How to Prepare Your Renovation Project: The Essential Checklist

A renovation project cannot be improvised. To turn your ideas into a concrete, smooth, and satisfying result, solid preparation is essential. Too often overlooked, this initial phase is actually your best asset for gaining clarity, avoiding costly mistakes, and moving forward with confidence.

Here are the key steps to review before meeting an architect—a simple yet powerful roadmap to get started on the right foot.

1. Clarify Your Functional Needs

First, examine your daily life. The shape of the project always follows its use. Before thinking about décor or trendy materials, return to the essentials: how do you want to live in this space?

Ask yourself these questions:

• Which rooms do you want to renovate?

• What function should they serve? (family life, remote work, rental…)

• What problems do you want to solve? (lack of light, poor circulation, insufficient insulation…)

• Are there elements you love and want to preserve or highlight? (moldings, exposed beams, original windows…)

This initial assessment is your project’s compass. It allows the architect to design a custom space that aligns with your habits, real needs, and the site’s strengths.

Practical Tips:

• Take a tour of your home with a notebook in hand. Note what bothers you or delights you in each room.

• Film or photograph your spaces at different times of the day to observe natural light.

• Talk with other occupants (partner, children, roommates): their needs may reveal issues you hadn’t considered.

2. Refine Your Aesthetic Inspirations

You don’t need to have a fixed vision or be a designer. What matters is sharing what inspires you, even intuitively or inconsistently. What counts is what resonates with you, what reflects who you are.

Ask yourself:

• Which atmospheres or styles attract you?

• Are there materials you like (raw wood, natural stone, metal, plaster…)?

• Do you prefer a minimalist or a bolder aesthetic?

• Is the origin or sustainability of materials important to you?

These elements fuel rich creative thinking and help build a coherent, authentic, and lasting architectural identity.

Practical Tips:

• Create a Pinterest board or save images on Instagram, even if they don’t all share the same style.

• Visit inspiring public places: cafés, hotels, shops, exhibitions… Observe what draws your attention without overthinking.

• Note what you dislike as much as what you love. This will help the architect understand your tastes.

3. Define Your Overall Budget

A good budget is not just a number: it’s a strategy of choices, priorities, and anticipation.

It’s a clear, comprehensive view of the various expenses to plan for:

• Fees (architect, engineers, specialists)

• Permits, taxes, insurance

• Demolition, waste removal, site access

• Materials and finishes

• Labor

• Contingencies (set aside 10–15% of the budget)

Concrete Example

For a total budget of $500,000, after deducting taxes (~15%), contingencies (~10%), fees (~10%), and permits (~1%), you have roughly $360,000 actually available for the work.

The architect will help you prioritize, balance, and structure this budget to stay on track throughout the project.

Practical Tips:

• Talk to friends who have renovated recently to get concrete feedback on actual costs and unexpected issues.

• Make three lists: must-haves, desirable, and bonus items. This helps prioritize when compromises are needed.

• Keep a flexible mindset: not everything can be predicted to the dollar, but every well-planned dollar contributes to peace of mind.

4. Factor in the Time Dimension

Time is often the forgotten factor. Yet a renovation is not just about the duration of the work: there’s the design phase, administrative procedures, and selection of contractors…

Clarify from the start:

• Do you have a fixed deadline? (birth, school start, resale…)

• Can you temporarily move out if necessary?

• Will you be available to follow the construction and make decisions quickly?

Practical Tips:

• Ask the architect for a typical timeline of a similar project to visualize the major stages.

• Identify periods when you will be less available (vacations, business trips, busy work periods…).

• Take administrative delays into account. A permit can sometimes take several months.

These considerations allow the architect to create a realistic schedule aligned with your life constraints.

Need an overall view of the process? Read our article: An Architecture Project from A to Z: The Different Stages

5. Learn the Rules of the Game

Before dreaming of a bright extension or an elevated terrace, it’s best to know what regulations allow—or don’t allow.

Ask yourself the right questions:

• Is your building located in a heritage zone?

• Are there easements or setback rules to respect?

• Do you need a building permit or a specific authorization?

Don’t worry: the architect can handle the procedures and propose creative solutions that comply with legal requirements.

Practical Tips:

• Visit your town hall’s urban planning department (or check their website) to obtain the regulations applicable to your plot.

• Talk to neighbors who have already done renovations—they can share valuable insights about what was approved or denied.

• Use Google Maps and Street View to observe similar projects on your street: it gives an idea of what is “possible.”

6. Identify the Right Resources

The success of a project also depends on the people around you. A successful project relies on a solid and well-coordinated team.

Start thinking about it:

• Do you want the architect to manage all the stakeholders?

• Do you already know a trusted contractor?

• Do you have personal skills you can contribute?

Clarifying roles from the start helps prevent misunderstandings and lays the foundation for effective and respectful collaboration.

Practical Tips:

• Request multiple quotes and references if you’re looking for a contractor.

• Talk to previous clients of your architect or builder to get their feedback.

• List the skills available around you: a handy relative, an engineer friend, an experienced neighbor…

7. Prepare an Initial File

No need for a complete book! But the more information you bring, the more concrete and productive the first discussions will be. Even a brief file, if clear, will save time and lay solid foundations.

Here’s what can make a difference:

• Current photos of the space

• Plans or surveys, if you have them

• Moodboards, Pinterest images, sketches, notable ideas

• A list of your priorities and constraints

This file is the project’s springboard: it allows the architect to understand your vision from the very first meeting.

Practical Tips:

• Gather everything in a shared folder (Google Drive, Dropbox) for easy access by all.

• Add voice notes or videos if it’s hard to write everything down—your architect will appreciate it.

• Organize a first visit at your home: nothing beats an on-site meeting to refine ideas.

In Summary

A well-prepared project is a project with the best chances of success. Taking the time to ask yourself the right questions already lays the groundwork for a smooth, harmonious renovation that truly reflects who you are.

Our mission, as architects, is to transform your ideas into living spaces. To structure your desires, anticipate obstacles, and design a meaningful project—for you, your daily life, and for the long term.

To help you take this first step, we’ve created a simple, practical questionnaire that allows you to:

• Clarify your desires, needs, and constraints

• Organize your ideas in a structured way

• Provide us with a clear foundation to start the discussion

Filling out this questionnaire is already the first step toward bringing your project to life ---->

Questionnaire

Do you have a project in mind? Let’s talk about it. Share your ideas, concerns, and dreams. We’re here to help them grow.