We’re kicking off a new feature called: Ask an Agent here on Style Sheet.
I don’t know about you but it seems most dinner party conversations I go to inevitably turn to real estate. It might be me since it’s the first section I flip to in the Saturday paper. But having met the real estate/home editors at The Globe and Mail and National Post recently, they assure me that we are a nation of real estate obsessed! So in our bi-monthly Ask an Agent feature we’re giving you the opportunity to ask a real real (not a typo) estate agent any questions you may have about buying and selling.
Our gal of expertise is Avryll McNair of Bosley Real Estate Ltd., Brokerage. She’s been selling and buying condos, houses in Toronto for over five years. She has a background in home furnishing and lifestyle (she helped design the Ikea store in Etobicoke). That means she can help buyers see beyond the smoke and mirrors of staging but conversely knows how to make a home look their best for sellers.
The first question comes from Julian who wanted to know: How old is too old when buying a condo?
Avryll: The age of a condominium is less relevant than how well it's been maintained. There is a predictable serviceable lifespan for structural and mechanical building components, such as elevators, ventilation systems, balconies and roofing.
Most jurisdictions require that condominiums maintain a reserve fund, paid for by monthly condominium fees. Buildings that have been well maintained will have replaced or budgeted for the repair and replacement of these items through their reserve funds.
Effective maintenance and planning by a strong board of directors and a professional property manager will certainly minimize risk. A well maintained building with a small reserve fund that has replaced components along the way may be in better physical and financial standing than a building with a large reserve fund awaiting several repairs.
The status certificate and other condo documents should be reviewed by your lawyer as a condition of any condo purchase, as these documents will detail budgets and assessments that are related to building maintenance.
Although older buildings typically have higher maintenance fees due to the replacement costs required to maintain the property, they tend to have unique features and generally offer more spacious units than modern buildings.
Providing you are well informed, your personal preferences will guide you. As with houses, some consumers are loyal to new developments and virgin spaces with modern finishes, while others prefer the character and charm of historical homes.
Do you have a burning question about real estate for our Ask an Agent feature? Please post them below and we’ll get around to them.
Related: Design Dilemma with Cheryl Torrenueva: Decor Ideas for a Generic Fireplace