Delhi condo renovation: is ₹22,270,000 enough for 230 m²?

T

TaliaBloom

Homeowner
Contractor pricing has to start soon. The choice is whether to define more of the scope first or accept a broader quote and keep a substantial reserve outside the ₹22,270,000 budget for this 230 m² Delhi condo.

The work covers the kitchen, bathrooms, flooring, paint, an electrical inspection and limited efficiency upgrades. There is no extension. The greater risk seems to be what the building’s age may conceal: moisture, inaccessible plumbing or electrical work that only becomes apparent after finishes are removed. Material lead times could then leave trades waiting or force changes to the planned sequence.

Before signing, I want targeted moisture checks, confirmation of plumbing access and an electrical quote that separates testing from remedial work. What else should be investigated before fixing the price, and how would you distinguish genuine contingency from costs that should already be stated in the scope?
 
At this stage I would hold roughly 15–20% separately, then revisit it after targeted investigation. Ask where plumbing joints and shutoffs can actually be accessed, whether moisture readings suggest concealed damage, and whether the electrical allowance covers testing only or remedial work. Also require the contractor to state assumptions about walls, floor levels and existing services rather than burying them in a broad exclusion.
 
Does the ₹22,270,000 include design fees, taxes, building protection, debris handling and any temporary accommodation? Those are scope omissions, not contingency. I would also ask who pays if the building restricts lift use or working hours, because access constraints can change labour sequencing even when the physical renovation remains the same.
 
One more point: investigate wet areas before ordering flooring or cabinetry. A plumbing or moisture discovery made after finish dimensions are fixed creates avoidable rework. Material lead times should be shown against the construction programme, with alternatives agreed for anything that must arrive before walls or floors can close.
 
I’m less comfortable with choosing a percentage before the exclusions are cleaned up. Even 20% can disappear quickly if “electrical checks” becomes rewiring or bathroom work reveals inaccessible shared pipes. Request priced rates for likely variations, a clear change-order process, and confirmation of what the condo management permits in shared walls and service areas. Any wall alteration should also be classified before work starts rather than assumed non-structural.
 
That’s fair—the percentage should not compensate for an undefined contract. A practical next step would be limited opening-up in the highest-risk locations, followed by revised plumbing, electrical and moisture scopes. In parallel, confirm building approvals and any Delhi permit timing that applies, then create a procurement schedule. Keep the larger contingency until those results are incorporated; only reduce it once access, exclusions and lead times are genuinely clearer.
 
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