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Renovations

Kitchen, bathroom and full-home renovation in Athens, for owners abroad

Home Watch Athens carries out kitchen, bathroom and full-home renovations in Athens for owners who live abroad. Yanis Zisis visits the home, sends an itemised quote to approve, runs the works with a vetted team and sends photo and video updates on WhatsApp, as part of Home Watch Athens's full-service property management for international owners.

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★★★★★ 5.0 on Read reviews
Watch · 40 seconds

Watch Yanis explain how it works.

Yanis Zisis, founder of Home Watch Athens, explains what he checks every month, how repairs are approved and done by trusted local professionals, and what he handles beyond the visit for owners who live abroad. Based in Glyfada, he looks after homes across Athens and Attica.

What Yanis checks on every monthly visit
How repairs work, approved by you and done by trusted local professionals
What he handles beyond the visit, for owners who live abroad
Renovation services

Which renovations does Home Watch Athens carry out?

Home Watch Athens carries out full-home, kitchen and bathroom renovations in Athens, together with the electrics, plumbing, flooring, painting, joinery and air conditioning that go with them.

RenovationWhat it covers
Full-home renovationEvery room refreshed or rebuilt as one project, with one itemised quote and one person running it.
Kitchen renovationUnits, worktops, plumbing, electrics and tiling, with photos at each stage before surfaces are closed up.
Bathroom renovationPlumbing, waterproofing, tiling and fittings, with photos at each stage before surfaces are closed up.
Electrics and plumbing upgradesWorn circuits, sockets, pipework and fittings replaced and brought up to date.
Flooring, painting and joineryNew floors, fresh paint and made-to-fit joinery throughout the home.
Air conditioningAir conditioning units installed where the home needs them.
New-build fit-outFinishing a new-build apartment after handover, from snagging to the final touches.
Refresh after buyingUpdating a newly bought apartment before your first stay.
Updating an inherited homeBringing a family home up to date, with Yanis dealing with the trades and the building in Greek.
What's included

A renovation run end to end

One company and one person to talk to, from the first visit to handover.

What's included

Every renovation includes

  • Home visit and written scope of works
  • Itemised quote you approve before work starts
  • Kitchen, bathroom and full-home renovation
  • Plumbing, electrics, flooring, painting and joinery
  • Photos of the home before works begin
  • Photo and video updates on WhatsApp
  • Yanis on site throughout the works
  • Decisions put to you with options, not surprises
  • Building management and neighbours handled in Greek
  • Sole keyholder, no keys passed around
  • Snagging put right before handover
  • Dated record of every visit in your member account
Which do you need?

Renovation or oversight: which do you need?

Choose renovation when Home Watch Athens does the work, and renovation oversight when your own contractor does the work and Yanis checks it.

CriteriaRenovation: Home Watch Athens does the workOversight: your contractor does the work, Yanis checks it
Who buildsYanis's vetted team, run by YanisYour own contractor
Who quotesHome Watch Athens sends one itemised quote for you to approveYour contractor quotes the work
Who is accountableHome Watch Athens, for the whole projectYour contractor for the work, and Yanis for checking it and reporting to you
When to choose itYou want one company to run the whole projectYou already have a contractor and want independent eyes on site
How it works

How does a renovation work from abroad?

A renovation from abroad runs in seven steps, from a site visit and written scope to handover, and nothing starts until you approve the quote.

  1. Site visit and written scope

    Share where your home is and what you want to change. Yanis visits the home and writes down the scope of works.

  2. Itemised quote

    You receive one itemised quote in English, covering materials, labour and what is excluded.

  3. Your approval

    Nothing starts until you approve the quote.

  4. Works with photo and video updates

    The works run under Yanis's direction while you follow along with photos and video on WhatsApp.

  5. Snagging put right

    Any snagging items are put right before handover.

  6. Handover

    Yanis walks through the finished home with you or reports back with photos.

Apply for MembershipQuoted before any work starts.
The team

Who does the work?

Yanis's vetted team of local tradespeople does the work, and Yanis is on site throughout.

Yanis, on site throughout

The founder runs your project personally and is at the door for the trades, access and deliveries.

A vetted team

Plumbers, electricians, tilers, joiners and painters who work under Yanis's direction.

A licensed engineer

Where a permit is needed, a licensed engineer prepares it.

Greek to the trades

The building manager and the neighbours are dealt with in Greek, and you hear about it in English.

Pricing

How is a renovation priced?

A renovation with Home Watch Athens is priced from an itemised quote that Yanis sends after a site visit and that you approve before any work starts. Works are priced per project plus 24% Greek tax, and you choose your materials within an allowance.

Guides: apartment renovation costs in Greece and kitchen and bathroom renovation costs in Athens.

Apply for MembershipQuoted before any work starts.
Before you start

Do you need a permit to renovate in Athens?

It depends on the scope: cosmetic work is usually simpler, while structural, facade or larger works can need a permit prepared by a licensed engineer. Yanis tells you at the quote stage whether your project is likely to need one, and you should always confirm with a licensed engineer or architect before work starts.

Guides: the renovation permit guide, the energy certificate (PEA) and furnishing a new apartment in Athens from abroad.

Progress

How will you see progress?

You see progress as photos and video on WhatsApp, including before surfaces are closed up, and every site visit is logged in your member account.

What you receive

  • Photos of the home before works begin
  • Photo and video updates on WhatsApp while the works run
  • Photos before tiles, walls and floors are closed up
  • A dated record of every site visit in your member account
Compare your options

Home Watch Athens, a typical renovation company, or doing it yourself from abroad?

