One renovation, many questions. Here are the answers.

Yes. Telephone advice from our architects is free, as is obtaining the quotes. The quotes are without obligation.

Through fees paid by tradespeople and suppliers. It is free for clients. Thanks to more efficient processes, tradespeople can pass savings on to you.

Pure quote platforms stop as soon as the quotes are in. Organisation and coordination are then left to you. umbaumanager.ch accompanies you from recording the job to the completion of the renovation work.

By phone on 044 860 37 91 or by email to info@umbaumanager.ch. Or start your enquiry directly online.

That depends heavily on the scope: a bathroom renovation, a gut renovation and an extension differ considerably. Our calculator gives you a first ballpark figure. You get a reliable figure after the site visit and with concrete quotes.

As soon as you change the building envelope, the structure or the use, a permit is usually required. The rules differ from municipality to municipality. We clarify this during the consultation and prepare the permit application for you.

A bathroom is often finished within a few weeks. Gut renovations such as those in Männedorf or Wollishofen took eight to nine months. You can see the schedule at any time in the renovation cockpit.

You receive comparable quotes, award contracts only after your approval and see the budget and invoices in the app at all times. Deviations become visible early.

Advice by phone from our architects is free, as is obtaining quotes. The platform is also free for homeowners; it is financed by fees from tradespeople and suppliers. We quote planning and construction management either as a fixed fee or on a time basis, depending on the project.

We know our partner tradespeople personally and have already completed several projects with them. During onboarding we check the firms, among other things for compliance with rules against wage dumping, entry in the commercial register and references.

Compliance with all important standards and guidelines is a priority and is ensured by the firms carrying out the work. Construction waste is sorted and disposed of properly.

It is free for clients. The platform is financed through fees paid by tradespeople and suppliers.

umbaumanager.ch is a digital platform for renovations. It connects the whole process, from project set-up through quotes, contract award and construction management to defect management, with one personal contact person.

In the renovation cockpit and in the app you can see the progress of your project in real time, with regular updates and site photos.

You report defects directly via the platform. Construction management takes care of the repair, and you can see at any time how far each defect has been resolved.

Yes, the umbaumanager.ch app is available on the App Store and Google Play.

All important documents such as quotes, contracts and plans are stored centrally in one place, accessible to those involved in the project. So you can find them quickly later on, for example for your tax return.

Renovating means renewing what is worn, such as floors, walls or bathrooms. Refurbishing means fixing damage and defects, for example damp, old pipes or hazardous materials. Modernising raises the standard, for instance with better insulation or a new heating system. With an older house, everything usually goes hand in hand.

In a partial renovation, individual rooms or components are renewed, such as the bathroom or kitchen. In a complete renovation, the whole house is renewed and the layout is often adapted, while the load-bearing structure and parts of the installations remain. In a gut renovation, the house is stripped back to its load-bearing structure and all building services are replaced as well.

That depends on the condition of the building fabric, the costs and what is possible on the plot. If the load-bearing structure is sound, a renovation is often cheaper and faster. During the house check we assess whether a renovation is worthwhile.

The costs depend on the scope, the condition of the house and the finish standard. A partial renovation costs less per square metre than a gut renovation. Our calculator gives a first ballpark figure; you get a reliable figure after the house check.

Individual rooms are often finished within a few weeks. Gut renovations of a detached house took eight to nine months in our recent projects.

Often yes, depending on the scope. We plan the work in stages. For a gut renovation, moving out temporarily usually makes sense.

Usually not for interior work. If the façade, roof, structure or use changes, a permit is often required. The rules differ from municipality to municipality. We clarify this and prepare the building permit application.

Yes. Depending on the canton and municipality, there are subsidies for insulation, window replacement or replacing fossil-fuel heating, among others through the federal and cantonal Buildings Programme.

After the free house check you receive a renovation concept and comparable quotes from vetted tradespeople in your region.

That depends on the scope. If only floors and walls are renewed, it is considerably cheaper than a complete renovation with a new kitchen and new bathroom. Our cost calculator shows a ballpark figure by number of rooms and measures.

A new kitchen is often installed within a week, bathroom and kitchen together in around four weeks. Complete flat renovations in our projects usually took six weeks to two months.

