Questions for your Condo Quest

Imagine moving into an immaculate new home with all the modern conveniences that you've longed for. Does it bring a smile to your face? Imagine that this home comes complete with all the maintenance and upkeep taken care of. Grinning broadly?

Now imagine that you can only take with you one quarter of all your possessions - furniture, books, family paraphernalia etc. Are you still smiling or do you need a box of Kleenex?

This is the dilemma facing a large number of people when they consider moving into a condo. Everyone loves that clean sleek look of an utterly organized condo. It somehow represents no housework, yet if you are not a 'condo' type it may represent much more housework!

Being a pack rat is only one part of the condo question, but it is the first place to start. If you still have every painting that your fifty year old daughter ever brought home from grade school, you may be a pack-rat. If you have saved the left-overs from every sweater you ever knitted or hoarded the screws and bolts from every broken item - likewise.

It may be that you will embrace that feeling of 'now is the time to get rid of all this', but for some people it is emotionally traumatizing.

I kid you not; they even make programs on it in some countries. You know, a newly furnished and decorated home is yours, but you only get thirty minutes to point out what you want from the old home. However, if you can do it, it is supposed to be very liberating to finally de-baggage the home!

Another gut-wrenching decision when considering the condo life is the question of a pet. Many buildings do allow pets (with size restrictions) but many do not. If you choose a condo with a no pets ruling, you can't change your mind about having a cat to keep you company later in life.

Although the maintenance-free part is a blessing to most, the monthly HOA dues will be paid by you to cover these things. These dues can differ greatly from condo block to condo block. While you are comparing, you may as well check out how the costs compare with a single family dwelling, if that is where you are now living.

Try to be objective about how much you may spend in a single family home on insurance, maintenance, garbage collection, lawn care, and possibly gym and pool upkeep. Check if the electricity is included in the fees.

If you live in a cold winter area, then having a pool and/or gym in the area can be a boon. You can expect the HOA fees are understandably higher; also check that you can bring a guest.

If you feel you may like to be a snowbird, and lease out your condo for part of the year, make sure that you will be allowed to do this. Another area that often has rules is noise and night-time! Most mid to late evenings and early mornings are quiet times. Taking up drum playing may present difficulties, but these rules can also work for you, as well.

If you're inclined toward the do-it-yourself renovations that may save you some hard cash, check carefully - there may be rules about this. Your repairs can easily affect other condos, so often only licensed contractors are awarded the work. If this is not the case, remember that you will have to check the noise rules if you are planning to hammer in the evenings after work!

Condo life is so worry free and protected, and all these rules will protect your peace and privacy too. If none of these situations have put you off, then you are probably a condo candidate.

Many people love the idea of walking through lawns that they don't have to mow and swimming in pools without having to worry what the Ph balance is. Added to this your car is in safe parking and - oh yes, did I forget to mention it? You can pay extra for optional storage - for all that junk!