Home Watch Athens puts one accountable person, one itemised quote and regular photo proof between you and the works, where a typical renovation company or a do-it-yourself project from abroad usually leaves those gaps to you.

CriteriaHome Watch AthensTypical renovation companyDoing it yourself from abroad
Who runs the projectYanis, the founder, personallyOften a site manager you rarely meetYou, across time zones
QuoteItemised and approved by you before work startsVaries, and often only in GreekSeveral quotes in several formats
Updates while you're awayPhotos and video on WhatsApp, every visit logged onlineUsually only when you askWhatever each trade sends
Building and neighboursHandled in Greek on your behalfOften left to youLeft to you
After the worksMonthly Home Watch visit keeps the finished home checked and documentedThe relationship often ends at handoverBack to chasing individual trades
Member reviews

What do members say? Reviews on Trustpilot.

★★★★★

In very safe hands!

Having Yanis look after our holiday home in Athens has changed how we experience it. No more stress, no more holiday time spent fixing things, no more waiting for contractors who don't show up, and someone who can check it after storms or if anything happens. I can't imagine why anyone who owns a holiday home in Athens wouldn't choose this service!

Verified Trustpilot review
★★★★★

Home Watch Athens, A one of a kind

Home Watch Athens, Founder Yanis takes personal commitment to the next level. Trustworthy, Attention to detail, and goes way beyond for every aspect. Highly recommended for anyone who has a second home in Athens.

Verified Trustpilot review

Read all reviews on Trustpilot →

FAQ

Renovation in Athens: your questions answered.

Is Home Watch Athens a renovation company?

Yes. Home Watch Athens carries out kitchen, bathroom and full-home renovations in Athens for owners who live abroad. Yanis runs the project from the first visit to handover: a home visit and written scope, an itemised quote you approve first, the works themselves, and photo and video updates on WhatsApp.

It is part of Home Watch Athens's full-service property management for international owners.

How much does it cost to renovate an apartment in Athens?

Every renovation is quoted per project, after Yanis has seen the home or the plans and understands the scope. The quote is itemised and you approve it before any work starts.

The cost depends on the size of the home, the finishes you choose and how much is being changed. See the guide to apartment renovation costs in Greece and the kitchen and bathroom renovation cost guide.

Can I renovate my Athens apartment without being there?

Yes. Yanis runs the renovation on site, deals with the trades and the building in Greek, and sends you photos and video on WhatsApp, so you never need to be there.

You approve the itemised quote first, make decisions when Yanis puts options to you, and see the finished home at handover.

Do you renovate kitchens and bathrooms in Athens?

Yes. Kitchen and bathroom renovations are among the most common projects. They involve plumbing, electrics, waterproofing and tiling, and Yanis sends you photos at each stage, before surfaces are closed up.

The same applies to a wider home renovation in Athens, from a single room to a full apartment.

Do I need a permit to renovate an apartment in Athens?

It depends on the scope. Cosmetic work is usually simpler, while structural changes, changes to the facade or larger works can need a permit prepared by a licensed engineer.

Yanis tells you at the quote stage whether your project is likely to need one. Always confirm with a licensed engineer or architect before work starts. See the renovation permit guide.

Is there an English-speaking renovation company in Athens?

Yes. Home Watch Athens is run by Yanis Zisis, who speaks Greek to the trades and the building and English to you, on one WhatsApp number.

The quote, the updates and the handover are all in English.

How long does an apartment renovation take in Athens?

It depends on the scope of the works, the size of the home and the finishes you choose. Yanis confirms the expected timeline at the quote stage, before you approve anything.

While the works run, he sends you photos and video on WhatsApp so you can follow progress.

Can you work with my architect or engineer?

Yes. If you already have an architect or engineer, Yanis works from their drawings and specification. Questions on site are asked and answered in Greek on the day, and you hear about progress and problems quickly.

What is the difference between renovation and renovation oversight?

With renovation, Home Watch Athens does the work: Yanis's vetted team carries out the renovation under his direction. With renovation oversight, your own contractor does the work and Yanis checks it on your behalf.

If you already have a contractor and want independent supervision, choose oversight. If you want one company to run the whole project, choose renovation.

How will I see progress while I'm abroad?

Yanis visits the site during the works and sends you photos and video on WhatsApp showing what has been done and anything that needs a decision, including before surfaces are closed up.

Each visit is also logged in your member account, so you have a dated record of the project.

Who holds the keys during the renovation?

Yanis Zisis, the founder, is the sole keyholder for every member home. He lets the trades in, is at the door for access and deliveries when needed, and locks up afterwards, so keys don't get passed around between workers.

What happens after the renovation is finished?

Yanis walks through the finished home with you or reports back with photos, and any snagging items are put right before handover.

Many owners then continue with the monthly Home Watch visit, so the newly renovated home stays checked and documented while you are away, with pre-arrival preparation available before you land.

Planning a renovation in Athens? Let Yanis run it for you.

Tell Yanis where your home is and what you plan to change. He replies within 24 hours and, if Home Watch Athens is a good match, arranges a brief intro call. You approve an itemised quote before any work starts.

Apply for MembershipMembers only. Yanis replies to every application within 24 hours.
  • Registered Greek business (GEMI)
  • Professionally insured & sole keyholder
  • 🇪🇺 🇺🇸 🇨🇦 🇬🇧 🇦🇺 🇮🇱 🇦🇪 Members in 8+ countries

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Founded in 2025, Home Watch Athens is the city’s first full-service property management and oversight company exclusively designed for international second-home owners living abroad. © 2026 Home Watch Athens. All rights reserved.