We bought an old, dilapidated cottage which we are currently renovating so that we can live there. As part of the renovation, we want to insulate the cottage, install new windows, add a photovoltaic power system, and possibly even a heat pump. In short, we want to renovate the cottage properly and bring it up to modern standards so that the building will last a long time. After all, if you hire a company to do the renovation rather than doing it yourself, you more or less have no choice; most renovation offers already include these energy-saving measures. At the same time, in order to be able to live in the house and register it as a permanent residence, we need an energy label for the building, which is also one of the motivations why we decided to go down the path of energy-saving measures.
The renovation is currently ongoing, and we are working with two companies: a construction company, and a company that is helping us obtain subsidies. Finding a good construction company was very complicated. We contacted about twenty businesses, but they rarely listened to us. We also reached out to three companies that assist with obtaining subsidies; two of which never replied. During the current renovation, both companies continue having communication problems. Both are behind schedule, and their actions and requirements are therefore inconsistent. The subsidy company insists that we must have a heat pump, but the construction company tells us that we can get subsidies even without one. It is difficult to navigate this chaos.
I would advise other people considering a similar large-scale renovation not to rely solely on what the companies involved in the renovation tell them. Companies are often passive and do not meet deadlines, which prolongs the construction process and unnecessarily increases the cost of the construction. It is essential to constantly push and remind them throughout the process.