Buying a condo in DC, is that so? Congrats! But wait a second, bear with us. Don’t go home hunting before you have read our tips and tricks for buying a condo. Is that really necessary, you may ask. Living in a condominium significantly differs from living in a house; consequently, there are a couple of things to pay attention to. But, even if you have experience with a condo or an apartment (close enough), what’s with condos in DC? You see, it is a big thing – purchasing a condo – and we’re here to prep you up.

Table of content:

• lifestyle
• amenities
• neighbors
• restrictions on renting
• pets restrictions
• other restrictions
• finance
• location

Your lifestyle plays a big role in buying a condo in DC

When buying a condo, you should take into account your habits and needs, your lifestyle in general. Condos are often loaded with amenities that luxury home buyers are looking for, but there’s more to it. Ask yourself whether you need all that a condo has to offer. If not, why would you be paying for a service you don’t use? It’s money down the toilet, isn’t it?

Check if there is a washer and dryer

This might seem trivial at first, but doing laundry in a common area. If so, find out how payment is handled beforehand and whether installing them in your unit is permitted. The same goes for other amenities that are shared.

Who are your neighbors?

How does a building look at first glance? Is it well-maintained or looks unhygienic? One glance tells a lot about your neighbors, association if you like. How is a building managed? Is it managed solely by the board or professionally as well? Where does the management money go? Reviewing the minutes of a condo association is a good way to check the seriousness and credibility of the members. Speaking of, evaluating DC movers is nicely explained on the first page of A2B Moving and Storage, so check it out!

Condo means sharing walls, hallways, and units with other people. If you have no problem with this, no one is holding you back. However, neighbors can turn out to be not as amiable and kind as you. Try to find out whether you’re dealing with a tight-knit community or quite the opposite.

Ask about restrictions on renting before buying a DC condo

What are the restrictions on renting, and how does that affect you? Would you choose a condominium with a higher owner-occupancy rate? Maybe you’d like to rent your unit in case you moved one day, for instance. What about your move? Our experts from Joel Real Estate are willing to help anytime.

Are pets allowed?

Are you a pet lover? Really! What is it, cats or dogs? Great! Yet another thing to ask is whether pets are allowed on the premises. That is an important question, even if you are not a pet owner. Should you be scared of dogs or allergic to cats, problems might occur.

What about other restrictions?

Sharing space with lots of other people often implies a bundle of restrictions. For instance, playing music or making any kind of noise, for that matter, after 10 p.m. is forbidden. In addition to the most common one, many other restrictions are imposed on residents. It varies from place to place, so learn what is permitted and what isn’t before purchasing a condo. 

Consider your financial standing when buying a condo in DC

Naturally, your financial assets are important when choosing the right condo to purchase in DC. If you’re looking for something more affordable, you can find it in the same building and with as much space. The only difference would be in the floor of your unit. The higher the floor, the higher the value of the property. Now you know. In the DC area, condo fees range from $100 per month to $1000 for a one-bedroom space.

Is the location right?

Will you be satisfied with the location of your unit? Being on some of the top floors is synonymous with a lot of noise and even sleepless nights. On the other hand, the most favorable option budget-wise is a basement, but it’s not a desirable spot, is it? 

Picking a unit on a higher floor means moving in will be harder. Moving, in itself, is a difficult enough process. To your luck, there is a way to transport your belongings safely, provided you schedule residential movers from the area. Better safe than sorry, right?

The same goes for the location of a building. Is it within walking distance of your workspace? Is it a stone’s throw away from a bank, post office, or other important public facilities? If not, can you commute there easily?

Buying a condo in DC is a process

Choosing the right condo is an exhausting process. When checking out a potential future home, we suggest taking a photo of a unit along with making a list of pros and cons. Once that you examined all of them, compare and decide.

Moving day has arrived

After getting the right supplies, packing, and determining the needed warehouse space and storage capacity for your belongings, you’ve finished with your part (well, not quite). Now movers enter the scene, helping with transporting items and moving in. Next is unpacking – just when you thought it all came to an end.

Are you finished with buying a condo in DC? How do you like your new home? Oh, you love it. Well, we did our job, glad to have helped, and will now leave you to enjoy it!