Plenty of people who own a flat or villa in Istanbul live in another country. Sooner or later the property needs work, and flying back for every decision is rarely realistic.
A remote renovation runs smoothly when the process is clear and every decision is written down. Here is how it typically works, and what to settle before work starts.
How a remote project works
1. A first assessment from photos and video
It starts with a few messages or a video call. You send photos, any old floor plans you have and a note of what you want from the property. A short walk-through video, filmed by a relative or neighbour, helps a great deal.
The aim at this stage is not a final price but to understand the scope and decide what needs checking on site, for example:
- Will the bathroom and kitchen need new plumbing, or only new surfaces?
- Is the wiring old, and will you need extra sockets or lighting points?
- Are you thinking of removing or moving any walls?
- Is the property empty, or will furniture need protecting during the work?
2. Site survey
Photos cannot show damp, the state of the subfloor or the age of the pipework. At the survey, the team measures up, records the property’s current condition and notes anything that needs attention.
You do not have to be there. Whoever holds your keys can let the team in while you join on a video call, look round each room and ask questions as you go.
3. An itemised written quote
When you are managing a project from abroad, the written quote is the document you will rely on most. Each item should be listed separately: strip-out, plumbing, plastering and painting, flooring, tiling, kitchen units, lighting, final clean.
When reading it, check:
- Are material types and grades stated clearly?
- What is explicitly excluded?
- Are waste removal and final cleaning included?
- Which stages are the payments tied to?
Ask about anything vague before you sign.
4. An agreed schedule
Before work starts, agree the order of works and a target handover date, so you can plan visits, tenant viewings or furniture deliveries around it.
5. Choosing samples over video
A colour on screen rarely matches the real thing, so choices are made from physical samples wherever possible:
- Paint colours are applied as test patches on your own walls, in your own light.
- Tile, flooring and worktop samples are laid side by side and shown on a video call in daylight.
- Each material you choose is confirmed to you in writing, with its product code and a photo, and nothing is ordered until you approve it.
Tip: ask to see samples next to a window in natural light, then request a second photo under artificial light so you know how they will look in the evening.
6. Progress photos on WhatsApp
While the work is under way, you receive regular photos and short videos. The most important ones show work that will soon be hidden: pipes and cables inside walls, waterproofing under tiles. Once covered up, these are never seen again, so keep the photos safe for future reference.
7. Handover and snagging
At the end, you walk through the property room by room on a video call. Anything you are not happy with goes on a snag list and is put right. Keys, appliance warranty documents and a list of the materials used are then handed to you or to the person you have authorised.
Practical points to settle first
Keys and access
Decide who will hold the keys: a relative, a trusted neighbour or the site team itself. Put in writing who has them and who gets them back at handover.
Building management
Many residential complexes and blocks of flats expect to be told about renovation work in advance. Working hours, lift use, deliveries and rubble removal are covered by house rules, which vary from building to building. Telling the management early avoids friction with the neighbours. If you are considering any structural change, check separately with the management and the municipality whether you need permission.
Utilities
Properties left empty for a long time often have closed utility accounts or unpaid bills. The work will need electricity and water, so check before it starts that the accounts are open, the meters work and nothing is owed. Any change to the gas installation must be made by an authorised installer and go through the gas distribution company’s own procedures.
Who to authorise
Having someone who can act on your behalf makes everything easier. Some official procedures may require a notarised power of attorney, which you can usually arrange through a Turkish consulate abroad. A lawyer can help you limit its scope to what you actually need.
Communication
Agree on one channel and one point of contact, give important approvals in writing, and let the team know which hours suit you, given the time difference.
Working with DOJWAR from abroad
DOJWAR Dekorasyon is based in Istanbul and works across Turkey, with one team handling your project from site survey to handover. We can design the space for you or build a design you already have. You receive an itemised written quote, we agree the schedule with you before work starts, and we send progress photos on WhatsApp throughout.
If you own a property in Istanbul or elsewhere in Turkey and are thinking of renovating it, message us on WhatsApp. The site survey is free in Istanbul and nearby areas; for other cities, we plan the visit together. If you are abroad, you can join the survey by video call.
