So, you think you want to own a condo. You want smaller space. You don’t want to deal with mowing the lawn or shoveling snow. Fair enough. However, you should definitely look before you own. Yes, condos have a downside.
One problem is other people’s pets. If other condo owners don’t obey the leash law, you may find someone else’s dog on your leg. Also, you might be the unlucky recipient of a late night barking serenade if someone is walking his or her dog in the evening.
Another problem is insulation. If the insulation is poor, you have no privacy. For instance, your conversation may be heard by your neighbors, and vice versa. (Do you really want Nosy Nellie to know your family dirt? Also, do you want to hear your neighbors really think about you?) Neighbors may also hear your doors closing. Also, if you have downstairs neighbors, they may hear your toilet flushing or even your footfalls if you have on hard shoes. (When I said no privacy, I meant it.) In addition to privacy issues, it’s easier to hear a neighbor’s television or radio, and vice versa, because of the poor insulation.
Want a home business? You better check your condo rules. That’s right. Some condos don’t allow you to use your own home as a business.
Another problem is decorating your home. Some condos don’t allow you to change your front door or the blinds on the windows or patio. Also, if you want to have work done on your condo, it has to be approved. (Oftentimes, the company that does the work has to be approved, as well.)
At this point, you may be wondering what the difference is between owning a condo and renting an apartment. One big difference is voting. Yes voting. For instance, in some condos, owners vote on whether or not the condo entrances are locked in the daytime. Do you really want other owners determining how secure your home is?
Another difference is, if you don’t like the apartment, you can leave when your lease is up. With a condo, you have to sell it.
In conclusion, a condo is not really your home. Living in a condo has a lot of the advantages and disadvantages of renting an apartment. However, if you want to leave, you have to sell it. So, before owning a condo, you might want to try renting one first. So, you think you want to own a condo. You want smaller space. You don’t want to deal with mowing the lawn or shoveling snow. Fair enough. However, you should definitely look before you own. Yes, condos have a downside.
One problem is other people’s pets. If other condo owners don’t obey the leash law, you may find someone else’s dog on your leg. Also, you might be the unlucky recipient of a late-night barking serenade if someone is walking his/her dog in the evening.
Another problem is insulation. If the insulation is poor, you have no privacy. For instance, your conversation may be heard by your neighbors. Do you really want Nosy Nellie to know your family dirt? Neighbors may also hear your doors closing. Also, if you have downstairs neighbors, they may hear your toilet flushing or even your footfalls if you have on hard shoes. (When I said no privacy, I meant it.) In addition to privacy issues, it’s easier to hear a neighbor’s television or radio, and vice versa, because of the poor insulation.
Another downside is voting. Yes voting. For instance, in some condos, owners vote on whether or not the condo entrances are locked in the daytime. Do you really want other owners determining how secure your home is?
Living in a condo indeed has a lot of the advantages and disadvantages of renting an apartment. However, every type of residence would have their own sets of disadvantages too. Getting and living in a condo unit might face you with possibilities of all the mentioned problems, but if you plan properly ahead and picked out a unit made by a trusted developer within a good community, just like the ones Condo wizard offers, you’ll significantly lower the hassles of owning and living in a condominium.
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