Condos are proving to be a more worthwhile investment than ever before, especially in this housing climate that seems like it won’t ever slow down. If you plan on making renovations, it means getting the most out of your money, whether it be implementing balcony flooring or redoing the kitchen.
If you have recently purchased a condo or have been living there a while and are looking to make a serious change, there are more than a few ways that you can get the most out of your renovation experience.
1. Be Aware of the Rules
There are certain rules and restrictions that come with condo living. Although they may not have rules in place about making changes, there may be rules as to what times and days that renovations are able to take place.
Being aware of the different rules means being able to coordinate renovations, both for yourself and with any contractors. The last thing you want is to get the ball going and realize that your plans have been restricted by the various HOA rules that condo living has.
2. Have Clear Ideas
The developmental part of the renovation process can be the most time-consuming, but it is important. If you just start ripping things out and replacing as you go, it can lead to some less than ideal renovations being implemented.
For instance, know what kind of balcony flooring you want installed. Know what kind of countertops would look best in the kitchen. When you have a clear plan, it means getting the proper materials ordered and ensuring that timelines are followed properly. All of which means time and money saved over the course of the renovation.
3. Who Are You Renovating for?
This is perhaps the most important part of condo renovations. Far too many homeowners will renovate a home based on their own needs. Then, they try to sell the home and it isn’t quite as big a hit as they may have anticipated.
When preparing for the renovation process, have a clear idea of who you are renovating for. If it is for you, that is fine, but if you think that you may be selling in the near future, consider that. It may be better to make changes that will sell well rather than ones you like personally.
4. Know Your Limitations
As much as we would all like to go into the renovation process with an infinite budget, that just isn’t how life works. We are all working within specific parameters, which means finding the right labour and materials to get the job done.
That may mean not working on one area of the condo in favour of another that will have greater impact. It may mean going with a slightly less expensive material that will require bending or breaking of the budget. These limitations may not make themselves readily apparent, but are crucial to the process.
5. Flexibility Is Important
One of the biggest mistakes that get made during the renovation process is being inflexible. Important decisions are already made before the first hammer is brought out and that is not a bad thing. But being unable to move with the flow of the project is a huge flaw.
Sometimes things don’t go as planned. Designs or materials don’t work out as they were imagined. Being able to pivot and move in a new direction is of the utmost importance. There is no one right way. It is about finding what works for the space and for you.
6. Dropped Ceilings
A lot of condos feature concrete ceilings, making it tougher to implement lighting changes. That is why it is so common to have drop ceilings installed instead. Yes, it will slightly lower the ceiling but it will also provide greater flexibility with lighting options.
This is not only helpful for lighting but for ceiling-related changes, such as using a hood fan or rerouting ventilation. Even better, you don’t lose all that much space while gaining improved flexibility and lighting that would not have been available otherwise. Depending on the height of the fixtures, that could mean 6- to 12-inches of drop ceiling.
7. Stay flexible
Customers frequently enter restoration work with a lot of predetermined ideas about what they do and do not want, sometimes in very precise ways as well as in more broad terms. Consumers usually request features like a double sink, a king-sized bed, or a huge fridge. Yet it’s a good idea to be flexible on some of these points.
You may come to the conclusion that some of your objectives aren’t absolute must-haves after all when you see what you may receive if you’re willing to make a compromise. Accepting a smaller refrigerator can free up a lot of storage space that you can then use for various luxuries you might not have anticipated.
8. Don’t be scared with paint
A paint job that is incredibly dark might annoy you. Or perhaps you adore it but worry about the opinion of the future owner. In the end, taking a chance by selecting a unique paint color is overrated. The cost of a full remodeling is much larger than painting a whole room, despite the fact that it may seem like a great hassle to reverse a bold paint color.
You should plan to repaint when you eventually decide to sell in order to update to a new coat in a fashionable color. Painting the walls in colors you adore will breathe new life into the room while costing significantly less than many other potential upgrades.
9. Work with a third-party
Working with a designer or tradesperson can help you far more than usual when you are adhering to the stricter condo requirements. Beyond only performing the necessary contractor tasks, these experts can assist in organizing your multiple deliveries. As a result, fewer individual trips are required to deliver furniture and other items, and those materials only arrive when they are actually needed. By doing this, the hassle of having to repeatedly reserve the elevator and the supplies piling up inside or outside the unit before they are required will be avoided.
10. Stay somewhere else
If at all possible, renovate your condo while you are not residing there. When construction is at its busiest and you won’t have a kitchen or bathroom for a few days, either finish the work before you move in or find a temporary somewhere to live for around a week.
Your nightmare of a house in the middle of remodeling might become a wonderful getaway or staycation if you spend a few days with friends, family, or even in a hotel. Without having to observe the unsightly, messy in-between periods of building, where clients most frequently freak out, you’ll feel a lot less stress and appreciate the process more.
Conclusion
Although the techniques can be very different, upgrading a condo unit and a standalone house can result in similar-looking results. Before starting a project—even before buying a property—you should think about the constraints, options, and methods that come with each remodeling of a condominium unit. We have given you some things to think about before beginning your condo design project so that you aren’t hit with any unpleasant surprises.