Renovating a Condo

2.26 Renovating A Condo

Living in a condo has definite advantages. These advantages can be highlighted in some circumstances. The severe winter being experienced by the Jersey City area is a case-in-point. If you live in one of the luxury units at Henley on Hudson in Weehawken, for instance, you don’t have to come home after a hard day at the office and shovel snow, because the maintenance crew has already taken care of that.

Sometimes, after living for awhile in a condo, people feel like they would like to make some changes. Redecorating in a condo is usually not a problem. A change of color scheme, or a new sofa set is easily arranged. If you want to go further and actually do some remodeling, it may not be quite so simple.

The first thing to do is to very carefully read the rules. The covenants, conditions, and restrictions (CC&R’s) are spelled out in what is known as the Status Certificate. This will explain just what is off limits and what you are free to renovate. These are often written in complicated legalese, so you may even want to consult with your condo corporation with specific questions. If you do this in writing, or by email, you’ll have a good record of the communication process.

If you’re a do-it-yourselfer, keep in mind that a lot of condos have rules about the hours when work can be done. If you can’t do your tasks during these daytime hours, you may have to hire contractors. Having an architect draw up plans is a good way of being sure everyone understands exactly what is to be done.

Another detail to arrange ahead of time is access to the premises for any workers. Parking should be arranged, as well as a system for disposal of any waste from your project. Of course, notify the doorman if there is one. It is probably a good idea to let your neighbors know what you are planning, so they aren’t alarmed by the extra activity around your unit.

When deciding about what to renovate in your unit, you may want to consult the conventional wisdom on which projects might increase the value of your condo, especially if you have plans to sell in the next few years. You can greatly enhance your chances of selling with certain projects, while others, even though you love the upgrade, may even be a disadvantage when trying to sell.

When you follow the rules, renovating can be a great adventure in condo living!

Edward

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