Rough, Pre-Finish and Finished Apartment Finishes in a New Build: What to Choose and How Much to Complete
Developers in Bishkek sell apartments at varying degrees of completion. If you do not understand this in advance, you can buy an "apartment" and find bare concrete walls with no floor or ceiling. Here is a breakdown of each option.
Three Types of Finish: What Is the Difference?
1. Rough Finish ("No finish")
What is included:
- Concrete or brick walls
- Concrete floor screed (or rough floor)
- Windows and entrance door installed
- Engineering networks run to the apartment: water supply pipe, sewage riser, electrical panel with circuit breakers
- Heating radiators (in most residential complexes)
What is not included:
- Walls are not leveled or plastered
- Floor — screed only, no finish coating
- No plumbing, no internal electrical wiring
- No interior doors
- No ceiling finish
Best for: those who want to do the renovation entirely from scratch to their own specifications.
2. Pre-Finish ("Turnkey base")
What is added to rough finish:
- Walls are plastered (ready for putty and painting)
- Floor screed is leveled
- Electrical wiring run throughout the apartment (outlets, switches — without final covers)
- Water supply and sewage run to plumbing connection points
- Sometimes: underfloor heating screed
What is not included:
- Final wall and ceiling finish
- Plumbing fixtures
- Flooring
- Doors (except entrance)
- Kitchen and furniture
Best for: the optimal choice — you select materials and design but do not pay for "wet" work.
3. Finished ("Turnkey")
What is included:
- Leveled and painted or wallpapered walls
- Laminate or tile flooring
- Drop or stretch ceilings
- Plumbing fixtures installed (bath/shower, toilet, basin)
- Interior doors
- Basic electrical (outlets, switches)
- Sometimes: kitchen units
Best for: those who want to move in quickly with minimal investment. However, developer-standard finishes are usually cheap in terms of materials.
How Much Does It Cost to Bring an Apartment to a Livable State?
Rough Finish → Livable State (Basic Renovation)
50 m² apartment, Bishkek 2026:
| Work | Cost |
|---|---|
| Wall plastering (50 m² × walls ~120 m²) | 120,000–180,000 som |
| Floor leveling and screed | 40,000–70,000 som |
| Electrical (wiring + outlets) | 60,000–100,000 som |
| Plumbing (wiring + installation) | 50,000–90,000 som |
| Flooring (laminate/tile) | 60,000–120,000 som |
| Ceilings (paint or stretch) | 30,000–80,000 som |
| Interior doors (3 units) | 40,000–90,000 som |
| Materials (paint, putty, tiles, etc.) | 150,000–350,000 som |
| Total | 550,000–1,080,000 som |
In dollars: $6,000–$12,000 for a 50 m² apartment.
Pre-Finish → Livable State
Twice cheaper: the "wet" work is already done. Estimate: 300,000–550,000 som ($3,500–$6,500) for 50 m².
Finished → Livable State
Just furniture, appliances, lighting: Estimate: 200,000–500,000 som ($2,300–$5,800) for 50 m².
What Is More Profitable from an Investment Standpoint?
Buying for yourself:
- Pre-finish — the best balance of price and freedom of choice
- Finished — if you need to move in quickly
Buying to rent out:
- Developer's finished option — saves time to first rental
- But standard developer finishes become dated quickly — replacement needed after 3–5 years
What to Look for When Accepting an Apartment?
Full details — in the article "Accepting an Apartment from a Developer". In brief:
- Check floor horizontality and wall verticality (with a spirit level)
- Check all outlets and switches are working
- Check water pressure and sewage drainage
- Inspect windows for cracks and seal quality
- Record all defects in the handover act before signing
Typical Developer Deceptions Regarding Finish
- "Pre-finish" in reality turns out to be a rough finish
- The cheapest materials are included in the "finished" option (6mm laminate, cheap plumbing)
- Walls are "plastered" but crooked — will need rework
- Electrical is wired but insufficient capacity (thin cable)
Check everything at handover and do not hesitate to demand defect correction.
Consultation with Aziza Talantbekovna – realtor with 30 years experience in Bishkek. From 2,000 som. Tel: +996 702 584 477
PAID consultation. Not a free hotline. Price: from 2,000 som. Even for a single question.
Tel: +996 702 584 477