Why international owners work with us
Renovating an apartment in Tel Aviv from abroad is not simply "renovation plus some Zoom calls". Three realities make it genuinely difficult without a general contractor set up for non-residents:
- Language and administrative friction — permits (Iriya), co-owner boards (Vaad HaBayit), supplier invoices, insurance, VAT: nearly all of it runs in Hebrew. Our team handles it in English on your behalf.
- Time-zone gaps that kill decision speed — a question asked from New York at 10 am lands in Tel Aviv at 5 pm. Without structure, every decision drifts by 24 hours. Our workflow is built around weekly syncs, written logs and clear deadlines.
- Trust at a distance — you cannot "pop by the site". You need a contractor whose reporting is good enough that you don't need to. Weekly video, 3D models, formal milestone sign-offs — in writing, in English.
Over 60% of our Tel Aviv clients never set foot on their site during the renovation. They receive the keys on the day we agreed, to the specification we agreed, at the price we agreed. The project is designed from the start for that outcome.
Who we serve
US-based buyers
New York, Miami, Los Angeles, Chicago. Often a pied-à-terre near Rothschild, a family apartment in North Tel Aviv, or a penthouse in Bavli. We've handled projects purchased remotely, financed through US banks, and inherited from relatives. English-only workflow, EST-friendly hours for key decisions.
UK, Zurich, Monaco buyers
Classic second-home profile: Rothschild Bauhaus, Neve Tzedek townhouse, Herzliya Pituach villa. Discreet, uncompromising on finish, often working with their own architect or interior designer. We integrate cleanly into existing design teams.
Francophone owners (Paris, Brussels, Geneva, Montreal)
Our historical client base. French-speaking project managers, invoicing from our Paris office, a familiar European standard. See our dedicated French-language site.
South African and Australian families
Often buying ahead of a planned aliyah, or as a long-term family hedge. Projects typically span 12 to 24 months between purchase and move-in. We coordinate renovation around the aliyah calendar.
How the remote workflow actually runs
Pre-purchase site visit (within 1 week)
You've made an offer. Before you sign, we send a specialist to the apartment. Detailed report: real condition, renovation cost estimate to your target standard, structural and heritage flags. A powerful negotiating lever before the notary.
Fixed-price proposal
Line-item quote, not "ballpark". The number we agree at the start is the number you pay at the end (barring changes you request). No creeping costs, no "discoveries" we should have caught.
Permits and start
We file with the municipality (Iriya), notify the Vaad HaBayit, handle White City preservation authorities when relevant. You get an English summary of every filing. Work only starts once everything is clean.
Weekly video report + live walkthroughs
Every Friday: a 3-to-5-minute edited video of the week's progress, plus a written log. Available on request: live WhatsApp or Zoom walkthroughs with our site manager. 3D renders updated at each design milestone.
Milestone sign-offs
Formal approval at each key stage (demolition done, utilities roughed in, surfaces installed, finishes). You sign off in writing, by email. No ambiguity about what was agreed when.
Handover and warranty
Full as-built file, warranty certificates on each trade. Active SAV in the months following handover — minor adjustments resolved quickly, including by the site manager without you needing to fly in.
Specialist areas for international portfolios
- UNESCO Bauhaus restoration on Rothschild — preservation of original elements (steel-frame windows, terrazzo, curved balconies), reinforced permits. Rothschild & Bauhaus guide.
- TAMA 38 programmes — seismic retrofit with added storeys, lift installation, balcony additions. Long legal and municipal threads we unwind for you. TAMA 38 guide.
- Penthouse finishing in Bavli and Herzliya Pituach — custom kitchens, natural-stone bathrooms, architectural lighting, full home automation, rooftop and pool work.
- Pre-purchase due diligence — technical and heritage audit of a property you're about to sign on.
Helpful reading before you start
- Buying an apartment in Tel Aviv as a non-resident — tax, mitzi, notary, financing
- Understanding TAMA 38 — seismic retrofit and vertical extension
- Mamad and safety standards — the mandatory reinforced room
- Trades in Israel — who does what, and why a general contractor matters
