What does "the apartment is for sale according to the Bulgarian Institute for Standardization (BDS)" or what is often found in the ads "on the cork"* mean?

*”on the cork” or as originally “на тапа” in Bulgarian is a term used by the construction industry and real estate market in the country for properties which require finishings; the buyer must choose and pay extra for the fixtures and fittings.

When it comes to choosing a property, the first though is always to get a newly built apartment – or the so-called “according to BDS" or “on the cork” *. By using these terms, the ads describe in what form the builder sells the apartment to the new owners.

In fact, the abbreviation BDS means Bulgarian Institute for Standardization, but if an inspection is made, it turns out that there is no such official standard in the construction industry, which is also confirmed by the experts from the institute.

On the real estate market, an apartment which is under completion "according to BDS" means that the common areas and the facade will be completely ready, which is in line with the changed in 1990 BDS. In the apartments you can choose yourself the doors, the wall covering, the type of flooring, the tiles in the bathroom, etc.

The degree of completion in many cases depends on the specific agreement with the contractor.

What to expect when the apartment is sold to the new owner “according to the BDS”?

If you want to choose everything yourself in your new home, then buying an apartment "according to BDS" will be the most suitable option. 

In this case, you will receive the property in the following shape:

• All the walls in the living quarters will be plastered and ready for wallpapering or painting.
  
  
• The brick walls in the bathrooms will be plastered, and those with increased resistance to humidity plasterboards will be with cement screed.
  
  
• The floors of the apartment will be with cement screed, and the terraces and loggias will be with granite tiles;

• PVC windows will be installed, which every good construction company chooses according to the weather conditions of the area, as well as double-glazed windows, corresponding to the facing direction of the apartment.
  
  
• External entry doors will be placed. However, the construction company does not always install an interior door, which must comply with the height of the flooring that is planned to be installed afterwards. If you do not want a more expensive interior door, they will install you a fiberboard door, which you can paint or replace at a later stage.
  
  
• The water and sanitation installations will be made so they can reach the required points.
• The electric installations will have sockets and switches installed as well as network and TV sockets and sockets for lighting fixtures.

What are the specifics when buying an apartment "according to BDS"?

While the purchase of a “turnkey” apartment in Bulgaria means that the buyer receives his property in a completely finished exterior look, the apartment "according to BDS" requires time and some extra budget for finishing works, such as:

• An additional layer of cement, floor screed and leveling to prepare for the application of the chosen flooring type or the flooring itself.
  
  
• Additional plastering of the walls prior to the application of latex paint or wallpaper.
  
  
• Adhering tiles and sanitary ware in the bathroom, as well as finishing the entire interior.
  
  
• Installation of sockets, lighting fixtures, etc.

What are the advantages of buying an apartment "on the cork" * ?

If you think that an apartment "on the cork" * is quite far from your idea of a finished home, but you want to take care of everything in your new property, this will definitely be the better choice for you. You will have the chance to see for yourself the quality and to give your own touch to the property. In addition to that, the price is also lower than that the “turnkey-move in ready” apartment.

If your condition is to move in quickly, and the finishing repairs are not your thing, then it is recommended to choose the option – “turnkey-move in ready” apartment.

However, with an apartment “according to BDS”, your individual choice of materials, color solutions, equipment and overall design will make your home cozier, highly personalized and pleasant to live in.

You should know that all major construction companies have a specialized department called "Finishing works". These finishing works are done by experienced professionals who know the building very well and its individual specifics.

The Atlantis Estates team has professional interior designers who, if requested by the client, can create a personalized interior plan for every taste. This is a way to get the individual solutions you have dreamed of, while not wasting time and effort in their implementation.

If you are an investor and you have decided to sell the property in the form of "according to BDS", on your side is the advantage of not investing in maintenance. You can keep it long enough as long as there is a good market or until a buyer appears.

Keep following the Atlantis Estates blog for any useful information and news from the real estate world or contact us if you need help or an individual advice. Because we have the necessary knowledge, experience and desire to continue to be useful to our customers and partners!