Construction economics
What Does a $2M Renovation Actually Buy?
Owners are usually surprised by the split. Finishes are the visible part and rarely the expensive part.
Project breakdown
On a substantial renovation, the majority of the budget typically lands in scopes an owner will never show a tenant: structure and envelope repair, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, life safety and code-driven upgrades.
Finishes — flooring, paint, cabinetry, fixtures — are what people picture when they hear renovation, and they usually account for a smaller share than expected. That is why cutting finishes rarely rescues a budget that was wrong about systems.
The useful exercise before you commit: ask for a preliminary budget organized by cost category rather than by room. If the categories are missing, the number is not a budget yet.
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