The Nowak family faced classic dilemma. 60m² apartment for major renovation in Kazimierz for 500 thousand or new 50m² in Czyżyny for 700 thousand? They sat with us for calculations. Result was surprising.
Apartment for renovation seems like opportunity. 500 thousand is fair price. But let’s add costs. “Turnkey” renovation is minimum 2000 PLN/m². At 60m² comes out 120 thousand. But that’s optimistic variant.
In practice? You tear up floors – turns out installations need replacement. You plan 120, spend 180. Plus 6 months living in dust or renting elsewhere. Stress, decisions, crew control. We know this from hundreds of cases.
Clients from last year bought 70m² for renovation in Podgórze. Budget: 150 thousand. Final: 230 thousand and 9 months of nerves. “If we knew, we’d buy new” – they admit today.
But there are pluses. You renovate for yourself. Every detail to your taste. Apartments in old construction often have better proportions, higher ceilings, thicker walls. That counts.
New apartment is peace. You enter, unpack boxes, live. Zero surprises. Developer warranty, everything works. But you pay for this comfort. And often get lower quality materials than you’d choose yourself.
The Nowaks? After week of analysis chose… for renovation. Why? “We always dreamed of apartment in tenement. New block doesn’t excite us”. We helped find proven crew, realistic budget set at 180 thousand.
Our advice? If you like control, have time and nerves of steel – renovation can be adventure with happy ending. If you value peace and predictability – pay extra for new.
Key rule: to renovation budget add 50%. If you still can afford and still want – act. If not – keep looking.
Eternel – Estate Agency
📍 al. Jana Pawła II 58, unit 2.1, Kraków
📞 +48 577 707 032 (WhatsApp, Telegram)
🌐 eternel.agency
📲 Telegram: @Eterneladmin