Renovating your parents' house in Bosnia from abroad: where to start and how to follow the work

Many people in the Bosnian diaspora share the same quiet plan: to bring their parents' house in Bosnia and Herzegovina back to life, so it can host summers, holidays and perhaps one day a comfortable retirement. The catch is that you live in Germany, Austria, Switzerland or somewhere else, and the house is a thousand kilometres away. The good news is that a renovation in Bosnia from abroad is entirely doable, provided you prepare well and do things in the right order.

Start with an assessment, not with design

The most common mistake is to begin with colours, furniture and the kitchen. Before any of that, you need to understand the condition of the building. The roof, damp in the walls, the installations, the windows and the foundations decide what is possible and what will cost the most time and money. So the first step is a condition assessment on site: an architect or other qualified professional visits, photographs, measures and notes the problems. You can follow it live on a video call, and afterwards you receive a clear overview with priorities.

In what order should the work happen?

A good renovation follows a logical sequence, and it rarely matches what tempts us most. As a rule of thumb it goes like this:

• Structure and building envelope: roof, drainage, damp, facade and windows. While the house lets water in, everything else is wasted effort.
• Installations: electrics, water, drainage and heating. Once walls are closed, changing these is expensive and messy.
• Insulation and heating: winters in Bosnia are real, so insulation and the choice of heating system often decide how comfortable the house will be.
• Finishes: floors, walls, bathroom, kitchen, lighting and furniture.

If the budget does not allow everything at once, work in phases, but make sure each phase makes sense on its own and does not have to be torn out later.

What should you send your architect before the first call?

The better your material, the more useful the first conversation will be. It helps to collect:

• photos of every room, the exterior, the roof and the cellar, including any spots with damp or cracks
• a sketch or approximate measurements of the rooms, even if hand-drawn
• any existing documents about the house, such as old plans, permits or the property record
• a list of your wishes: who will use the house, how often and in which seasons
• a rough budget range and the period you have in mind, even if approximate

Do not worry if the paperwork is incomplete. Many older houses have no proper drawings, and this can often be solved with a survey on site.

How do you follow the work when you are not there?

This is the key question of any remote renovation. Never rely on verbal agreements alone. Agree on a clear plan: who your contact person on site is, how often you receive reports and in what form. A good report contains photos, a short description of what was done, what comes next and what needs your decision. Regular short video calls with the craftsmen and the architect often resolve misunderstandings before they become expensive.

It also helps to have someone you trust on the ground, a relative or a professional, who can check that work follows the agreement. If you authorise someone to sign or pay on your behalf, the question of power of attorney is a legal matter. Rules differ between entities, cantons and municipalities, so ask the competent authority or a lawyer.

Where do projects from abroad most often go wrong?

From the experience of many diaspora clients, typical mistakes are: renovating without an assessment, agreeing works without a written specification, paying in advance without a clear payment schedule, rushing decisions during a summer holiday, and underestimating time. Plan your budget and schedule with a reserve, because in older buildings something unexpected almost always appears once work begins.

If the works touch the structure, change the use of the building or enlarge it, an approval such as a building permit is likely to be required. Requirements and procedures differ from municipality to municipality, so always check with the responsible office.

What could working with us look like?

At 81AD Digital Studio in Sarajevo we work with clients all over the world. The first conversation is usually a video call, followed by your photos and measurements, a condition assessment, a proposal and an agreed sequence of works. If you are thinking about renovating your parents' house or an apartment in Bosnia and Herzegovina, get in touch. We are happy to talk through your situation, with no obligation.