Question: I have bought or inherited a 15-year-old condo. Paint is tired, tiles are dated, the kitchen and bathrooms are worn. Where do I start, and what does a full refurbishment actually include?
Answer: Start with a room-by-room survey, then fix waterproofing, electrical safety and plumbing before any finishes. Paint, flooring and tiles come second. Kitchen and wardrobes go last so they are not damaged by wet trades. A typical 3-bed programme is 6 to 10 weeks: one week hacking and waterproofing, three weeks tiling, plumbing and electrical, two weeks kitchen and carpentry, one week paint and handover. KL Servis Rumah handles the JMB deposit, permits, quiet hours, lift protection and rubbish removal as standard.
This is a whole-unit planning article, not a single-trade how-to. Individual problems such as leaking bathroom or yellowing white walls still need their own diagnosis inside the programme.
Why 15-Year Condos Feel Exhausted
- Decades of tenant or owner wear.
- Fixtures past service life.
- Aged waterproofing membranes in bathrooms and on the balcony.
- Original-build materials that were never premium.
Suggested Sequence
- Survey and itemised scope — you approve which lines proceed.
- Waterproofing, electrical safety and plumbing first.
- Tiles, flooring and wall finishes second.
- Kitchen and wardrobes last.
Typical 3-bed schedule: 6 to 10 weeks as above. After the site visit a detailed itemised quote is issued with each scope line priced separately.
Published Cost Anchors
The problem range is RM 22,000 to RM 180,000+ depending on unit size and scope. KL Servis Rumah publishes:
- Full house renovation package from RM 22,000
- Kitchen and bathroom makeover from RM 10,000
- Condo interior refurbishment from RM 30,000
House renovation carries the 12-Month Structural & Workmanship Warranty. For a category-by-category budget walk-through see cost of full house renovation in KL. The renovation budget calculator and room renovation estimator give an indicative split.
Local body copy also cites RM 60,000 to RM 150,000+ as a common band for a 1,000–1,200 sq ft unit depending on materials — still inside the published problem range.
JMB Reality
Quiet hours, lift bookings, a refundable contractor deposit and common-area protection are normal. They are part of the job, not an extra surprise on week two.
Related Problems
- Leaking bathroom — wet areas are usually the first risk on a resale unit.
- Power tripping frequently — old DBs surface during refurbishment.
- Uneven wall surface — tired walls that paint alone will not hide.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does a full 3-bed condo refurbishment take?
Typically 6 to 10 weeks depending on scope.
Do you provide a fixed price?
Yes. After the site visit an itemised quote is issued; you approve which lines proceed.
Can you work with the condo’s JMB restrictions?
Yes. JMB deposit, permits, quiet-hour rules, lift protection and rubbish removal are handled as standard.
Plan the Unit, Then Book the Trades
A pretty kitchen on a leaking bathroom slab is the expensive way to refurbish. KL Servis Rumah provides house renovation across Kuala Lumpur and Selangor.
Send the floor plan and a photo of each wet area — WhatsApp our renovation team.