Depending on which industry expert you talk to, you’ll get a slightly different answer regarding the duration needed to renovate an apartment.
This, of course, will be a general estimate and is by no means set in stone. For example, for a one-bedroom California apartment remodel, you can expect the work to take close to three weeks.
There are several factors that will determine this timeline. The size of the apartment and the scope of the work to be done are key factors to consider. It helps to speak with an expert in this area. They’ll most likely offer a very good estimate based on experience.
Do Accurate Apartment Renovation Estimates Matter?
It might seem easier to just think of the budget of an apartment renovation project without being overly concerned with the duration needed.
While this can be ideal if you’re just an owner looking for renovation, this can be problematic if you’re a landlord. As a landlord, your apartment is a source of income. This means that anything that affects your apartment in any way threatens your source of income.
A common issue with renovation is that it can lead to reduced occupancy in the long run. If you decide to renovate your apartment and the project takes days on end, it will disrupt the lives of the tenants.
This is not to mention the inconveniences and chaos caused by noise as parts of the apartment are gutted and drilled. This can deplete any goodwill you may have built with the tenants, leading them not to renew their lease.
Scope creep is the term used within the construction industry to refer to a situation when the estimated time and scope for completing a project are way off. This will mean more time and resources wasted as the workers try to get a grip on the whole situation.
For example, after starting a renovation project, the contractors may discover that the extent of remodeling needed is much more than anticipated. This will mean more time and money to get the job done.
Scope creep is not good for tenant occupancy. This is why it’s essential to always seek professional help in order to get the right.
On average, it takes about 3 days to renovate a small apartment consisting of a kitchenette, a bedroom, a bathroom, and a small living area.
Of course, this assumes that the renovation work is nothing more than painting and repairing some cracked shelves and other surfaces. If the project requires gutting an entire wall section and rebuilding, it can take up to almost 2 weeks to complete the job.
For a three-bedroom apartment, renovation work can take up to 8 weeks if there’s significant gutting and rebuilding involved. This long timeline accounts for the different phases of the remodeling work. For example, the pre-construction phase usually involves the planning and sourcing of materials.
The construction phase is when the actual work is done. Depending on factors like the complexity of the project and the experience of the contractors, a minimum of 4 weeks may be required for remodeling a three-bedroom apartment.
Time and costs can always be optimized. With a big apartment of three bedrooms or more, there’s always an opportunity for multi-tasking and using the principle of economies of scale.
The economy of scale is an economic concept that states that an equal amount of money can be saved on tasks for a commensurate increase in productivity. This means that the faster (and more efficient) the contractors work, the more money it’ll save.
Multi-tasking is crucial for this principle to work. For instance, as the contractors wait for the wall paint in the living room to dry, they can begin renovating the bathroom fixtures. As they wait for the fixed tiles to become permanently fixed, they can take on the exterior of the apartment… and so on.
Factors that Lengthen Renovation Timelines
There are several things that can extend the timeframe of an apartment renovation work. These include:
1. Bidding Delays:
As an apartment owner or manager, you may want to shop around for the best renovation rates. This will likely mean that the project won’t start on time. Sometimes, you may need to change contractors mid-project. This will lengthen the renovation time.
2. Scope of Work and Waiting Time:
If you have to do an extensive remodel, expect that work to take at least a few weeks. This is compounded if you have an inefficient crew that cannot optimize their work. For example, if they have to wait for the paint job to get dry before starting other remodeling work, this will increase the renovation timeframe.
Ultimately, how much work is required and the labor available will determine the length of time needed for an apartment renovation.
