Who lives in a condo? - Page 3 - YorkieTalk.com Forums

Zoejane · 12-03-2012, 05:31 PM

I lived in a 5000 square foot home for 17 years, along with 5 acres of property. When I got divorced I moved to a condo and I will never go back to a full size house again. I love the fact that I have no outside work, it takes me about 2 hours to deep clean the entire condo so I save in paying a house cleaner. When I have an issue I can just call the condo maintenance guy and he comes and fixes it. Who needs all the room? Sure at times you can hear the neighbors and you can't always do what you want, bit in my mind the pros outweigh the cons.

GuinnessStout · 12-03-2012, 10:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by capt_noonie

WTH! I think if you don't have any claims in a certain period of time you should be able to get some money back. They make enough money as it is, but they have to go the extra length to screw people over in their time of need too! Don't even get me started with health insurance!

I know how to play auto and house but health insurance IF I can even get it in the first place since most companies turn me down, thy screw me over all the time

celstu1 · 12-04-2012, 08:27 AM

I would say to just choose your condo wisely. Drive thru the community a few times to watch what goes on during the day and night there, the kinds of traffic that go through there can tell you a lot. Look for other people walking pets and make sure they are leashed and they pick up after them (condos CAN write up pet owners and order pets removed from the property).
Also ask the condo association what is the proportion of rentals vs owner occupied. That will tell you a lot too. People who live in the townhouse they own tend to be more respectful.

I highly recommend a townhouse style if you can get it. You'll have your own entrance so you know the security is a little better.

Something I didn't think of when I was looking but luckily caught onto right away was I wanted an outside area.... my townhouse has a large wooden deck, with walls on both sides, so I get privacy from my neighbors if they are out. I can grill on it (another important thing to me that I hadn't thought of), it fits a large patio set with 6 chairs and you can put a screen house on it if you'd like, it will fit a 10x10 screen house.

I have my own washer & dryer hookups so I do my own laundry at my convenience. The more amenities on the grounds of the complex the higher the condo fee typically, however, you have a pool to use and never need to clean it, buy chemicals, open it, close it, etc. Tennis courts that are maintained and free to use. My complex is talking about building a fenced in dog park area right on the grounds, that would be awesome! (although I'm definitely too leery to actually let my dogs run around in it with other dogs!)

A couple cons for me are
- I have only 1 assigned parking spot (wish I had 2)
- wish I had a garage
- you can't pick your neighbors (got some weird stories there)
- when the plow truck comes (whether is be 6am or midnight) and honks you need to get up and go move your car immediately or you'll be fined.
- There is no seasonal vehicles allowed on the property b/t Nov - March 31.... so motorcycles (which we have 2) need to be stored Nov - March 31.
- any unregistered vehicles (so if my husband and I had a 3rd vehicle, like a summer convertible that we take off the road in the winter) can't stay there unless we keep it registered year round.
- I can't get satellite (dish) tv because my condo will only allow dishes installed on the back of units and from the back of my particular unit the signal won't reach, I am not allowed to get a dish installed on the roof or the front of the unit.
- I wanted to put french doors instead of a slider on the back of my condo to the deck, but you can only install the condo allowed doors & windows

Notice everything is outside the condo though? On the inside I have free reign to do whatever I'd like to do with it. Remodel, update, paint, anything I want.

LILBIT1 · 12-04-2012, 08:50 AM

From my research and friends that live in one we will be buying a house. Remember u are attached in most. So neighbor has bugs, fire, flood from broken pipe. So do you. Also repairs needs roof how tells u they need let's say 9000 bucks the first of the month for our part of roof. You don't come up with it you get fined. Also must get permission for everything inside and out! Wood flooring was not allowed, inside could only be white. They got in trouble for putting up shutters in window s I could go on and on

12-04-2012, 08:27 AM	#33
celstu1 Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: New Hampshire Posts: 10,534	I would say to just choose your condo wisely. Drive thru the community a few times to watch what goes on during the day and night there, the kinds of traffic that go through there can tell you a lot. Look for other people walking pets and make sure they are leashed and they pick up after them (condos CAN write up pet owners and order pets removed from the property). Also ask the condo association what is the proportion of rentals vs owner occupied. That will tell you a lot too. People who live in the townhouse they own tend to be more respectful. I highly recommend a townhouse style if you can get it. You'll have your own entrance so you know the security is a little better. Something I didn't think of when I was looking but luckily caught onto right away was I wanted an outside area.... my townhouse has a large wooden deck, with walls on both sides, so I get privacy from my neighbors if they are out. I can grill on it (another important thing to me that I hadn't thought of), it fits a large patio set with 6 chairs and you can put a screen house on it if you'd like, it will fit a 10x10 screen house. I have my own washer & dryer hookups so I do my own laundry at my convenience. The more amenities on the grounds of the complex the higher the condo fee typically, however, you have a pool to use and never need to clean it, buy chemicals, open it, close it, etc. Tennis courts that are maintained and free to use. My complex is talking about building a fenced in dog park area right on the grounds, that would be awesome! (although I'm definitely too leery to actually let my dogs run around in it with other dogs!) A couple cons for me are - I have only 1 assigned parking spot (wish I had 2) - wish I had a garage - you can't pick your neighbors (got some weird stories there) - when the plow truck comes (whether is be 6am or midnight) and honks you need to get up and go move your car immediately or you'll be fined. - There is no seasonal vehicles allowed on the property b/t Nov - March 31.... so motorcycles (which we have 2) need to be stored Nov - March 31. - any unregistered vehicles (so if my husband and I had a 3rd vehicle, like a summer convertible that we take off the road in the winter) can't stay there unless we keep it registered year round. - I can't get satellite (dish) tv because my condo will only allow dishes installed on the back of units and from the back of my particular unit the signal won't reach, I am not allowed to get a dish installed on the roof or the front of the unit. - I wanted to put french doors instead of a slider on the back of my condo to the deck, but you can only install the condo allowed doors & windows Notice everything is outside the condo though? On the inside I have free reign to do whatever I'd like to do with it. Remodel, update, paint, anything I want. __________________ “Petting, scratching, and cuddling a dog could be as soothing to the mind and heart as deep meditation and almost as good for the soul as prayer.” ― Dean Koontz

12-03-2012, 05:31 PM	#31
Zoejane Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Louisville! Ky Posts: 178	I lived in a 5000 square foot home for 17 years, along with 5 acres of property. When I got divorced I moved to a condo and I will never go back to a full size house again. I love the fact that I have no outside work, it takes me about 2 hours to deep clean the entire condo so I save in paying a house cleaner. When I have an issue I can just call the condo maintenance guy and he comes and fixes it. Who needs all the room? Sure at times you can hear the neighbors and you can't always do what you want, bit in my mind the pros outweigh the cons.

12-04-2012, 08:50 AM	#34
LILBIT1 Donating YT Addict Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Riverside County, Ca Posts: 867 Blog Entries: 9	From my research and friends that live in one we will be buying a house. Remember u are attached in most. So neighbor has bugs, fire, flood from broken pipe. So do you. Also repairs needs roof how tells u they need let's say 9000 bucks the first of the month for our part of roof. You don't come up with it you get fined. Also must get permission for everything inside and out! Wood flooring was not allowed, inside could only be white. They got in trouble for putting up shutters in window s I could go on and on