A typical interior flat renovation rarely needs a building permit. A permit may be required for changes to the façade or load-bearing parts, or for a heat pump that uses groundwater.

You can usually alter non-load-bearing walls within your flat. Load-bearing walls, risers, windows and façade are usually common property in a condominium. Their alteration requires the approval of the owners' association in line with the regulations.

As a tenant, you need the landlord's written consent for renewals and alterations. Also clarify beforehand what happens to the changes when you move out.

For smaller works, often yes. If the kitchen and bathroom are worked on at the same time, the flat is hardly habitable for a few weeks. Renovating before moving in is ideal.

After a free site visit you receive a concept and comparable quotes from vetted tradespeople in your region.

The costs depend on the construction method, size, finish standard and the connection to the existing house. Our cost calculator shows a ballpark figure per m² and for extensions from 20 to 50 m².

Yes. In Switzerland, an extension needs a building permit. The municipality's building and zoning regulations are decisive, such as plot ratio, boundary distances and building height. We clarify feasibility and prepare the building permit application.

A timber extension is prefabricated and quickly assembled, light and well insulated. Masonry construction offers lots of thermal mass and good sound insulation. Which method suits depends on the existing house, the budget and the schedule.

Planning and approval take a few weeks to several months, depending on the municipality. Construction time depends on size and construction method. Our complete renovation with extension in Wettingen took nine months.

An extension needs space on the plot; an additional storey uses height. Which solution is possible depends on building regulations, structure and the plot. We check both options.

After a free consultation, our architects check feasibility. You then receive plans, a cost estimate and comparable quotes.

With us, a new bathroom usually costs around CHF 25'000 to 40'000. Size, layout, materials and the extent of the refit affect the price. A partial renovation is considerably cheaper.

Depending on the scope, 5 to 20 working days. In our projects, two bathrooms were completely renovated in two to three weeks.

Yes. A level-access shower instead of a bath is one of the most common wishes. The fall towards the drain and professional waterproofing are important. We check on site what is structurally possible.

An interior bathroom renovation usually needs no building permit. In an owner-occupied flat, risers usually belong to the owners' association; in a rented flat you need the landlord's written consent.

The bathroom cannot be used during the renovation. If there is no second bathroom or WC, we plan a temporary solution and keep the construction time as short as possible.

After free advice on site, you receive comparable quotes from certified partners. If you wish, we accompany you to a showroom.

That depends mainly on the shape and size of the kitchen, the appliances and the materials. New fronts and a worktop cost only a fraction of a new kitchen. Our cost calculator gives a ballpark figure; you find out the exact costs after the advice in the showroom.

In our project in Bremgarten, new kitchen fronts were coordinated and installed within one week. For a completely new kitchen, delivery times and preparatory work such as electrics, flooring and painting are added.

Not always. If the carcasses and layout are fine, new fronts, a new worktop and new appliances are often enough. We look at which route is worthwhile with you.

Typical signs are swollen carcasses or worktops, damaged fronts, faulty or power-hungry appliances and a layout that no longer suits your daily life.

Often yes. Our architects clarify whether a wall can be removed. Load-bearing walls require a structural assessment, and in a condominium also the approval of the owners' association.

Start the free online enquiry, ideally with photos of your current kitchen. We then advise you in a kitchen showroom and you receive detailed quotes.

In the canton of Zurich, since 1 September 2022, fossil-fuel heating systems must generally be replaced with renewable systems, provided this is technically possible and causes no more than 5 per cent additional costs over the service life. Other cantons have their own, sometimes similar rules.

In the canton of Zurich, every heating replacement requires a permit. The application is submitted to the municipality. Air-to-water heat pumps require noise protection documentation, ground-source probes a water protection permit.

That depends on the heating system, the size of the house and the additional work required, such as removing the oil tank or new radiators. Subsidies from the canton and municipality can reduce the costs. Our cost calculator gives a ballpark figure.

In the canton of Zurich, air-to-water heat pumps were installed most often when heating was replaced, followed by ground-source heat pumps and district heating. Which solution suits depends on the plot, insulation, heat distribution and availability of district heating.

Yes, many cantons and municipalities subsidise the replacement of fossil-fuel or electric heating. Applications usually have to be submitted before construction starts. We show you which programmes apply to your project.

