Repair from the developer: the pros and cons of buying an apartment with or without decoration

There are three options for buying an apartment in a new house, we will consider each of them in detail:

1. No finishing. In this case, you literally get bare walls, communications are simply brought into the apartment and that’s it. The advantages of this purchase option:
   • lower price of new living space;
   • the opportunity to invest in major repairs and do everything from the very beginning with high quality and sound quality, controlling the process;
   • it is possible to stretch the cost of repairs over time, to do everything gradually.

   Cons of an apartment without finishing:

   • you will have to do everything yourself – look for a brigade of workers, purchase building materials, delve into the technology of carrying out certain works;
   • repairs will take a lot of time, money and effort;
   • it will not be possible to move immediately, the repair process can take a long time.

2. Apartment in a new building with a rough finish. This is an intermediate option that is popular with buyers. An apartment with a rough finish is already plastered walls, completed communications, a simple concrete screed on the floor, radiators under the windows, chandelier hooks on the ceiling. That is, the developer takes on all the dirty work, and leaves the final finishing, work on interior decoration to you. Advantages of purchasing an apartment with a rough finish:
   • you do not have to waste time on the most time-consuming and dirty repair work;
   • it is possible to choose the color of the walls, high-quality plumbing, decorate the interior, according to your wishes;
   • repair times are noticeably reduced.

   Minuses:

   • the wiring of communications by the developer can lead to the fact that there will be fewer outlets in your living room than you need;
   • moving right away will still not work, because living in an apartment without flooring and plumbing is impossible.

3. Apartment with a fine finish from the developer. This is already a “turnkey” option, a living area ready to move. It is understood that the developer will carry out all repair work, without exception, and also install plumbing. Advantages of a finished apartment in a new building:
   • You can move immediately, which is especially important for those who rent a house – direct and significant cost savings;
   • repairs can be generally cheaper than if you do everything yourself – the developer buys finishing materials in bulk, the work goes in a stream;
   • reputable construction companies give a guarantee for finishing work. It is easier to ask a developer than to seek correction of errors from a brigade of shabashniki.

   Minuses:

   • you may not quite like the result of the repair – the wallpaper is faded or too bright, the tile on the kitchen apron is not what you would like, and so on;
   • the developer can save money and use poor quality finishes, install cheap plumbing, which will soon have to be changed;
   • under wallpaper, paint and tiles, it is more difficult to see possible problems that may appear over time.

Describing the pros and cons of the presence or absence of repairs from the developer, we have not yet mentioned such a moment as the shrinkage of a new house. We are sure that this item deserves a separate detailed consideration in the light of the repair work.

Important!Any new home shrinks. And with the help of a screw compensator, as in a log house, you cannot cope with it. Brick houses can gradually shrink over the years, and the first year the joints dry out. In panel houses, the most problematic are the joints and corners of the slabs, and monolithic buildings sit down entirely, usually without distortions.

It is because of shrinkage that experts advise not to make major, high-quality repairs in new buildings for at least a year after delivery. So what do you do? Order repairs from the developer or wait a year with bare walls, waiting for the end of the shrinkage?

Here the opinions of experts differ. On the one hand, making expensive repairs without waiting for the house to “calm down” is risky. Then cracks may appear, you will have to fix the existing problems. It turns out that it is better to buy an apartment without finishing and wait.

On the other hand, it is the repair from the developer that can be a good alternative. That is, finishing from a construction company will turn out to be a compromise – you will be able to move immediately, and after a few years, after the final shrinkage of the house, you can make new repairs yourself.

Important!When accepting a renovated apartment from a developer, sign the acceptance certificate indicating all the shortcomings that the contractor is obliged to correct at his own expense, according to the contract and the availability of guarantees. We recommend bringing in an experienced finishing builder who will help you find flaws that are often invisible to non-professionals. Save money on rework.

We state:if you live in a rented apartment, you cannot wait a year before the house shrinks and spend time on repairs “from scratch”, finishing from the developer will be the best solution. If you want a designer renovation, a special layout and are ready to wait until the house settles down – the option of an apartment without finishing is just for you.