Understanding turnkey restoration costs.
How we estimate turnkey restoration costs
Restoration projects involve many variables, and cost figures are often difficult to interpret without context.
At Green Heart Restorations, we choose to publish indicative “starting from” restoration costs on our Available Projects page to provide an informed reference point. These figures are intended to clarify the scale and scope of a potential project before any detailed design or briefing phase begins.
What we mean by “turnkey restoration”
In simple terms, a turnkey restoration is a coordinated process that results in a completed home, ready for use.
At Green Heart Restorations, this means orchestrating the full restoration journey by bringing together architects, engineers, consultants, contractors, and local authorities, while maintaining a single, consistent interface with the client. Each professional involved retains responsibility for their own scope of work, while we coordinate the process as a whole and guide it from initial evaluation through to completion.
This coordinated approach is the basis on which our cost estimates are developed.
The assumptions behind our “starting from” costs
The restoration costs shown on our website are carefully considered indicative figures, developed using a structured evaluation process and informed by detailed preliminary quantity surveys and technical analyses.
To establish a clear and consistent baseline, these figures assume:
The purchase price of the property is included as part of the overall turnkey estimate;
All available buildable or restorable surface and volume have been taken into account, as permitted by planning regulations;
Works and materials are specified to high construction standards, suitable for long-term use rather than minimal intervention;
Full compliance with current Italian building and seismic regulations;
A strong emphasis on energy efficiency and overall building performance, appropriate to the building’s characteristics;
A turnkey scope that includes landscaping preparation and a swimming pool;
These assumptions define a complete and coherent starting scenario, rather than a minimal or selective intervention.
Scope, volume and why costs can change
How much of the existing structure and permitted buildable area is developed is one of the most influential factors in any project.
Our estimates generally assume that all available volume is restored and brought into use. However, this is not the only possible approach. Restoring only part of the volume, reducing the overall build-out, or adopting a phased strategy can lead to different layouts, different numbers of bedrooms, and significantly different costs.
These alternatives are explored once project priorities are defined and form part of the early design and briefing phase.
What “starting from” typically includes, and what it doesn’t
The indicative figures focus on the core restoration and construction works required to deliver a structurally complete, compliant, and well-performing home.
Elements such as kitchens, bathroom fittings, furniture, and decorative items are often treated separately. These choices are closely linked to personal preferences and lifestyle and are therefore best addressed once the client’s brief is clearly defined. They can be incorporated into the overall project budget, but are not always embedded in early-stage baseline estimates.
The client’s brief as the central reference
Our methodology provides structure, however the client’s vision and objectives ultimately inform every project.
Intended use, spatial priorities, budget strategy, and long-term plans influence how the restoration is shaped and how costs are recalculated.
While alternative approaches may lead to lower overall costs, the figures shown on our website are intended to represent a comprehensive and high-standard baseline.
For this reason, they should be understood as a starting framework, designed to support informed discussion rather than define a fixed outcome.
A clear and informed starting point
Our aim is to provide clarity at an early stage while preserving the flexibility required for a genuinely bespoke restoration process.
By setting out clear assumptions and a structured methodology, we help clients engage with each project from an informed position, and then refine scope, design, and investment around their own priorities.
