Contents
The short answer. Most problems with a renovation company are visible before the contract. Typical signs:
- a verbal deal with no written contract;
- a quote with no line items;
- unclear treatment of VAT and materials;
- a large prepayment with no stages;
- no change or handover procedure;
- an offer to "skip the paperwork" for works that need a building-board procedure.
No single sign proves a company is dishonest, but each is a reason to ask a question before you sign.
Key takeaways
- Check the company, the quote and the contract before any payment.
- A quote without line items and quantities cannot be compared or checked.
- An advance can be required only if it was agreed; tie payments to completed stages.
- An offer to alter load-bearing walls "without paperwork" is a signal to stop.
Before the contract
1. No clear company details. If you cannot find the name, registration number and registered address, you cannot check the company in public registers. How to do it is described in How to choose a renovation contractor in Riga.
2. A final price over the phone for complex work. An indicative figure can be given from photos, but for a major renovation or a bathroom an exact price is impossible without a site visit — too much depends on the base surfaces and utilities. In RigaBuild’s process the exact quote is prepared after a site visit.
3. Time pressure. "Discount today only" or "we start tomorrow if you pay the advance now" is a reason to stop, not to hurry.
In the contract and quote
4. No written contract. A verbal deal fixes neither the scope, the deadlines nor the responsibilities. The contract and annexes — quote, schedule, specifications — should be agreed before work starts.
5. The quote is one total. Without line items, quantities and units you cannot check what is included or compare offers. See what a quote looks like block by block in Renovation estimate example.
6. Unclear VAT and materials. If the quote does not say whether prices include VAT and materials, the difference between two offers may be an illusion. RigaBuild’s published prices, for example, exclude VAT and cover labour, with materials charged separately. How renovation costs build up is explained in Apartment renovation cost in Riga.
7. A large prepayment with no stages. Under Section 2223 of Latvia’s Civil Law, a prepayment is due only where the parties expressly agreed one, and payment can be split by parts of the work. If the advance requested is not linked to specific works or material purchases, ask what it is for and propose stage payments.
8. No change procedure. If the contract does not describe how extra work is requested and approved, disputes about "extras" are almost inevitable. How to set up this procedure: Renovation change orders.
During the works
9. An offer to "skip the paperwork" for structural changes. Latvia’s Construction Law treats works done without a required notification or acceptance of the construction intention as unauthorised construction. In 2026 Riga municipality stated that reconstructing load-bearing walls in serial large-panel blocks on a notification and without strengthening is unauthorised construction. The consequences fall on the owner, not only the builder. More in Documents before an apartment renovation in Latvia.
10. Refusing to document the handover. If the contractor will not sign an acceptance certificate or write down the warranty terms, you are left with no document to rely on later. How to accept works: Renovation handover: acceptance and warranty.
Want to compare offers on the same criteria? Request a RigaBuild quote — itemised, with materials and VAT shown separately.
Scorecard: stop, clarify, fine
| Signal | Stop | Clarify | Fine |
|---|---|---|---|
| Company details | Not available | Available but different from the contract | Available and verifiable |
| Contract | None, verbal only | Exists but no annexes | Contract with quote, schedule and specifications |
| Quote | One total | Items without quantities | Items with quantities and units |
| VAT and materials | Not mentioned | Partly mentioned | Clearly stated |
| Payments | Large advance, no explanation | Advance linked to materials | Payments for completed stages |
| Changes | "We’ll sort it out as we go" | Verbal | Written procedure in the contract |
| Structural changes | "No paperwork needed" | "We’ll check later" | Procedure clarified before the works |
| Handover and warranty | Not mentioned | "As usual" | Certificate and warranty terms in the contract |
The scorecard helps you compare but does not replace judgement. Also check that the offer fits your actual scope: apartment renovation, major renovation or kitchen renovation each need a different level of detail.
Client mistakes that raise the cost
Not every problem comes from the contractor. Common client mistakes:
- Choosing on the total alone. A cheaper quote with a smaller scope often ends up dearer after extras.
- Changing decisions mid-job. Every change after a stage has started costs time and often money.
- Buying materials late. If materials are not on site, work stops.
- No written records. Without records of changes and approvals, it is hard to prove what was agreed in a dispute.
- Leaving document questions to the end. If the works affect structures, the procedure must be clarified before starting.
As a last resort, the law gives the client a way out: withdrawing from the contract if the contractor’s original estimate was too low or the plan was changed without agreement (Civil Law, Section 2229). It is far cheaper to agree an itemised quote and a change procedure at the start.
Common questions
Questions selected from typical questions and search data; they are not questions from specific clients. Answers are for information only.
How do I check a renovation company before signing? Check its details in public registers, ask for an itemised quote and a draft contract with annexes. A detailed checklist is in "How to choose a renovation contractor in Riga".
Is a prepayment normal? The Civil Law allows an advance if it was expressly agreed. What matters is that its purpose is clear and further payments are tied to completed stages.
What if the contractor will not itemise the quote? Ask for it in writing. Without line items you cannot check the scope or compare offers, so such an offer is hard to assess.
What are the most common renovation mistakes? Choosing on price alone, changing decisions mid-job, buying materials late and not documenting changes.
Sources
- Būvniecības likums (Section 1(4), (9), (14); Section 18(2)) — Saeima (likumi.lv); version in force 01.08.2026–07.01.2027; accessed 26.10.2026.
- Civillikums. Saistību tiesības — uzņēmuma līgums (Sections 2212–2229) — Saeima (likumi.lv); version in force from 30.03.2026; accessed 26.10.2026.
- Rīgas pašvaldība pastiprināti pārbaudīs būvniecības paziņojumus — Riga City Municipality (published on LV portāls, 04.02.2026); accessed 26.10.2026.
Choosing a contractor? Request a quote and check it against this scorecard. For a first cost estimate, use the renovation calculator.
Prepared by the RigaBuild editorial team. Prices, timelines and sources checked on 26 October 2026. This article is for information only and does not replace legal advice or a building-board decision.