Condo Dilemma: To Be or Not To Be

Confused, whether to buy a condo or go for a freehold?

A condo is very convenient option for the variety of reasons. Especially in the urban centers such as Mississauga, it is quite convenient and an affordable choice. Another reason associated with the condos is that it comes with no additional baggage as you don’t have to do the exterior maintenance such as dealing with the snow in winter, roof leakage in the rain or doing the yard work. Some of its highlighting attributes also include a proper dedicated parking space, more enhanced security and deluxe recreational facilities.

The reasons are endless but whatever they may be, you should always know all the cards on the table. Condominium is often confused by many people. Well to give you a better understanding; a condo is a unit which is similar to the house minus the exterior appearance and its associated upkeep, and including areas co-shared by the residents of other units. Additionally, a monthly cost of maintenance is prescribed by the Condominium Corporation comprising of the condominium unit owners.  Having a condo can certainly boost your investment as you wholly own the condo while sharing common elements with the other unit owners with the comfort of living in the metropolitan skyline of the city or more of a classically styled townhouse.

Whereas, the freehold units brings different things to the table as compare to the condominium. You can modify the place according to your living preferences. Unlike in a condo, you do have to look after for the exterior upkeep as well in case of the freehold unit. You can minimize your monthly incidental expenditures by doing some of the outdoor work by yourself instead of hiring expensive labor.

Another characteristic of the condo is that it is governed by the by-laws which are laid down by the particular Condominium Corporation. It foresees things such as the alteration boundaries of the condos and limitations to your right of property associated with your unit in the condominium building. There are many things to keep in mind before buying a condo instead of going for freehold. At the end of the day it is about the life style preference which is the main factor in deciding whether it should be a Condo or a Freehold home. To further clear your dilemma on this, you would need the services of a good and experienced real estate agent specializing in the market of condominium in the GTA.

The top 6 tips that you need to know if you are looking to convert your space for living or staging purposes

So, you are looking forward to convert your free space without spending a lot of money. You can use this space according to your requirements; you can easily use it for living or for staging purposes. It is certainly a great idea if you love socializing and have many friends and family members, who love to gather and celebrate. 

I am going to share a lot of tips for your renovation process that will help you out. This will help you out in organizing and planning things carefully. 

• First of all, look out for a fireplace if you have any? If not, then you can develop the fireplace wall according to the structure and design of your fireplace and give it a unique touch. If you are looking forward to renovate your fireplace then, you can place some artificial stones around it. You can always add a few accessories to that area. A nice set of candles, holders and frames you can plan out the whole area. It is always cool to place a suitable mirror and a rug in front of the fireplace area. 

• The window can be used to add some spice to the space. The window must be big enough and the view must be pleasing. You can mark out the window trims different from the color of the existing or the renovated wall. You can also add new curtains, suitable shades or blinds to that area. It also depends on the type of look you are looking for. If you have a small window then you can add long blinds or curtains to cover the area and give it a broad look.

• Wall plays a very important role in the conversion of space. Depending on the purpose of the renovation, you need to make the wall most interesting for your visitors. You can make it the focal point of your living or staging area. It can be any wall opposite the main wall, which houses the fireplace area. Against this wall, you can arrange sitting place, living place or any other dining accessories.  The color and structure of the wall must match the furniture you want to place in front of it. 

• Lighten up your space with the help of proper lighting and accessories. You need to install the best light fixtures, which will go along with your new décor. Lamps will look great and they can be placed along with the fireplace area. You can also place a nice piece of art or an indoor plant beside it. Ceiling lights will look great if the overall brightness is low, they will cover the insufficient light. Table lamps will also look great and you can place them on the furniture or other fixtures, which will look good with them. 

• Accessories and artwork will give a nice touch to the final décor. As discussed above you need to plan out the things according to the purpose. Carpets, rugs, cushions and lamps must be placed according to the overall theme. If you have any other creative ideas such as paintings or wall décor items, you can mount them accordingly. 

Here, I have discussed a few important points that will help you out in getting the best renovation done. All you need to do is follow these points and manage the best ideas you got for the extra space. If it is for staging, then you need to add a little bit of attractive accessories and installations. If you want to recommend any other ideas, I would love to hear them from you.