Resale considerations
Remember that single-family houses remain the housing stock of choice for the majority of buyers, so if you’re approaching your purchase as an investment foremost, and can afford the cost and maintenance of a house, that may be the smarter long-term choice.
However, if you’re looking for a great place to call home, especially if you don’t have kids or want to avoid the hassles of house maintenance, a condo is probably right for you, right now. Some smart upgrades to enjoy today – and help you sell later – include:
• Stainless-steel appliances and deluxe countertops (granite, limestone, marble, Corian or Silestone) in the kitchen
• Hardwood, or eco-friendly cork or bamboo flooring throughout the unit
• Quality lighting (ditch the builder’s basics that came with the unit) throughout the unit. Add function with potlights, flair with chandeliers or other pendant-style lights – and put everything on dimmer switches
• Sleek glass or neutral stone-clad floors and backsplash in the bathroom, high-end hardware (faucets, hooks, towel rods etc)
Remember, most condos are at their best when conveying a feeling of expansiveness (especially those on the tiny size!) and modernity, so plenty of natural light, neutral wall colours, gleaming floors and tasteful, on-trend accents will make yours attractive to potential buyers once you’re ready to move on – whether to a house or another condo.
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3 Comments
I picked up a tip from viewing a miniscule, half-a-mill studio condo in downtown Vancouver about 12 years ago --- use built-ins to expand the size of your living space (and storage needs) and to keep the clutter to a minimum. It's not for everyone but it really works. Can't afford built-ins? Check out wall to wall closet systems from IKEA and use them everywhere. Today's small condos really need you to think outside the box to live happily inside the box!
Hi: I solved a big problem for storage when I moved into a condo. I had made two boxes which I sat my mattress and box spring on.They have two drawers each side measuring 30 inches in depth, 12 inches high and 30 inches wide.They had to be made in two pieces and screwed together to get through the doors.This is made out of MDF.Wonderful drawers for scads of storage. Makes the bed a little higher than most but you can always climb in and feel like the princess and the pea. Great storage.
Another little storage tip, this time for condo space-challenged kitchens, is installing a KNIFAWAY to store knives. It replaced my countertop knife block and fits neatly inside my kitchen cupboard door. It is space-efficient, ingenious and so convenient!