House renovation in Geneva
Planning building work? Apartment, house or building renovation, a new storey or a roof extension, running the project is our job.
HMG Construction Management SA takes charge of your house renovation in Geneva from the first drawing to handover. The firm draws up the plans, files the permit application as an agent registered on the Geneva MPQ list (mandataires professionnellement qualifiés, the cantonal register of qualified building professionals), works out the cost, selects the contractors, sets the schedule and manages the works to SIA standards.
How do you get your house renovation done without the worry? By handing the management and the coordination of the contractors to HMG. HMG is there for you.
Where do you start when renovating a house in Geneva?
A house renovation starts with a survey of the building. It covers the structure, the roof, the facades, the technical installations and the energy use. The survey ranks the works by priority and shows which of them need a permit.
Before any work on an older building, the possible presence of asbestos, PCB or lead has to be checked. The Canton of Geneva sets this out on its page Rénover, transformer ou démolir sans danger (in French). The check comes before tendering, because it changes the price and the length of the works.
Permits and procedures in Geneva
In Geneva, building permits are issued by the Office des autorisations de construire (OAC), the cantonal building permit office. According to the official page on permit types, the fast-track procedure, called APA, applies among other cases to interior changes in an existing building and to works that do not alter its general appearance. Other projects need a full application, called DD (demande définitive).
The file is prepared and filed online on the AC-Démat platform. For an energy renovation, a CECB+ certificate describes the state of the building and the options. Grants from the Programme Bâtiments have to be requested before the works start. Our guide to building permits and procedures in Geneva covers each step.
Who do you call first?
You have two options, and both work well.
- You hand the whole project to a single point of contact. HMG draws up the plans, files the permit application, prices the works, appoints the contractors and manages the site to the end.
- You already have an architect. The architect designs the project and obtains the permit, then HMG takes over for the construction phase and works alongside them.
Either way, you know from day one who answers for the schedule, the budget and the quality.
How HMG manages your house renovation
The work starts with a cost estimate broken down by trade. You know what the roof, the facades, the heating or the interior fit-out will cost before you commit. HMG then runs the tenders, compares the bids item by item and recommends the contractors to appoint.
During the works, the firm holds a weekly site meeting with the contractors, writes the minutes, checks the workmanship against SIA standards and verifies every invoice before payment. You receive a regular update on progress, committed costs and decisions to take. If you stay in the house during the works, the schedule is organised by zones so that some rooms remain usable.
Usual steps and timing
- Survey of the house and definition of the priority works.
- Plans, cost estimate and choice of the permit procedure.
- Permit application, and grant applications before the works start.
- Tenders, comparison of bids and contracts with the contractors.
- Construction, with site meetings, quality checks and cost control.
- Acceptance of the works, snagging and final account.
The duration depends on the permit procedure and on the scale of the works. HMG gives you a dated schedule after the survey and updates it at each step.
House renovations managed by HMG
Frequently asked questions
Can we stay in the house during the works?
Yes, in many cases. HMG then organises the site by zones and by phases, so that the kitchen, one bathroom and the bedrooms stay usable for as long as possible. Heavy structural or roof works can require a temporary move.
Do I need a permit to renovate a house in Geneva?
It depends on the works. Interior changes and works that do not alter the general appearance of the building fall under the fast-track APA procedure, and the others need a full DD application. The official permit types page gives the rule.
How much does a house renovation cost in Geneva?
The cost depends on the state of the house, the floor areas and the level of finish. HMG prepares an estimate by trade before tendering, then a firm budget once the bids are in. You decide on comparable figures.
In what order should the works be done?
Start with what protects the building, meaning the structure, the roof and the facades. Then come the technical installations, followed by the interior fit-out and the finishes. This order avoids doing the same job twice.
Related guides and pages
Request a call back
Describe your project in a few lines. HMG calls you back within 24 hours.