Condo Tips
| If you are looking to buy LSU condo in Baton Rouge it is important to consider the good and bad aspects of condo ownership by considering these tips... |  |
Where is the condo located in respect to other condo units?
- Corner or end units are good because you don't have so many neighbors.
- Condos squeezed in between other condos will be more insulated than end units reducing your utility bill.
- Condos not on ground floors will mean you'll have to walk up stairs every time you go home.
- Condos on the upper floor may benefit from the heat in the winter time that rises from unit beneath it.
- Condos on the top-most floor will not have to worry about hearing a neighbor above them walking over them, however units beneath other units may experience this noise (especially in condo conversions where apartments were converted into condos and sold individually).
- Condos on the top-most floor usually benefit from attic storage.
- Condo complexes that are large can be noisier than smaller condo complexes.
- Condos close to garbage dumpsters will suffer from the screeching and booming of the garbage truck at early morning hours. The same thing goes for the "thump thump" noises of tires passing over the gated entrance or the creaking noises as the gate moving.
- Consider the Home Owner's Association's (HOA) maintenance on the development. Is the grounds kept up well? Are the roofs in good shape? How about the exterior siding condition? Do you see trash in the parking areas or in the landscaping? Are the lights at night adequate and well-maintained? Is the pool clean? It is safe to take an approach where you look at the place as it is today and then think of what it will be like in 2-3 years if the management will continue to take care of the property in the same manner, for better or worse. If you foresee a bleak future, you may have troubles ahead.
- Consider the HOA dues amount per month. Just because they are high they aren't necessarily too high. If dues are low, then residents may have to dig into their pockets when major hardships (like hurricanes) come along. A reserve is the extra amount of money that is left after expenses are paid by the HOA. The reserves come from the dues that are paid monthly by the condo owners. If the reserve fund is $200, then if a tree falls on the roof and the roof needs tarps to cover over the damaged unit then the reserve fund may be depleted leaving the condo owners having to pay out of pocket the additional expenses incurred until the insurance reimburses them.
When buying a condo you should also consider the following:
- Are parking spots assigned or non-assigned. If assigned, does your unit have adequate reserved parking spots. Where are those parking spots in relation to your unit? Based on that location, how convenient is it to walk from your parking spot to your unit? Is there adequate guest parking available to service the entire condo complex? If the parking is non-assigned, then it is a first-come first-serve basis. Is there adequate parking for all units to park? Take inventory of the parking lot at different times during the day and week. This will give you a good idea of any "parking issues". If you see cars blocking other cars in, then that is a good sign that parking is inadequate.
- What views does your unit get? Look out each window and see what you get? Do you get a peaceful courtyard view? A pool view? A view of other buildings? Vacant land? A commercial business? A noisy car wash? A park? A lake?
- What direction does your unit face? Facing north to south is generally better because you get less direct sunlight. The sun rises in the east, so in the morning if you have a east to west condo you'll get light coming in from one side and then later in the day you'll get it coming in full force again. With a north to south direction you'll find that the light isn't so glaring and is more comfortable. Of course the size and quantity of windows can vary lighting from house to house.
- If the condo complex is gated, how many units are in the complex? If it is too large, the gate may stay open constantly due to the high traffic, hindering your gate's main purpose to restrict unwanted outside visitors.
- Is the entrance of the condo on the bottom floor or an upper floor?
- Upstairs units with interior stairs can mean that your condo will only have one point of entry for a burglar. All of the windows are out of reach for entry. This can be a good safety feature.
- Upstairs units are less prone to flood.
- Downstairs units are more convenient.
- Condos that are flats mean less walking up stairs, whereas with condos with one and two staircases can mean that you do a lot of climbing, especially moving in and out.
These are all small details that can have tremendous impacts on the everyday life of the person living inside the condo. It is important to consider these details prior to purchasing a condo unit.
When considering to purchase an LSU condominium, the interesting thing is that every condo is different both in their distance to LSU, location in Baton Rouge, building materials, age, environmental conditions, and desirability. There are many factors that go into affecting the desirability of a condo unit and its always important to have a professional help pinpoint the items in a condo that can affect your property upon the resale. Everybody wants their property to sell easily and for top dollar when it comes time for selling your condo, but it isn't always as easy as just putting up a sign and having LSU area buyers flocking to your door with offers to purchase.
Engle Realty agents are knowledgeable of condos near LSU. They will likely know the layout of each unit, layout of the entire condo development, and more details prior to viewing any of the properties. This will in the end mean that Engle Realty agents will help you choose a property that has the best attributes while pinpointing the areas of concern for a unit. We have helped our clients in the past save time when searching for properties as well as have helped them make a more informed decision when purchasing a condo. In addition, when it does come time to resell the condo, Engle Realty LLC would have already helped you find a condo that will likely would haved faired well in the current condo market, and Engle Realty LLC will also have the ability to make the condo look its best so that it will sell quickly at an acceptable price.
