You bought a new-build apartment — congratulations. Now the real calculation begins: finishing 50 m² can cost from 60,000 to 180,000 PLN. Where does that range come from and how do you avoid overpaying?
Problem
A developer-state apartment looks similar regardless of the developer: bare concrete walls, plaster, screeds, PVC windows, front door, utility connections. Empty, cold, smells of cement. And now you have to turn it into a home.
The biggest buyer mistake: underestimating finishing costs when making the purchase decision. The bank asks about your creditworthiness for the apartment — but doesn't ask whether you can afford to finish it.
Typical financial surprises after receiving the keys: — Separate electrical circuits for the fridge, dishwasher and appliances — nobody mentioned they were missing — Painting walls without levelling with plaster gives an orange-peel effect — Air conditioning installed after finishing = chiselling walls all over again
Solution
Stages of finishing a developer-state apartment and their costs (50 m², optimal standard):
Stage 1 — Preparation (2–3 weeks) | 8,000–18,000 PLN Interior design or technical design, gypsum plaster: 18–35 PLN/m², screed levelling: 22–40 PLN/m².
Stage 2 — Installations (2–4 weeks) | 12,000–28,000 PLN Electrics: circuits for appliances and air conditioning. Plumbing: extending connections in bathroom and kitchen.
Stage 3 — Wet works (3–5 weeks) | 15,000–40,000 PLN Tiles in bathroom and kitchen, self-levelling screed. 5 m² bathroom with fittings: 18,000–45,000 PLN.
Stage 4 — Floors and wall finishing (2–3 weeks) | 12,000–35,000 PLN Laminate or solid wood, painting: 18–35 PLN/m², suspended ceilings with lighting.
Stage 5 — Doors, lighting, appliances (1–2 weeks) | 8,000–22,000 PLN Interior doors: 600–4,000 PLN each, appliance installation and connection.
Total (50 m², optimal standard): 55,000–143,000 PLN — Budget: 45,000–75,000 PLN — Optimal: 76,000–120,000 PLN — Premium: 121,000–200,000+ PLN
Checklist
- Plan the finishing budget BEFORE signing the notarial deed — include it in the mortgage
- Get a finishing estimate right after receiving the keys, not a rough guess
- Commission the electrical design before painting — changes after = chiselling
- Decide on air conditioning before finishing — pipes run inside the wall are invisible
- Bathroom and kitchen first — you cannot live without them
- Schedule: installations → wet works → floors → painting → fitting
- Book crews 3–4 months in advance (2026: high demand)
- Calculate a precise estimate online — you'll know how much to request in the finishing loan