An apartment from a developer usually arrives with a standard finish. The right finishing works turn it into a home tailored to you – upgraded flooring and cladding, designed drywall ceilings, American skim coat and paint, and high-level finish details.
What is worth upgrading
- Flooring and cladding – the most permanent element in the apartment. An upgrade here is felt every day and raises the property's value.
- Drywall ceilings and concealed lighting – they completely change how the space feels.
- Skim coat and paint – the difference between walls that are acceptable and walls that are mirror-smooth.
- Niches and storage solutions – smart use of space that would otherwise be lost.
Timing – why early is cheaper
When you enter the picture changes the cost dramatically. Three points in time:
- Before the developer has done the finish – the cheapest. You can request change orders or take the apartment as a shell and execute the finish to your own specification without demolishing anything.
- After the developer's finish, before moving in – still good. You upgrade what you want, but you also pay for what gets removed.
- After you have moved in – the most expensive and exhausting: dust, moving furniture and phased work.
Change orders versus independent finishing
Developer change orders are convenient but usually expensive, and the choice is limited to their suppliers. Independent finishing gives full freedom in materials and design and usually a better price, but requires coordination with the developer and checking what the handover includes. The common solution: skip change orders on items you would replace anyway, and carry out an organised independent finish before moving in.
Frequently asked questions
When should we contact you?
Before receiving the apartment. At that stage we can plan, coordinate with the developer and prepare, so work begins the moment you get the keys.
What about the developer's warranty?
Changes you make do not cancel the developer's warranty on what they executed, but it is important to document the apartment's condition at handover, including photographs, before work begins.
How long does finishing a developer apartment take?
A focused upgrade runs from a few weeks to two months. A full finish on a shell apartment usually takes three to five months.
Is it worth upgrading before selling?
It depends what you upgrade. Visible improvements pay for themselves; an expensive, highly personal renovation usually does not.
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