F.A. and his family recently completed a major renovation in their multi-unit family house in Budapest. Although they had already gone through two renovations in previous years — including a holiday home refurbished with the help of a general contractor — this most recent project was different. They chose to organise the work themselves in order to save money, coordinate the teams directly, and make decisions independently. In practice, however, this made the process significantly slower and more complicated.
Finding reliable specialists became one of the biggest challenges. Several contractors were unavailable for weeks, others cancelled at the last minute, and in one case, a dry construction team delayed the start date for five weeks before finally announcing on-site that they would not take the job after all. By that point, replacing them was extremely difficult, and the team that eventually completed the task delivered only mediocre work. While no serious financial damage occurred, the uncertainty and constant rescheduling created long delays and considerable stress.
FA and his partner did not qualify for any renovation-related financial support. Available programmes were limited to rural areas, and no relevant urban schemes were accessible to them. What they would have appreciated most is not only financial help but also professional guidance — someone who could oversee the full renovation plan and ensure that the chosen solutions were technically sound. For parts of the project, they relied on an architect friend who had previously worked with them and could offer advice, but coordinating the renovation without a general contractor required a great deal of planning and regular problem-solving.
If additional funding were available, FA would prioritise energy-related upgrades: replacing the ageing boiler with a more efficient system, installing solar panels, improving exterior insulation, and continuing to replace the remaining outdated windows. As he puts it, these would significantly reduce the home’s energy loss and long-term costs, but after the recent renovation, they do not have the budget to continue.
The house itself is a small four-unit building shared between two families, with major decisions made jointly. In principle, they could apply for building-level support, but no practical scheme exists that fits their situation. Because FA did not previously live in this apartment, he cannot compare energy bills before and after the renovation, and the current utility costs are based on flat-rate billing, making a precise assessment difficult.
Reflecting on the process, FA believes that large renovations are far easier when a reliable general contractor is involved. Without one, homeowners must read extensively, consult people with experience, and carefully coordinate each task. For them, the budget ultimately aligned with their most pessimistic expectations — a reminder that renovation costs almost always rise, even with careful planning.
His advice to others is to seek out trusted specialists, plan for delays, and consider professional oversight whenever possible. And above all, he highlights the value of experience: the knowledge gained from previous projects helped them navigate this one, but it also reinforced how important it is to have a clear plan, a supportive team, and realistic expectations about time, cost, and complexity.