Finish levels

Black frame, white frame, green frame and turnkey explained

New build in Georgia is sold at different finish levels. If you don't know the terms, you end up comparing prices per square metre that aren't actually comparable — the fit-out accounts for USD 250–450 per square metre difference.

This page defines the four common levels and outlines which one suits which type of buyer.

Key takeaways

Black frame: bare shell, no interior installations.
Green frame: screed, windows, sometimes pre-installations.
White frame: plastered walls, connections laid, no flooring or bathrooms.
Turnkey: move-in ready, rentable immediately, highest purchase price.

Definitions

These terms are common market descriptions, not a standard — the contract must list the actual scope of work.

Black frame: load-bearing structure, exterior windows sometimes present, interior unfinished.
Green frame: screed and windows, pipework run to the unit, interior unplastered to partly plastered.
White frame: plastered walls and ceilings, electrical and plumbing connections laid.
Turnkey: flooring, bathrooms, kitchen, doors and painting all completed.

What to watch for

Get the fit-out scope attached to the contract as an annex — "white frame" doesn't mean the same thing across two developers.

Which windows, which heating, which connection for air conditioning?
Are interior doors, screed and bathroom rough-in included?
Who's responsible for fit-out defects after handover?

Example

A 50 sqm apartment in white frame at USD 1,100/sqm costs USD 55,000; upgrading to turnkey at USD 320/sqm costs a further USD 16,000. Buying the same unit turnkey would cost roughly USD 1,400/sqm, or USD 70,000 — so doing your own fit-out is often, but not always, cheaper.

Risks

Doing your own fit-out ties up time, requires coordinating local contractors, and delays your first rental income. Turnkey costs more but starts generating cashflow immediately.

Finish levels compared (as of 21 Sep 2026)
Level	Included	Extra fit-out cost	Suited to
Black frame	shell only	approx. USD 400–600/sqm	buyers with a local team
Green frame	screed, windows	approx. USD 350–500/sqm	price-focused buyers
White frame	plaster, connections	approx. USD 250–450/sqm	the market standard
Turnkey	move-in ready	furnishing only	letting from day one

Frequently asked questions

What's the difference between white frame and green frame?

Green frame is one stage earlier than white frame: screed and windows are in place, but walls aren't fully plastered yet and connections aren't fully laid.

Is turnkey worth it for investors?

If you want to let quickly without a local presence, usually yes. If you have time and a reliable local contractor, white frame plus your own fit-out often saves money.

How much does fit-out cost per square metre?

Going from white frame to turnkey, roughly USD 250–450 per square metre is realistic today, depending on materials and bathroom/kitchen standard. As of 21 Sep 2026.

Fit-out costs are market ranges, as of 21 Sep 2026, and vary by materials and project. · As of: 2026-09-21

Check finish level and cost

We'll compare white frame plus fit-out against turnkey for your target property.

Georgia real estate: answers to the questions that matter Tbilisi or Batumi: comparing the property markets Tbilisi districts for property buyers Batumi districts for property buyers Developer instalment plans in Georgia