Renovating my bathroom: what should I prepare before your visit?

Where do I start if I have not decided what I want?

Think about an ordinary morning. Can everyone reach what they need? Is there room to dry off or open a drawer? Tell us what you want to keep, including a bath you enjoy using, and what you would like to change. This is more useful than choosing a set of fittings before looking at how they will fit together.

If you have two or three pictures you like, say what appeals to you: the colour, the storage or the shower. They help explain your preferences, but the same arrangement may not fit your room.

Which photos and measurements should I send you?

Take a view from the doorway and a photo of each wall, including the bath or shower and basin. Show the window, radiator and ventilation, along with any damp marks. There is no need to tidy everything away: the way you use the room is useful information too.

If you can, add a rough sketch with the length, width, height and door position. Mark any sloping ceiling. The installer will take the measurements needed for the work. You do not need to open an electrical panel or take anything apart.

Can I keep some of my existing fittings?

Make a keep-and-replace list. Keeping the basin or shower in the same position is a different job from moving it across the room, which may mean changing pipes and repairing more of the walls or floor. Ask about these differences during the visit, before ordering fittings.

• Essential: the changes that are the reason for renovating.
• Desirable: improvements to include if the budget allows.
• Optional: a finish or fitting to price separately.

Do I need to know my exact budget already?

You can give a spending limit, a range, or ask for a straightforward option and a separately priced upgrade. Say whether you expect that amount to cover the fittings, installation, waste removal and final decoration. If you plan to buy any items yourself, send the product details before the quote is agreed.

Use our price guide as a starting point. The written quote should list the work, anything still uncertain, and the VAT included. Tell us whether the property is in Luxembourg or France so the tax treatment is considered for the right country.

Can I keep living at home during the work?

If this is your only bathroom or toilet, say so at the start. Ask when each fitting will be out of use and discuss how you will manage during that time. Mention anyone working from home, a planned move or a date when you need to be away. Choosing and ordering products takes time as well as fitting them.

In an apartment, mention the floor, lift and parking, along with any building rules you know. Agree who lets the workers in, where materials can go and how the stairs or lift will be protected and cleaned. Ask whether the proposed work needs permission before it starts.

What will we look at together during the visit?

Ask us what we can assess during the visit and what may only become clear when the old fittings come out. For example, if the wall behind the bath needs more repair than expected, how would that be priced and agreed with you? The quote should make these uncertainties visible.

Before the visit ends, agree who will send any missing product details, when you should expect the quote and which alternatives it will include. Keep that list so you can compare the answers from each company.