Ideally you plan the replacement before the old heating fails. That leaves time for advice, permits and subsidies. Indications are an old system, frequent breakdowns and rising energy costs.

Before you buy, we check a property for its condition, renovation needs and renovation options and estimate the costs. That way you know what to expect after the purchase and have a basis for decisions on purchase price and financing.

Before you make a binding offer or sign the purchase contract. Ideally, we attend a viewing.

Yes. You receive a detailed cost estimate for the renovation, which you can present to the bank as a basis for financing.

Yes. With an owner-occupied flat, we check the flat itself and show what to look out for regarding the common parts of the building.

If you wish, we carry out the renovation with you, with one contact person from planning to handover. Often the renovation can even be done before you move in.

It starts with your wishes and an assessment of the building's condition. This is followed by budget, planning and, if necessary, the building permit, then quotes, contract award and execution. Renovation consulting helps you keep to the right order and avoid expensive changes to plans during construction.

After the consultation you know what is possible in your house, roughly what it costs and how to proceed. You receive a cost estimate as a basis for decisions, also for the bank, sketches and a schedule.

No. Existing plans help because we can draw sketches on them. If they are missing, we survey the building on site.

In a remodelling project you change the layout or use. In a renovation or modernisation you renew rooms and surfaces. A refurbishment repairs damage or improves the building envelope and building services. We advise in all three cases and show what can sensibly be combined.

Yes. With our property purchase advice we check the condition, renovation options and costs before you buy, so that you know what to expect after the purchase.

Not for every renovation. As soon as walls are moved, load-bearing components altered, an extension added or the façade changed, an architect is strongly recommended, because planning, structural engineering and the building permit come together. Whether a project requires a permit is governed by the canton and municipality.

That depends on the scope of the renovation and the services required. We work with a fixed fee or on a time basis. Our fee calculator gives a ballpark figure; you receive a binding quote after the site visit.

A fixed fee gives cost certainty when the scope is clear. Time-based billing suits when the project is still open or only individual services are needed, such as a consultation or the building permit application.

Existing plans, the original building permit, photos and your wishes are helpful. If plans are missing, we survey the building on site.

The architect plans the building as a whole, including the layout, load-bearing components and building permit. The interior designer mainly designs rooms, materials and furnishings. A renovation involving structural work usually requires an architect.

Yes. We clarify the permit question, submit the building application and, if you wish, take on construction management through to handover.

With the Baueingabe, you submit the building application with all plans and forms to the municipality. This leads to the decision on the building permit (Baubewilligung). In Germany, the terms Bauantrag and Baugenehmigung are used.

That depends on the project, the location and the canton. Extensions, additional storeys and changes to the façade or use usually require an ordinary procedure. Smaller projects often go through the simplified procedure. The municipality decides which procedure applies.

In the canton of Zurich, the processing period in the ordinary procedure is usually 2 months from the preliminary review, 4 months for new builds and larger renovations. In the notification procedure it is 30 days. Add to this the preparation of documents and, if applicable, the appeal period of 30 days.

In the canton of Zurich, among others, the building application form, a current copy of the cadastral plan with the project marked, a site plan and project plans at a scale of 1:100. For renovations, parts to be demolished are shown in yellow and new parts in red.

There are municipal fees, which vary by municipality and project, plus the costs for plans and documents. You receive an estimate during the consultation.

In the canton of Zurich, the building permit expires if work does not start within three years. The period begins after the last appeal deadline has expired.

Construction management coordinates all tradespeople, monitors quality, schedules and costs, liaises with the client and architect, raises defects and accompanies the handover. It is your one contact person throughout the renovation.

The fee depends on the size and duration of the renovation and the number of tradespeople involved. Our fee calculator gives a ballpark figure; you receive the binding quote after the site visit.

For small jobs with few tradespeople, that is possible. Renovations with many trades need experience, time during the week and expertise to keep quality, schedules and costs under control. Then professional construction management is usually worthwhile.

Look for experience with renovations of existing buildings, comparable references, a clear fee and regular, transparent reports on costs and schedules.

Yes. You can book construction management on its own or together with planning, the building permit application and quotes from our network of tradespeople.