Home Renovations in Crete | One Point of Contact

Home renovations in Crete: bathrooms, kitchens, apartments and village houses with one point of contact

Renovating a property in another country can be overwhelming. You deal with several contractors who do not talk to each other, a language barrier, quotes that are hard to compare and a planning that keeps slipping, often while you are thousands of kilometres away. Many owners in Crete have a story about a renovation that took twice as long as promised, or about tiles laid before the pipes were finished.

With my background in complete renovations and new builds, I guide your project from the first idea to the last coat of paint. The technical heart of any renovation, the plumbing, the electrical installation and the heating and cooling, I carry out myself as a certified plumber, electrician and HVAC technician. For the other trades I work with people I know, plan them in the right order and check their work. You get one point of contact who speaks English and Dutch, clear explanations and a realistic planning.

I take on renovations in Hersonissos, Heraklion, Malia, Agios Nikolaos, Elounda and the villages in between: a single bathroom, a kitchen, a full apartment, or an old stone village house that needs bringing into the present century. Before anything starts you get a detailed quote with a fixed price, and during the work I keep you updated with photos, especially if you follow the project from abroad.

Renovation projects I take on

Bathroom renovations

From stripping out to the last silicone joint, including new pipes, drains, shower and bathroom installation.

Kitchen renovations

New kitchen layouts with water, drains, sockets and dedicated circuits for oven, hob and dishwasher, ready for the kitchen fitter.

Apartment renovations

Complete apartment makeovers, ideal before renting out or after buying an older property in Heraklion or on the coast.

Old village houses

Modernising stone houses with new wiring, plumbing, heating and damp control, while keeping their character.

Technical renovations

Rewiring, a new fuse box, new pipes, A/C or heating: the technical upgrade many older houses need before anything else.

Coordinating the trades

Tilers, plasterers, painters and carpenters planned in the right order, with me checking quality on site.

Don't see your job in this list? Contact me with your question: if it is in or around the house, I can most likely help.

Typical renovation projects and what to decide early

Every project is different, but these are the choices that make the biggest difference to planning and budget.

Project	What it usually involves	Decide early
Bathroom	New pipes and drains, waterproofing, tiling, sanitary ware, ventilation	Walk-in shower or bath, wall-hung toilet, water heater position
Kitchen	Water and drain points, new circuits, sockets, lighting, tiling	Layout and appliance list before any pipe or cable moves
Full apartment	Rewiring, plumbing, A/C, floors, walls, bathroom and kitchen	Whether to keep or replace the old pipes and wiring
Old village house	Wiring, plumbing, heating, damp treatment, roof and windows	Heating system and how to deal with damp in stone walls
Holiday rental upgrade	Bathrooms, A/C, lighting, painting, outdoor areas	Which rooms to do first and the dates between bookings

How a renovation with me works

A good renovation is mostly good preparation. I work through the same steps on every project, big or small:

A visit to the property, or a video call with photos if you are abroad
Agreeing what you want, the materials and what really needs replacing
A detailed quote with a fixed price and a realistic planning
Technical work first: pipes, drains, wiring and A/C or heating
Then the finishing trades in the right order, checked by me
Regular photo updates and a final walk-through with you

What I do myself and what I coordinate

The parts that cause the most trouble when they go wrong are the ones I do with my own hands.

I do myself

Plumbing, drains and water heaters
Electrical installation and fuse boxes
A/C, heat pumps and heating
Smaller handyman and finishing work

I coordinate

Tiling on larger surfaces
Plastering and drywall
Larger painting jobs
Carpentry, doors and windows

Structural changes, extensions or facade work usually need an engineer and sometimes a permit. In that case I work together with your engineer, so the technical installation matches the plans.

Renovating old houses and rentals

Old village houses in Crete have thick stone walls, wiring that was added bit by bit over the decades, pipes in iron or old plastic and often damp in the lower walls. They are beautiful, but a cosmetic makeover on top of an old installation rarely lasts. I usually advise starting with the safety and the technical basics, a proper rewiring and new pipes, and then the finish.

For holiday rentals, timing is everything. I can work room by room, between bookings or entirely in the low season, so you lose as few nights as possible and the property is ready when the first guests arrive.

Often part of a renovation

Bathroom installation

The bathroom is the room most renovations start with. I install the pipes, drains, shower, toilet and water heater, properly waterproofed.

Walk-in showers
Wall-hung toilets
New pipes and drains
Extractor fan against damp

More about Bathroom Installation & Renovation

Rewiring

An old electrical installation is the first thing to replace while walls are open. I rewire the house safely with a new fuse box and enough circuits.

New cables and sockets
Modern fuse box
Separate circuits for A/C
Earth leakage protection

More about Rewiring & New Installations

Renovations & Small Projects Near You

Available across Heraklion and Lasithi, from Agios Nikolaos to near Rethymno.

Hersonissos Analipsi & Anissaras Malia Stalis Gouves & Gournes Mochos & Avdou Kastelli (Pediada) Heraklion Knossos & Archanes Arkalochori Gazi & Ammoudara Agia Pelagia & Lygaria Fodele Moires Tympaki & Kokkinos Pyrgos Sissi & Milatos Neapoli Agios Nikolaos Lasithi Plateau Elounda & Plaka Kritsa Istron & Kalo Chorio Pachia Ammos & Kavousi Ierapetra Anogia Bali Perama & Mylopotamos Panormo Margarites

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a renovation cost in Crete?

That depends entirely on the size of the project, the condition of the property and the materials you choose. After a visit or a video call I give you a free, detailed quote with a fixed price, so you can decide with clear numbers.

How long does a bathroom or apartment renovation take?

A bathroom usually takes a few weeks, a complete apartment longer, depending on what needs replacing and the availability of materials. You get a realistic planning with the quote, and I tell you straight away if anything changes.

Can you manage my renovation while I am abroad?

Yes. Many of my clients live in Belgium, the Netherlands, the UK or elsewhere. I keep you updated with photos and videos on WhatsApp and only make decisions with your approval.

Do you provide a fixed price?

Yes, you get a detailed quote with a fixed price. If unforeseen problems come up, such as rotten pipes hidden in a wall, I show you and discuss it with you before continuing.

Do I need a permit for my renovation in Crete?

Interior renovations usually do not, but changes to the structure, the facade or an extension often do. Check with your engineer; I am happy to work together with them.

Should I renovate or replace the old wiring and pipes?

In older houses it is usually wise to replace them during the renovation, while walls and floors are open anyway. Doing it later means breaking new tiles and plaster. I check the existing installation and advise honestly.

Can you renovate while I rent out the property?

Yes, with good planning. I can work room by room, between bookings or in the low season from November to March, so the property stays available for guests as much as possible.

Do you take on renovations in Heraklion, Hersonissos, Malia and Agios Nikolaos?

Yes, those are exactly the areas where I work most, together with Elounda and the villages in between. For bigger projects further away, contact me and we look at what is possible.

Related Services

Bathroom Installation & RenovationWalk-in showers, toilets, vanities and waterproofing. Rewiring & New InstallationsFull or partial rewiring, new circuits, sockets and switches. Tiling & Grout RepairsFloor and wall tiles, re-grouting and sealing. Drywall & PlasteringCrack repair, new partition walls and smooth plaster.

Renovations & Small Projects