CONDO PRO: A LITTLE PATIENCE GOES A LONG WAY

By Barbara Lawlor

 

Moving into a new condominium suite is wonderful. You can enjoy the benefits of brand new flooring, appliances, cabinets and painted walls, and everything is fresh and clean. It’s such a joy to select the finishes you want and then fully realize their beauty and practicality on an everyday basis. If you purchase early and are among the first to move in, you also have to accept the realities of new home construction and have patience while the building is completed. The upper floors, for example, may still require finishing, and some of the amenities might not be installed yet.

 

I remember when I moved into my first condominium, the corridors were still concrete, and there was no finishing completed around the elevators. Once I understood that these details would be taken care of once everyone on the floor had moved in, it made sense. Why install beautiful carpeting and moulding when it might be damaged by moving dollies and the like? And in the end, I was delighted with my suite. It’s well worth the wait – especially when you consider the fact that buying early and being one of the first to move in means you gain more equity in between.

 

Think of it like moving into a new low-rise community, where there is a certain amount of dust and dirt to contend with before all the driveways and landscaping is put in. A lot of that depends on the weather; sod will be delivered when the elements allow. A high-rise is built from the ground up, so if you move in early, you may see trades people going up and down the elevators to work on the upper floors.

 

Keep in mind, too, that moving people into a high-rise never takes as long as a low-rise community with the same number of homes. Landscaping comes together around a condominium building quickly, so it looks lush right away. Nowadays, realizing the importance of marrying nature with urban convenience, condo developers are spending a lot of time and money on landscape design, with mature trees and spectacular terraces and courtyards where residents can enjoy the outdoors.

 

Developers aim to finish amenity spaces early, too, so the first move-ins can enjoy these luxuries. But remember, that depends on the availability of trades and materials. Of course, residents receive the benefits of things like snow removal, lawn mowing, concierge service and the like right away, which is fantastic and a big part of what maintenance fees cover.

 

Your suite is just one part of a condominium, so when you move in, be understanding about how long it will take to live in a completed “home.” And while you wait for your occupancy date, make the most of that time by paring down your belongings and moving only what you really need and want. You’re starting fresh, so why clutter up your surroundings with unnecessary items? And keep an eye on the market for dual-purpose furniture that can offer you extra space. You’ll find everything from Murphy beds to coffee tables that open up with storage underneath. Be logical when you plan what you can fit into your new suite and what you may have to part with.

 

The point is, be realistic and patient with your move in general, because in the end, it’s well worth it. Time and again, we hear from clients that the finished product is even more fabulous than the renderings they saw when they decided to buy. They love the fact that they got to choose their features and finishes, and the life of ease and comfort they enjoy is unbeatable. In the long run, waiting a while for their corridors, elevators and amenities to be completed is little price to pay for years of beautiful, carefree living. When it comes to moving into a condominium, a little patience really does go a long way.

 

 

Barbara Lawlor is president of Baker Real Estate Incorporated and an in-demand columnist and speaker. A member of the Baker team since 1993, she oversees the marketing and sales of condominium developments in the GTA and overseas. Keep current with The Baker Blog at blog.bakerrealestate.com