Home renovation is a very broad topic. Indeed, there are as many types of renovations as there are different types of home, and each of these can be a partial renovation or a complete overhaul of a property. The reasons for embarking on a renovation project are similarly diverse. You could be simply making your home more livable, you could be fixing up a substandard property, or you could be doing so in order to add value to the property ahead of a sale. And whatever types of renovation you are embarking on – and for whatever reason you are doing so – there are always the legal issues to consider.
Renovating a Condo
If you are deciding to renovate a condominium, then there are a range of practicalities to the job. Moreover, you also need to take into account the fact that a condominium is a property with a specific legal status. Most often defined as a single living unit within a larger complex, the owner or renter of a condo must typically work with the condo board before making any kind of changes.
Of course, there are the realities of the building itself to consider when renovating a condo. For example, you are very unlikely to be undertaking a loft conversion! To get everything clear before you start, it is a particularly good idea to seek the advice of a professional real estate broker to help you navigate the various legal and practical challenges that await. CityHome Collective, a real estate brokerage specializing in luxury homes and condos in Utah, recommend that you wise up as best you can on the legal issues before making any other move. And where your limited expertise begins to fail you, there are always the professionals to help you out.
The Legal Dimension
So, what are the legal technicalities to know before you get started renovating your condo? There are various policies and rules that will be enforced by the condo board regarding each different kind of development project (and these can vary a lot too). There simply isn’t space here to go through every single type of renovation and every single restriction that could theoretically be applied by a condo board. Instead, it is best to highlight the main areas where a condo board will likely have some kind of rule that you have to follow.
Material selection is usually something that they will rule on. Your condo is, after all, part of a larger complex and there are usually rules in place to keep the design and structure of the building consistent. A condo board will also likely rule on what days you are allowed to spend renovating the condo – the welfare of other residents needs to always be taken into account.
The Practical Dimension
So, how do you actually renovate a condo? Well, there are certain condo-specific practicalities to consider here. For example, it is rarely wise to consider moving around the fittings in your condo. You are likely to meet resistance here from the condo board and the space is usually tailor made to have everything where it currently is. Naturally, renovating outside the condo is impractical beyond perhaps changing the door or entrance. This is because the outside of a condo is usually a shared space and therefore will be beyond your ability to really renovate fully.
The trick is to stick to the interior and to stick to cosmetic touches and perhaps upgrades to certain fittings and furniture. The truth is that you cannot really do much else. But this in itself still has the potential to transform your home.
