Anticipating these steps avoids blockages and disputes once the works are under way.

• The co ownership’s agreement: any work affecting the common areas or the exterior appearance generally requires a vote at the general meeting.
• Load bearing walls: opening them up requires a study by a structural engineering firm and the agreement of the co ownership.
• The façade and visible joinery: a change in appearance may require a prior declaration to the town hall.
• Protected areas: in Paris, certain districts impose additional heritage constraints.

When in doubt, it is better to consult the building manager and, if needed, the town hall before starting the works, so as to avoid any blockage once the site is under way.

The length of a project depends on the surface area, the complexity and the authorisations to be obtained. Here are some benchmarks to help you plan, bearing in mind that every project has its own rhythm.

• A refresh: paintwork and flooring are often wrapped up in 2 to 4 weeks.
• A full apartment renovation: expect roughly 2 to 4 months depending on the surface area.
• A project with structural changes: opening up load bearing walls and reworking the layout can extend the works to 4 to 6 months.
• The additional lead times: studies, co ownership authorisations and material orders add to the works schedule.

These benchmarks are only indicative: the best way to obtain a reliable schedule remains an on site visit followed by a detailed quote.

The quality of a renovation is measured as much by the finish as by the protection you enjoy afterwards. Several legal guarantees govern the works.

• The guarantee of completion: for one year it covers any defects reported after handover.
• The guarantee of proper working order: it protects the equipment for two years.
• The ten year structural guarantee: for ten years it covers damage affecting the soundness or use of the home.
• In house checks: an integrated team ensures a constant standard at every stage.

To benefit from them, keep the handover report and the insurance certificates, and report any defect in writing within the set time limits.

A well run project follows a clear path, where each stage prepares the next. This clarity spares you unpleasant surprises.

• The visit and assessment: analysis of the existing space, listening to your wishes and taking measurements.
• Design and quote: plans, choice of materials and a detailed quote, line by line.
• Preparation: authorisations, material orders and scheduling of the trades.
• The works and handover: carrying out the works, checking the finishes and handing over the keys.

Knowing these stages in advance lets you follow your project with peace of mind and know, at every moment, what lies ahead.

Yes, it is entirely possible to stay in your home during the works, provided everything is carefully organised. This is precisely the idea behind our Renovate to Stay approach.

• Phasing by zone: the works progress room by room to preserve a usable living space.
• Keeping disruption under control: protecting surfaces, managing dust and working hours that respect your daily life.
• Constant communication: each day you know what is happening and what is planned.
• Continuity of use: the kitchen or bathroom kept in service as much as possible during the works.

This is the whole principle behind our Renovate to Stay offering: a project phased and organised around your daily life, so that you can carry on living at home from start to finish.

Calling separately on an architect and then a building company multiplies the points of contact and the lines of responsibility. Bringing design and build together changes everything.

• A single point of contact: one person steers everything, from the first sketch to the handover of the keys.
• Everything in house: architecture, decoration and every trade brought together, with no cascade of subcontracting.
• Total transparency: a detailed quote, line by line, and daily photo updates in the app.
• Lasting protection: guarantees of up to 10 years on the work carried out.

By bringing design and build together under one roof, Lumiera removes the main risk of a project run by two separate parties: that of watching the designer and the trades pass responsibility back and forth.

A works broker is an intermediary: they connect you with tradespeople and earn a commission. The offer can look cheaper, but a few points are worth checking.

• They do not carry out the works: the broker only makes the introduction, the execution rests with the tradesperson they put you in touch with.
• Worksite follow-up isn’t guaranteed: some brokers stay involved to the end, but most often their job stops when you sign the quote. Check that real follow-up is included.
• Responsibility sits with the tradesperson: a broker is usually not the builder and does not carry the ten-year structural guarantee. If something goes wrong, the tradesperson answers for it, so make sure you know who guarantees your works.
• A low headline price, but sometimes surprises: the quality, the timeline and the budget depend mostly on the chosen tradesperson, with limited oversight during the works.

At Lumiera there is no intermediary: we design, carry out and guarantee your renovation ourselves, with one dedicated contact and daily updates.