{"teamId":"12191","campaignId":"1609","seriesId":"43485","from_email":"","email_subject":"You ever think about a condo?","attachment":"","email_message":"\r\n\t\r\n\t\t\r\n
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\r\n\t\t\t\t<\/i>\r\n\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t
\r\n\tHey {first_name},
\r\n\t <\/div>\r\n
\r\n\tToday I want to talk to you about 10 common misconceptions about owning a<\/div>\r\n
\r\n\tcondominium. Don't buy a condo if you believe any of the following:<\/div>\r\n
\r\n\t <\/div>\r\n
\r\n\t1. I have total freedom to renovate and decorate.<\/strong><\/span>
\r\n\t <\/div>\r\n
\r\n\tKeeping in mind that you don't actually own the electrical\/plumbing\/anything on the<\/div>\r\n
\r\n\tother side of the drywall, you may not be permitted to make major alterations. Any<\/div>\r\n
\r\n\tmajor reno, like tearing down walls or adding a second bathroom, will require board<\/div>\r\n
\r\n\tapproval. In terms of d\u00e9cor, they may even have regulations over window covering<\/div>\r\n
\r\n\tcolors or what you're allowed to hang on your front door.<\/div>\r\n
\r\n\t <\/div>\r\n
\r\n\t2. My balcony will be my BBQ haven.<\/span><\/strong>
\r\n\t <\/div>\r\n
\r\n\tBarbecues are usually banned in condos because fire rules don't allow propane tanks<\/div>\r\n
\r\n\tto be transported in elevators. So unless that balcony has an existing natural gas<\/div>\r\n
\r\n\tline, you likely aren't going to be doing any bbq-ing.
\r\n\t <\/div>\r\n
\r\n\t3. The condo board pays for big expenses - not me.<\/span><\/strong>
\r\n\t <\/div>\r\n
\r\n\tActually, you are the condo board. While you may not have an official role on the<\/div>\r\n
\r\n\tboard, as an owner, you own a certain percentage of the condo. Part of the fees you<\/div>\r\n
\r\n\tpay go toward a reserve fund to pay for things like a new roof. Thus, the board is<\/div>\r\n
\r\n\tusing your money when they spend this reserve. And if there isn't enough money in<\/div>\r\n
\r\n\tthe fund to pay for repairs, they'll either increase the condo maintenance fees or<\/div>\r\n
\r\n\tcharge you a lump sum payment.
\r\n\t <\/div>\r\n
\r\n\t4. I don't need insurance \u2013 my condo fees cover it.<\/span><\/strong>
\r\n\t <\/div>\r\n
\r\n\tTrue, but the insurance included in your fees covers only the building itself. You still<\/div>\r\n
\r\n\tneed to buy content insurance for all of your personal belongings ie. your fridge,<\/div>\r\n
\r\n\tyour stove, and the like.
\r\n\t <\/div>\r\n
\r\n\t5. My 80 lb German Shepard will be living with me in my condo<\/span><\/strong>
\r\n\t <\/div>\r\n
\r\n\tPractically every condo has rules restricting pets \u2013 from number and<\/div>\r\n
\r\n\tkinds of animals, to size. Most commonly, we see a two-pet maximum and a size<\/div>\r\n
\r\n\trestriction for dogs (often 25 pounds). If you don't want to give up your pets, let me<\/div>\r\n
\r\n\tknow about them before you buy.
\r\n\t <\/div>\r\n
\r\n\t6. I'd rather own a house because condo fees are too expensive.<\/strong><\/span>
\r\n\t <\/div>\r\n
\r\n\tOwning a condo is almost always cheaper than owning a house. House owners have<\/div>\r\n
\r\n\thigher utility bills and insurance payments. They need to pay for water, garbage and<\/div>\r\n
\r\n\tsewers, and should budget 3-5% in annual maintenance and repair costs.<\/div>\r\n
\r\n\t <\/div>\r\n
\r\n\t7. Condo board meetings are irrelevant to me.<\/span><\/strong>
\r\n\t <\/div>\r\n
\r\n\tFalse! Sure, condo living means being at the mercy of the other owners and the<\/div>\r\n
\r\n\tcondo board. But as an owner, you do get a vote at the meetings \u2013 make it count if<\/div>\r\n
\r\n\tyou don't agree with rules they may pass. Just be prepared if they may not clean the<\/div>\r\n
\r\n\twindows as often as you'd like, or they increase fees to pay for facilities you don't<\/div>\r\n
\r\n\tuse. Regardless, there's a ton of relevant information that impacts your day to day<\/div>\r\n
\r\n\tlife\u2026.so stay active.
\r\n\t <\/div>\r\n
\r\n\t8. All condo fees are created equal.<\/span><\/strong>
\r\n\t <\/div>\r\n
\r\n\tInclusions in maintenance fees vary. Some condos include all utilities, while others<\/div>\r\n
\r\n\tinclude only hydro. Some include cable TV, and some have separate fees for parking<\/div>\r\n
\r\n\tand lockers. Moreover, while most buildings charge owners based on the size of their<\/div>\r\n
\r\n\tunit, older buildings usually have the same fees regardless \u2013 a bonus for bigger units<\/div>\r\n
\r\n\tand an unfortunate reality for smaller ones.  
\r\n\t <\/div>\r\n
\r\n\t9. If I have a problem in my building, I should post it on social media.<\/strong><\/span>
\r\n\t <\/div>\r\n
\r\n\tIt's tempting to air out your concerns on social media. But your post about the<\/div>\r\n
\r\n\tbroken elevators or noise on the street might impact the value of your condo down<\/div>\r\n
\r\n\tthe road - and hurt you when it comes time to sell.
\r\n\t <\/div>\r\n
\r\n\t10. I have an unobstructed view.<\/strong><\/span>
\r\n\t <\/div>\r\n
\r\n\tViews change all the time. So unless your condo has air rights,<\/div>\r\n
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\r\n <\/i>\r\n <\/div>\r\n

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