We get at least 3 calls a month from people who hired the wrong company
This is what they saw. And what they chose not to see.
It pains us to talk about this, but it’s necessary. The renovation industry has some truly great people, professionals who give their all on every job and treat your home as if it were their own. But it also has people who should be in a different trade. And sometimes, quite frankly, people who have no trade at all: just smooth talk and an Instagram profile with stolen photos.
Last year, a man from Benimaclet called us after his “renovator” disappeared with a €2,800 deposit. The guy had shown him gorgeous photos of finished bathrooms (which turned out to be from Pinterest), had given him a verbal quote of €4,200 that “sure, sure, I’ll email it to you tonight” and had convinced him to start the following week because “I’ve got a slot that won’t come around again for three months.” Classic.
It’s not an isolated case. According to the Consumer Union of the Valencian Community, home renovations are among the services with the most consumer complaints each year. And bathrooms, with their technical complexity and the money involved, are fertile ground for problems.
Let’s be direct: if you learn to identify these 9 warning signs, you’ll save yourself grief, money and many sleepless nights. Let’s go through them one by one.
Sign 1: No contract or written quote — only verbal promises
This is the mother of all red flags. If someone tells you “I’ll do your bathroom for around 5,000 euros” and doesn’t provide a detailed quote with itemised costs, brands, quantities and conditions, run.
A verbal quote has zero legal value if problems arise later. And they will, because without a written document:
- You can’t prove what was agreed.
- There’s no committed deadline.
- There are no penalties for delays.
- There’s no reference to specific materials.
- There’s no warranty on anything.
The General Consumer and User Protection Act establishes that consumers have the right to receive a written quote in advance. It’s not a whim: it’s your right.
What to demand: a detailed quote in PDF or on paper, with the company’s tax ID, itemised breakdown, material brands and models, execution timeline, payment terms and warranty. If you want to know what each line should include, check our real breakdown of a bathroom renovation budget.
Sign 2: They ask for more than 50% upfront
There’s a huge difference between a reasonable deposit and a smiling robbery. Paying 10-20% upon signing the quote is normal and legitimate: the company needs to reserve materials, organise their schedule and commit to your project.
But if they ask for 50%, 60% or — watch out — the full amount upfront, the risk of them disappearing with your money is very real.
A healthy payment schedule looks something like this:
| Milestone | Reasonable percentage |
|---|---|
| Upon signing the quote | 10-20% |
| At start of demolition | 20-25% |
| Upon completion of plumbing and electrics | 20-25% |
| Upon completion of tiling and installation | 20-25% |
| On satisfactory final delivery | 10-15% remaining |
Payments should be linked to project milestones, not to the “renovator’s” urgency to get paid. If they pressure you to release a large amount before a single tile has been lifted, be suspicious. Very suspicious.
Real case: in the Benimaclet case we mentioned above, the deposit was 67%. The client told us: “It seemed like a lot, but he said it was to buy all the materials at once so it’d work out cheaper for me.” He never bought anything.
Sign 3: No physical address or verifiable tax ID
A good self-employed professional may not have an office with a receptionist. That’s perfectly normal. But what isn’t normal is being unable to verify who they are, where they’re registered or what their tax identification number is.
Before signing anything:
- Ask for the company tax ID (CIF) or personal tax ID (NIF).
- Look it up on the Tax Agency website to verify it’s active.
- Check whether the company is registered in the Commercial Register.
- Search the company name on Google + “reviews” or “complaints”.
If the “company” only exists on Instagram, if there’s no website with real contact details, if the contact number is just a mobile with no other references… it might be legitimate, but it might also not exist in three months.
In the Valencian Community, any company carrying out renovations must be registered under the corresponding business activity tax category (IAE section 501 or similar in the construction category). It costs nothing to ask.
Sign 4: Unrealistically low prices — 30-40% below market rate
If the average for a full renovation of a 5 m² bathroom in Valencia is between €5,500 and €8,500 (you can calculate it with our tool), and someone offers to do it for €3,200, something doesn’t add up. And what doesn’t add up always gets paid for later.
Where do unrealistically low quotes cut corners?
- Materials: they use the cheapest tile from the warehouse without telling you.
- Plumbing: they don’t replace the pipes, just “patch” them. Two years later: leaks.
- Waterproofing: they skip it or do it half-heartedly. Then: damp.
- Labour: they subcontract inexperienced workers who charge half the rate.
- Waste: they leave it in your hallway or dump it illegally.
Don’t fall for the argument “I buy direct from the factory” or “I have a contact who lets me have materials at half price.” The margins in construction materials are well known, and nobody works magic.
