cost of a renovation

I'm not a contractor, but yes....Every contractor will tell you though that there are too many variables to answer this question. It really depends on how high-end you want to make the apartment. And by "complete facelift" do you mean a gut reno? Or is it really only the two bathroom and new kitchen?

The floors need major sanding, walls need skim coat and paint, and then the bathrooms and kitchen. Old paneling on the walls needs to come out. Low to middle end supplies.

Is it possible to do this kind of work without a general contractor? Like hiring one person for carpetry, another for tiling, another for painting etc. - or is that generally not allowed in NYC?

David,

For a full gut renovation you can assume:

100 sq ft for low end
200 sq ft for medium
300 sq ft for hi end

This is just a starting point. The finishes have a lot to do with it

so funny.

david, main question is whether you are moving anything when you renovate - gas line, location of shower/tub or bathrooms all together, custom closets/doors or high quality standard closets/doors etc. These are expensive.

Otherwise:
Refinishing the floor is $3.5 per sq ft (for 1800, it is really 1300 sq ft floor).
Painting with skim coating can be 15-20K (adding 10-15k for skim coating).
2 bathrooms (1 nice at 50-75k, other at <25K, kitchen can be 50-100k depending on the size).
Add 50k for lighting, moldings, closets, doors (all standard stock items, no custom).

I would say $300k is plenty of money. You also have to be willing to look first at discounted items before you look at the latest and the greatest. Just like if you care about the cost, you do not buy from Bergdorf Goodman at full price but wait for 30-50% off sale (you off course may not get your choice).