Mitigating the headache of a residential renovation

Investing in a home can be one of the largest transactions a person or family undertakes during their lifetime. When you are planning to buy a new property or off-plan properties in Dubai, you don’t need to worry about renovations. Since these properties are brand new and often customisable during the construction phase, you can enjoy a fresh, modern space without the hassle of remodelling. 

But it’s interesting to note that in some cases the fit out and renovation costs can sometimes be more than the cost of the property itself, especially when you start adding extensions and pools! So in a relatively short space of time, two of the largest financial commitments you can undertake happen. And you can be rest assured that for both you want to make an informed decision. 

Making the decision to stay

Many people coming to the UAE wait for a year or two upon arrival to just see how things are going. Will they like it? Is it the kind of life they want to live? Is the job living up to expectations and many more questions that need answering. For a large percentage, the decision made is to stay. But when looking at the rental rates, running the numbers shows that if you are planning on staying for more than 5 years, it’s probably worth investigating whether you can purchase. And so the house hunt begins. 

Choosing the right location and real estate professional

There are a variety of locations to choose from but just like every other city in the world, budget is going to primarily dictate where you are able to purchase. During this process, you’ll almost certainly retain the services of a real estate professional to help point you in the right direction, understand the various different developers, the quality of the builds and of course where to get the best deal possible for your requirements.

But the question remains: which real estate professional should you choose? Which company is reputable and will have your best interests at heart? With 2,590 registered real estate companies in Dubai, making the right choice can be overwhelming.

For a trusted name in the market, backed by 19+ years as leaders in the industry, consider Exclusive Links Real Estate. Our team is dedicated to guiding you through every step of your property journey, ensuring you receive expert advice and personalised service.

Navigating the renovation process

Then assuming you found your next property, forever home or otherwise. Now for the renovation, potentially spending more than the deposit you put down for the house, but again. How do you know which contractor to choose? There’s a myriad of them. Many say that they are a) capable and b) exceptional at what they do. And some of them most certainly are. But there are as many if not more, that most certainly are not.

Unfortunately there are countless stories of renovations gone wrong in the UAE. Projects starting, initial payments made and then nothing from the contractor. In fact, no more contractors, they’ve just taken the money and run. Or mid way through a project, milestones are being missed, budgets are spiralling and you are in too deep now to change your contractor, at least not without a huge financial hit.

If you are new on the ground it’s even harder as building up your network of trusted neighbours and friends to tap into referrals can take a little bit of time. Even if it’s just working out who is on the same level as you in terms of what a ‘good deal’ is and the definition of ‘quality workmanship’.

Introducing Contractors Direct 

And this is where our preferred partners, Contractors Direct can help. The sole reason for their existence is to remove this headache for homeowners. What Contractors Direct actually sells is peace of mind. 

Contractors Direct are an online portal connecting new homeowners to the most suitable contractor for your specific renovation requirement. With just a few details submitted on their site, they can connect you directly with 3 to 5 contractors who will meet specific criteria. They have carried out due diligence on over 200 contractors in the UAE to sift out the good from the bad. The due diligence ensures the contractors have been in business for over 3 years, they have no bad debt against them, they have a legitimate valid trade licence and that they have a portfolio of similar projects to yours (might be design, might be budget, might be the building you are renovating in) but they have experience of your type of project. The team at Contractors Direct will also interview the company owners as well as inspect the contractors projects to gauge workmanship, quality standards and customer satisfaction.

 For projects of a certain size, complexity or requirement Contractors Direct also have an in-house project management team available to help with everything from tender pack creation to site management during the project. 

The Contractors Direct advantage

On time, on budget with no fuss is the Contractors Direct mantra. It’s why they exist and why we partner them to help you with your home renovation. Their job is your peace of mind.

If you would like an introduction to Contractors Direct - email us on partners@exclusive-links.com and we will immediately make that connection and get you on your way with renovating your home with confidence.