The golden rule: if a price seems too good to be true, it probably is. Always compare at least 3 detailed quotes and discard the extremes. In our article about questions to ask before signing a quote we explain exactly what to compare.
Sign 5: They can’t show you finished projects or real references
“Sure, sure, I’ve got loads of photos, but I don’t have them on me.” “My clients don’t let me publish photos.” “Look, here on Instagram I’ve got some.”
Be careful with this. A professional who’s been working for years has photos of their projects. Has clients who speak well of them. Has a visible track record. If they can’t show you anything concrete — no photos of their own, no contact details for a previous client, no address where you can see completed work — it’s an enormous red flag.
What to ask for:
- At least 3-5 photos of finished bathrooms (with before photos included, even better).
- Contact details for at least 2 previous clients you can call.
- If they have a website or social media, check that the photos are their own and not stock images.
A good renovator is proud of their work and has no problem showing it. If there’s resistance, ask yourself why.
Sign 6: They pressure you to decide RIGHT NOW — artificial urgency
“I can only hold this price until Friday.” “I’ve got a slot next week and if you don’t take it, another client will.” “The material you need is only on sale this week.”
This has a name in commercial psychology: artificial scarcity. And it works incredibly well. But in renovations, haste is the worst adviser.
A bathroom renovation is a decision worth several thousand euros that you’ll live with every day for the next 10-15 years. It deserves to be thought over calmly, compared, questioned, slept on.
No serious company will pressure you to sign within 48 hours. If they do, it’s because they know that if they give you time to think (or to check references), you might discover something that doesn’t suit them.
Our advice: take at least one week between receiving the quote and signing it. If the price “expires” before then, let it expire. Good professionals respect your time.
Sign 7: No material brands or models specified in the quote
“Porcelain tile 60x60, grey colour.” That’s not a specification. That’s a generic description that applies equally to an €8/m² tile and a €45/m² tile.
A serious quote should include:
- Brand and model for each material (e.g.: “Porcelanosa Arizona Caliza 59.6x59.6”).
- Brand and model of sanitary ware (e.g.: “Roca The Gap rimless toilet”).
- Brand and model of taps (e.g.: “Grohe Eurosmart shower mixer”).
Why is this so important? Because without this information:
- You can’t compare quotes against each other (are they comparing like for like?).
- You can’t verify material prices.
- The renovator can install whatever they want — and it will usually be the cheapest option.
- If you need to replace a broken piece years from now, you won’t know what model it was.
If a quote says “top-brand sanitary ware” without telling you which ones, that vagueness is intentional. To understand what each line should include, check our real budget breakdown.
Sign 8: No written warranty
Under Spanish law, every renovation must include a minimum warranty. Royal Legislative Decree 1/2007 establishes that services must carry a warranty on the work performed. In practice, this means:
- Warranty on workmanship: minimum 1 year (the industry standard is 2-3 years).
- Warranty on materials: whatever the manufacturer offers (usually 2-5 years).
- Warranty on plumbing installations: at Reformarte we offer 5 years, and we believe that should be the standard.
If your renovator says “no worries, if there’s a problem just call me and I’ll fix it,” that’s worthless. The warranty must be in writing, specifying what it covers, for how long, and how to make a claim. We explain it in detail on our warranty page.
Without a written warranty, if a leak appears in the shower 6 months later, you’ll be left with no option but to pay another renovator to fix it. And we guarantee that repair won’t be cheap.
Sign 9: Workers are clearly unsupervised subcontractors
There’s nothing wrong with a company working with subcontractors. In fact, it’s common and legal: a specialist electrician, a plumber with specific certifications… That’s normal and even desirable.
The problem appears when:
- The workers don’t know who hired them or which company is behind the project.
- Someone different turns up every day with no idea what the previous person did.
- There’s no site manager or responsible person supervising.
- The workers can’t speak your language and can’t explain what they’re doing.
- They don’t wear branded work clothes or carry quality tools.
A woman from Patraix told us that during her renovation, which was supposed to take “10 days maximum,” 7 different people came through her bathroom over 3 weeks. None of them knew the full plan. The result was a shower tray with a 4-centimetre slope, a drain that didn’t evacuate properly and a final bill 35% higher than the quote.
What you should ask before signing: “Who will be in my home each day? Is there a site manager? Are they your employees or subcontractors? Who’s responsible if there’s a problem?”
