Renovating an old apartment doesn’t fail at execution, but earlier, in planning or in the absence of it. Blown budgets, missed deadlines and results that look nothing like what was agreed upon almost always share the same root cause: work began before the project was complete. The guide below walks you through the right stages, their exact order, and the mistakes that cost the most.
Where to start when renovating an old apartment
The first step, before choosing finishes, is a proper diagnosis of the apartment. What is the condition of the electrical and plumbing systems, the wall structure, the flatness of surfaces, and any potential water infiltration or dampness?
In an older building, surprises are almost guaranteed to appear after the first hole is knocked in a wall.
“Unpredictable elements almost always show up in concealed areas, installations that aren’t what they appear on paper, structures hiding flaws, existing finishes that need remedying before you can move on”, explains Ioan Dobre, founder of Except Custom Solutions. “These are technical risks we manage through a proper diagnostic phase at the start of every project.”
Planning: budget, design, and permits
Only after the diagnosis, which must be complete before the first intervention on site, comes the design phase . Not just a floor plan, but the electrical and plumbing schematics, the exact positions of light fixtures, the dimensions of custom furniture and the technical execution details.
“The biggest hidden cost doesn’t come from materials or structural surprises, but from decisions made too late or changed along the way. Every modification after work has begun costs several times more than if it had been resolved during the design phase”, says Ioan Dobre.
If you’re planning to reconfigure the layout and want to demolish walls, first check their structural role. You may need a building permit from the local authority. Consult an architect or structural engineer before making any decisions.
The correct order of renovation works
In renovating an old apartment, the sequence of work directly affects cost, time, and the quality of the final result. The right order is:
- Diagnosis and strip-out. Removal of old finishes and inspection of concealed areas.
- Reconfigurations where the project calls for spatial changes
- Electrical, plumbing and heating installations are carried out before any finishes.
- Rough finishes. Plastering, screeds, surface levelling with proper drying times observed.
- Joinery. Windows and doors, where applicable.
- Final finishes. Floor tiles, wall tiles, parquet, paint, light fixtures.
- Furniture and fittings. Installation of custom furniture, appliances, and sanitary ware.
How much does renovating an old apartment cost?
The cost varies depending on the initial condition of the property, the complexity of the work, and the desired finish level. “There’s no universal minimum budget, because everything depends on the standard you’re aiming for and the starting condition of the space. Realistically, a full renovation, one that includes work on the installations, not just the finishes, starts somewhere in the range of €800–1,500/m², depending on complexity”, notes Ioan Dobre.
Common mistakes in renovating an old apartment
The most frequent mistakes are starting work without a finalised project, overlooking the condition of the installations, choosing cheap materials for critical areas and failing to set aside a contingency budget. Equally costly are mid-execution changes of mind, as they almost always lead to delays and additional expenses.
A successful renovation starts with a clear project, proceeds in the right order, and finishes without compromises made along the way.
