Buying a Condominium? Pros and Cons to Consider

by Ann Marie Damashek, GRI, CBR, SRES 04/05/2020

Whether you are buying a condo as a starter home, downsizing or if you just don’t like taking care of a yard, a condo might be the perfect situation for you. However, even with the plus of not having to maintain a yard, condos do have other pros and cons.

Low Maintenance

While you won't have to keep up with landscaping or worry about exterior tasks like washing or painting, you are at the mercy of those contracted to complete those tasks. The list of outside chores generally covered within a condo complex is long, including mowing, cleaning gutters, driveway maintenance, trimming shrubbery and otherwise keeping the landscaping and yard maintained. However, if you prefer gray paint on your house and the condo complex chooses to paint it brown, you’re pretty much out of luck. You will have to maintain the interior of your condo and make sure any shared walls are in good condition.

Rules and Regulations

Even when you buy a condo, you have to abide by the condo association’s rules and regulations. That means no pets if that is a rule, even though you own the condo. However, rules and regulations are sometimes a good thing. If you prefer enforced quiet hours or that no one has pets because you are allergic, these types of rules will benefit you.

Privacy

In a nutshell, a condo is very similar to an apartment. You share walls just as you would in an apartment. You might have people over you and under you. Unless you have an end unit, you have people on either side of you. Some may like living in close quarters with other people — they feel safer and are more comfortable having neighbors very close. But, if you want more privacy, condominium living might not be for you.

Weather

If you live in a cooler climate, you don’t have to worry about clearing snow. The driveway is cared for by the condo association, which means it is cleared and then salted so that people do not slip. If the wind blows a tree over on the property, you don’t have to wrestle with a chainsaw to clean it up or find someone who is reliable to show up to clean up the mess.

Interior

Depending on how the condo is set up, in addition to walls and ceilings, you might share an interior hallway with others. While you won’t have to keep the hallway clean, you will routinely hear the foot traffic of your neighbors. Most people who live in communities like these are mindful of the amount of noise they create within shared space. However, noise could still be a significant disruption especially when neighbors keep opposite schedules.

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About the Author

Ann Marie Damashek, GRI, CBR, SRES

Ann Marie Damashek has always been a natural at helping people prepare their homes for sale. She started out with a successful business selling goods for people on eBay. "Nine times out of ten they were hiring me because they were down-sizing,” Ann Marie says. "So I decided to get my license. I said, ‘Might as well sell their house too.’” The transition was a smooth one and for nine years she’s had a thriving full-time real estate business that allows her to marry her entrepreneurial spirit with her passion for helping others. With an office in Larchmont, New York, she serves all of Lower Westchester County, with her primary market in the Sound Shore region. The majority of her business is "sphere of influence” with former clients referring her to friends and family. A gifted communicator, Ann Marie quickly builds trust and rapport with her clients by being both thoughtful and responsive; she understands that during the purchase or sale of a home, a quick response time is crucial. "I am very accessible,” Ann Marie says. "I always make time for my clients. They can call me, text me, email me up until 10 o’clock at night and I will respond. I’m available on weekends. I get back to people very promptly. I’m very customer service-oriented.” Her clients appreciate her professionalism, passion and enthusiasm and as a result her repeat and referral rate continues to grow each year. While selling real estate is serious business, Ann Marie knows that at times humor and a moment of levity can be a relief to clients. While she has a laidback and easygoing personality, she can be assertive when needed on her clients’ behalf. She loves being of service to them, and the continually changing nature of the work keeps her engaged and fulfilled. "It’s never boring,” Ann Marie enthuses. "Every day is different. That’s probably what I like most about it. But I also enjoy helping people sell or buy and educating them about the process. I love helping them achieve their goals.” This ethic of service has resulted in well-deserved recognition. Ann Marie has received the Westchester Magazine Five Star Real Estate Agent Rating four years running, in 2015 and 2016 she was the #1 agent in her office, and she’s a Zillow 5-Star Premier Agent. To keep in touch with former clients, Ann Marie sends cards to mark special occasions or reaches out via email. To market her listings, Ann Marie uses Multiple Listing Services (MLS), as well as Listingbook.com, a service that allows both agents and their clients access to MLS data. She also uses a Facebook business page and ads to boost new listings or promote upcoming open houses. "That drives a tremendous amount of traffic,” Ann Marie says. She also uses the most popular real estate websites such as Zillow and Trulia. A strong believer in giving back, Ann Marie sits on the Board of Trustees of her church and is involved in a variety of social justice projects. She’s affiliated with Furniture Sharehouse, a furniture bank for Westchester County, which collects and distributes gently used furniture free of charge to those in need. "I love it on so many levels because as a realtor, it’s helps my sellers downsize through charitable donations. I like the environmental aspect of it as well. And it helps people who truly need things.” She’s also involved in Impact 100, a women’s philanthropic giving organization. In her free time, Ann Marie enjoys gardening, traveling, and spending time with family and friends. For the future, Ann Marie wants to continue expanding her business and developing her brand, and she someday hopes to grow a strong team. But her main goal is to stay in the real estate business, helping her clients to achieve their dreams.