What to do if you’ve already been scammed
If you’ve already fallen for it, don’t be ashamed. It happens to more people than you’d think. The important thing is to act quickly:
1. Gather all documentation
Everything you have: quotes (even via WhatsApp), bank transfers, photos of the state of the work, messages, emails. Everything counts.
2. Complain in writing
Send a burofax (certified postal communication) to the renovator with your specific complaints: what was agreed, what hasn’t been fulfilled and what you’re demanding (completion of work, refund, repair of defects). A burofax has legal value as evidence.
3. Go to your municipality’s Consumer Information Office (OMIC)
The Municipal Consumer Information Office (OMIC) is free and can mediate between you and the company. In Valencia city it’s located at Calle Amadeo de Saboya, 11. You can book an appointment by calling 010.
4. File a complaint with Consumer Affairs
The Directorate General of Consumer Affairs of the Valencian Generalitat processes formal complaints. If the company is registered in the consumer arbitration system, it can be resolved without going to court.
5. Report it if there are signs of fraud
If the renovator has disappeared with your money, has forged documents or there are clear signs of deception, file a report with the National Police or Guardia Civil. Fraud is a criminal offence under Article 248 of the Spanish Penal Code, carrying sentences of 6 months to 3 years in prison.
6. Consult a specialist lawyer
If the amount lost exceeds €2,000, it’s worth consulting a lawyer specialising in consumer law. Many offer a free initial consultation. The Valencia Bar Association has a free legal guidance service.
How to protect yourself: checklist before signing
Before signing any quote, review this list point by point. If one fails, ask questions. If several fail, find another company.
- Tax ID verified — I’ve checked that the company is registered.
- Detailed written quote — Includes items, brands, models, quantities.
- Contract with terms — Timeline, penalties, payment terms, warranty.
- Written warranty — Minimum 2 years on workmanship, with clear conditions.
- Photos of previous work — I’ve seen at least 3 real finished projects.
- Verifiable references — I’ve spoken with at least 1 previous client.
- Milestone-based payment schedule — No payment exceeds 25% of the total before seeing progress.
- Brands and models specified — I know exactly what materials they’ll use.
- Identified site manager — I know who will be in my home and how to contact them.
- I’ve compared at least 3 quotes — And discarded the cheapest if it’s well below the others.
If you want to better understand the full process before making a decision, our guide on how it works explains step by step how we work and what you can expect from a proper renovation.
You can also calculate a personalised estimate to have a price reference before comparing quotes.
Frequently asked questions
Is it legal for them to ask for a deposit before starting the renovation?
Yes, it’s legal and it’s standard practice. What isn’t reasonable is a deposit exceeding 20-25% of the total. A milestone-based payment schedule protects both the client and the professional. If they ask for more than half upfront without having started, find another company.
What can I do if the work has been stalled for weeks and the renovator isn’t responding?
Send a burofax giving them a 15-day deadline to resume work. If they don’t respond, go to the OMIC and consider filing a report. Document everything with dated photos of the state of the work.
Does an accepted quote have the force of a contract?
Yes. A quote signed by both parties has contractual value in Spain. That’s why it’s so important for the quote to detail everything: materials, timelines, warranties and conditions. If there are discrepancies later, the signed quote is the legal reference.
Can I make a claim if I wasn’t given a written warranty?
Yes. The law protects you even without an explicit warranty: the consolidated text of the General Consumer and User Protection Act establishes responsibilities regarding service conformity. But proving a problem without a written warranty is much more difficult and expensive. Prevention is always better. Check our warranty page to see what it should include.
How do I know if a price is “too cheap”?
Always compare 3 detailed quotes for the same work. If one is 30-40% below the other two, something doesn’t add up. Use our budget calculator to get a benchmark before requesting quotes.
Renovating your bathroom should be exciting, not a nightmare
This article may have put you on high alert. Good — that was the idea. But we don’t want you to be left with a negative view of the industry, because the reality is that most professionals do their job well.
What happens is that the ones who don’t do it well cause disproportionate damage: they ruin a space in your home, take money you worked hard to earn and leave you with a distrust that takes years to fade.
Protecting yourself is simple if you know what to look for. The 9 warning signs we’ve covered don’t require technical knowledge: just common sense and the willingness not to let yourself be pressured.
If you’re thinking about renovating your bathroom and want to do it with peace of mind, start by calculating an indicative budget and read the 10 questions you should ask before signing any quote. And if any of the 9 signs has reminded you of a company you’re talking to, trust your instinct.
We also recommend our guides on mistakes that ruin a bathroom renovation and bathroom renovations in Valencia if you want to keep learning.
Don’t get fooled. Your bathroom — and your money — deserve better.
