| Moving into a Condo -
Things to Consider Living in a multi-unit building
tends to be different from living in a detached house and
there are things that need to be considered. For one thing,
since the neighbors are living much closer together, it is
easier to hear the noise from other units and there tends
to be strict rules about how much noise is tolerated and when
it is tolerated. Something else that needs to be considered
is being able to compromise. You are not the only person who
has a say and that will cut down on when things get done or
how things look. It may also mean that there are things that
need to be shared like a common laundry area. With reasonable
notice, most condominium legislation will allow an authorized
person to enter your unit to carry out any inspection and
maintenance of the unit that is needed. Condominiums tend
to be suited for specific lifestyles such as senior citizens
and people who have young children. There also tends to be
provisions regarding pets and these policies should be taken
into consideration before moving in. In many condominiums,
there tends to be several forms of security services such
as security guards and closed circuit cameras in lobbies and
parking garages to ensure the safety of the unit owners and
authorized personnel. There are some condominiums that require
guests to sign in and out of the condominium. There are many
condominium owners that live in their units, but there are
condominiums that rent a large percentage of units to other
people. This is important to consider because there may not
be as much pride in condominiums that rent a lot of its units
as opposed to those where the units are owned and lived in
instead of rented.
Noise
In a multi-unit, your neighbours are much closer, so you
may hear them more. Many condominiums have strict rules regarding
how much noise will be tolerated, and at what hours of the
day.Noise can also come from the mechanical services such
as plumbing, heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems,
elevators and garbage chutes. When purchasing a condominium,
you may want to consider the location of these services relative
to the unit you are thinking of buying. Additionally, when
buying a new condominium, you may want to ask the developer
if any sound transmission reduction measures have been used
in the construction of the building’s walls, ceilings
and floors.When buying an existing condominium, try to visit
the unit during the evenings or weekend to get a sense of
what the noise may be like at the time you are most likely
to be in the building. Consider the location of the unit relative
to elevators and garbage chutes. Check to see if the unit
faces a busy highway. If so, air-conditioning might be a necessary
feature so that windows can be kept shut in the summer.
Independence
Condominium living involves compromise. In return for having
someone else fix the roof or cut the lawn, you will no longer
have the final say in what colour you want your shingles to
be or the timing of yard maintenance.
Your condominium unit will likely be considerably smaller
than your current home. You’ll need to consider which
furniture and appliances will fit and what you might have
to leave behind. For instance, your unit may not be able to
accommodate a washer-dryer set which may mean having to use
a common laundry room.
Privacy
Under most provincial condominium legislation, with reasonable
notice, a person authorized by the condominium corporation
may enter your unit to carry out inspection and maintenance
of the common elements of the condominium (such as inspection
and repair of parts of the common elements such as windows,
mechanical and electrical systems that serve your unit and
others).
Lifestyles
Many condominiums are specially suited for a certain lifestyles,
such as families with young children, or seniors. Any condominium
provisions regarding pets should be known as well. It is important
to ensure that the prevalent lifestyle of the condominium
you are considering fits your lifestyle.
Security
Many condominiums offer increased security services, such
as closed-circuit cameras in lobbies and parking garages and
security guards, to ensure that only unit owners and authorized
personnel can access the building. Your condominium may require
that any guests to your unit sign in and out of the building.
Make sure you are comfortable with the security arrangements
before buying.
Unit Occupancy
While many owners of condominium units actually live in their
units, some condominium buildings have a large percentage
of the units rented out to others. If this is important to
you, try to find out from the property manager what percentage
of the building is owner occupied. This is an important consideration,
as a condominium building dominated by rental occupancies
may not show the same pride of ownership and sense of community
and security as a building that is fully owner occupied. Additionally,
absentee owners may not have the same maintenance and repair
priorities for the building as owners who actually live in
the building.
Your Guide to Ottawa Condos
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