Renovating an apartment in Israel from abroad
You approve every room from its 3D rendering, and Moriah Veg's construction supervision checks the works against her plans on site.
To renovate an apartment in Israel from abroad, you need three things: plans you can approve from a distance, payments tied to finished stages, and someone on site who answers to you. Moriah Veg's studio covers the plans, the 3D renderings and the construction supervision.
“Have eyes on the ground”
How a renovation from abroad works
- Plans and 3D renderings. Every room is drawn and rendered, so you decide on screen, not on a site visit.
- A contractor on a detailed bill of quantities. You sign with a builder who prices each item of work, so quotes compare line by line.
- Permits, if needed. A permit file is prepared by a licensed professional, an architect or engineer. The studio prepares it and follows it through the local planning committee.
- Payments by stage. Each payment follows a finished, checked stage of the work.
- Supervision. Construction supervision, one of the studio's services, checks the work against the plans while it is built.
- Furnishing and styling. The home is finished with furniture, lighting and accessories, ready for when you land.
What goes wrong when nobody is there
- Bids that cannot be compared, because each contractor prices different work
- Payments made ahead of the work, which leave you little leverage
- Small changes on site that nobody approved and that cost you later
- Delays that stretch a short job into months
“one of the best investments anyone can make is independent oversight”
A real project, before and during
The photo at the top of this page shows the same apartment during its works. Moriah's 3D design for it is on the renovation page.
Paperwork owners abroad ask about
| Item | What to know |
|---|---|
| Power of attorney | A lawyer can set one up so someone in Israel can sign for you. Signed abroad, it needs a notary and an apostille or an Israeli consul. |
| VAT | Israeli VAT is 18% since January 2025. Check whether each quote includes it. |
| Bill of quantities | In Hebrew כתב כמויות (ktav kamuyot): the list of every work item and its price. Ask for one from every contractor. |
| Keys and access | Agree who holds keys, who lets the builders in and who checks the site. |
For anything legal, confirm with an Israeli lawyer. This is general information.
Questions owners abroad ask
Do I need to fly in?
Not for the design: plans and 3D renderings can be reviewed remotely. Ask on the call what the works need.
Can the home be furnished before I arrive?
Full project management, as the studio lists it, runs through furniture shopping, lighting, accessories and final styling. Ask about timing on the call.
Back to home renovation in Israel.