How long does a full renovation ready to sell take?

If you’re renovating to sell, here’s the real timeline and how to fit 30, 60, and 90 days—no fluff: what actually delays a project, how to plan, and what it takes to deliver show-ready. In my experience, time is “far more expensive than gold”: planning before you start, pre-ordering materials, and coordinating trades is what separates a fast sale from a listing that lingers forever.

What no one tells you: permits, pre-orders, and coordination (what inflates the schedule)

Before the first trade walks in, you can already win or lose weeks. “Stealing time from time” happens before the build: permits, locked decisions, purchasing and pre-staging materials, plus a choreography so trades don’t step on each other.

Permits: if it’s major works (structure or significant layout changes), permits can take months. I don’t start without paperwork: promising 30 days with quality and permits in order is fiction. For minor works, it’s faster, but define scope well to avoid a stop-work.
Locked design: the #1 schedule killer is changing your mind mid-project. I lock layout, specs, and quantities before ordering a single tile.
Materials: bespoke kitchens and joinery are professional delay-makers if you don’t order on time. When I need speed, I prioritize in-stock and modular solutions.
Trade coordination: without a site lead, the renovation turns into a conga line. I run with a clear dependency map (who enters, when, and after what).

Schedule risks and how I mitigate them

Factor	Typical risk	Operational antidote
Permits	Months of waiting or stop-work	Verify permit type, file early, non-structural fallback
Made-to-measure items	+6–8 weeks	In-stock catalog; pre-approved Plan B/C
Mid-project changes	Rework and lost overlaps	100% locked design; formal change orders
Poor trade choreography	Idle time and cross-damage	Single point of leadership; dependency plan

30-day scenario: when it’s feasible and when it’s fiction

I’ve delivered 30-day express renovations, but only under near-military conditions. I call it “the Mad Sprint” because you shouldn’t promise it lightly without burning yourself.

When it’s (almost) viable:

Small home <60 m² (≈650 ft²), no structure, healthy or very localized services.
Rock-solid design and zero changes on site.
Materials in the warehouse from day −7 (yes, minus seven: pre-staging).
Team open to controlled overlaps and sometimes Saturdays.
An HOA/building tolerant of noise/hours.

When I do not sell 30 days:

Bespoke kitchen, special carpentry, or deep layout changes with heavy chasing.
August, Christmas, or long holiday chains.
Buildings with surprises: old damp, weak beams, museum-grade wiring.

Renovacion in 30 days (the Mad Sprint)

Item	Requirement for 30 days	Plan B if it breaks
Scope	No structure, <60 m²	Reframe to 45–60 days
Materials	Everything in stock and pre-staged	Ready-to-ship catalog alternatives
Calendar	Safe overlaps and (if allowed) Saturdays	Extend to 6–7 weeks with milestones

60-day scenario: the realistic average for 70–90 m² (week-by-week)

For 70–90 m² (≈750–970 ft²), 60 days (8–9 weeks) is my realistic average when everything is choreographed. This is where you make money without pushing the build until it breaks.

My typical execution schedule:

Weeks 1–2: selective demolition and haul-out; setting-out; start of plumbing and electrical. I hand over chases and pre-installations by the end of week 2.
Weeks 3–5: masonry, drywall, leveling, and tiling (baths/kitchen). If there’s microcement or large-format tile, I set tolerances to avoid rework.
Weeks 6–7: standard carpentry, flooring/laminate, two-coat paint. Here I deploy the “anti-change plan”: nothing moves now.
Week 8: fixtures, switches, lighting, punch and technical clean. Snagging list closed in 24–48 h.

Renovacion in 60 days (70–90 m²)

Phase	Typical duration	Key dependency
Demo + pre-installs	2 weeks	Approved plans and service points
Masonry + tiling	3 weeks	Verified MEP runs
Carpentry + paint + punch	2–3 weeks	Materials pre-staged; entry order set

(MEP = Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing)

90-day scenario: the smart buffer to sell without surprises

Ninety days isn’t delay; it’s a smart cushion when the home is over 100 m², has multiple bathrooms, bespoke details, or a building with “history”.

When I declare 90 days from minute one:

Made-to-measure kitchen/joinery with manufacturing lead times.
Reconfiguring wet rooms/kitchen, power upgrade, new compliance certificates.
Heritage or HOAs with strict rules on noise/elevators.
“Photo-ready” finishes (to sell high) where I prefer clean finishing over rushing.

My rule: promising 60 when you know it’s 90 eats your margin. A well-planned 90 with mid-stage inspections often turns viewings into reservations, because you arrive show-ready.

Phases and time by trades

Trades aren’t loose pieces—they’re a ballet. If they enter too late or too early, they trip. My base sequence (permits and materials already sorted):

Demolition and haul-out: 3–5 days. This is where surprises surface. If damp shows up, I diagnose and treat immediately (better lose 48 h than repaint in 3 weeks).
MEP (plumbing, electrical, HVAC): 1–2 weeks. I don’t close walls without pressure/continuity tests.
Masonry and finishes: 2–3 weeks. Plumb, level, joint control; with large formats, I respect curing times.
Carpentry and finishes: 1–2 weeks. Doors, skirting, hardware, final paint, sanitaryware, devices.
Technical clean + snagging: 1–2 days. Punch list signed by both sides.

“Ready to sell” checklist

A “ready to sell” renovation isn’t just the smell of fresh paint. It’s paperwork, staging, and photos. My non-negotiables:

Paperwork: updated EPC/energy cert, electrical/plumbing certificates if changed, completion cert if applicable, boiler manuals and warranties.
Home staging: less is more. Three layers—pro clean, light textiles, good lighting. No clutter.
Photos and listing: natural-light slots, wide angle without distortion, dimensioned floor plan. I never skimp here: it impacts visits and speed to sale.

Practical wrap-up

If I had to sum it up in one line: promise timelines you can meet without killing quality. Thirty days is a brave sprint reserved for very specific cases; sixty days is the winning standard for 70–90 m² when you prep everything with intent; and ninety days is your parachute for larger homes, bespoke items, or surprises. In flipping, speed matters, but selling right the first time matters more: arrive show-ready, with paperwork, staging, and photos—and the market will reward you.

Quick FAQs

Can you guarantee a full renovation in 30 days?
Only if the scope is small, no structure, everything is pre-staged, and the team works with controlled overlaps and maybe Saturdays. Even then, I frame it as a target, not a guarantee.

For 70–90 m², is 60 days realistic?
Yes—if the design is locked, materials are in stock, and there’s a strong site lead. That’s my average on well-prepared executions.

When do I move to 90 days from the start?
When there’s bespoke joinery/kitchen, multiple damp fixes, sensitive buildings, or permit timing around the project.

Does home staging really speed up the sale?
It boosts listing CTR and accelerates reservations. With modest spend and taste, the place “sells itself.”