18 Oct What to Know Before Making Changes to a Condo
Are you the owner of a condo or considering owning a condo? Whether you’re tired of the way that your condo looks or you’re thinking about purchasing a condo but want to make changes, you’re in the right place. Changing things about a condo can be really fun, but you may be also doing it to increase the value as well as make it look nicer.
Whether you’re thinking about doing a condo renovation or just making some positive improvements that are a little lower in scale and involvement, these projects would theoretically be possible. You may be thinking that your current or future living space could be in need of a little touch up.
If you have extra money in your budget to spend on making your condo nicer, you probably are either planning to enjoy that yourself or enjoy it and then potentially sell later. Most people won’t buy a condo if it has too much to do, but some people are interested. The majority of improvements to a condo are usually made by current owners and can often be small touch ups instead of larger-scale projects.
Planning and organizing before hand and doing your research will be key.
You’ll definitely be able to get whatever you want done accomplished if you can plan it out and then follow through. You will of course want to check with the condo association. Any condo owner usually is required to join the association of the condo community. They set the rules as well as collect monthly or annual fees that go towards general upkeep of the housing area.
So whether you live there or are in the market and shopping around, be sure that you get a copy of the rules and laws of the community. That way you can fully know what is going to be allowed and what you will be blocked or instructed to stop work on. This is very helpful and a must do before you make any financial investments.
Know the rules and guidelines of the community.
Knowing what you can and can’t do will help inform what projects you do take on. You may be just interested in doing a little work, but it is very smart to have a concrete black and white idea of what you can do and what you really need to abandon. Condo owners in particular need to check what will work before moving forward.
Associations want to maintain the integrity of the buildings and don’t want owners of units just attempting any project that they want to take on. It’s also a strategy to keep incompetent contractors and other people being hired and doing work that may impact not only the quality of the condo in place but neighboring condos as well. Bad work could cause a domino effect that diminishes value and even causes short and longer term problems.
Talk with your board or association.
Communicating with your association directly is a great idea before you get started on anything too. They may be able to tell you what forms you need or permission you need to get before getting started. If not, you may face heavy fines, so get the rules straight and in touch with a board as an owner.
Remember the hazards of serious work on old buildings.
Also keep in mind that if a residence was constructed before 1980, the materials used when disturbed may be a health hazard. Construction or renovations may stir up material or may be restricted by boards or associations for this reason.
If able to go forward with your project, use a trusted professional.
If you are allowed to hire a professional, then you may find it advisable to do so. Some associations are fine with a touch of wallpaper or you changing the paint shade on your walls but not as lenient when it comes to work that is greater in scope. A great business in your area that is board-approved may be able to do some great work.