Renovating Your Condo


When you hear someone mention renovation, chances are the first images that pop into our mind are of kitchens and baths in single detached homes in older, established neighbourhoods.

But with today’s increase in multi-family unit residential buildings, renovating your home has taken on an entirely new meaning. But what happens when your hot new condo needs a makeover? Seek permission.
 
Before you dive into the initial stages of finding a renovator — one that we will go over in more detail a bit later — please be sure to first check with your condo board and find out exactly how much work you can do on your unit.

A condominium has certain structural aspects that may be compromised if tenants freely modify their suites. Since many units share the same plumbing, ventilation and electrical components, one little mistake can lead to a potential catastrophe, at which point the board is responsible for correcting the situation with money from the reserve fund.

Without the board’s permission, you are risking some serious repercussions, including a potential request to return the unit back to its original look and condition.

Given the lack of an Undo button in such a situation, not to mention the amount of time and money involved, you want to make sure that every area you wish to touch-up is approved before you give your renovator a call.

If you are renovating a newly constructed home, keep in mind that specific alterations to the unit’s original condition may void your warranty, so make sure you check you’re your third party warranty provider before embarking on your renovation.

Now that you’re ready, it’s time for one of the most crucial steps in renovation — selecting a contractor.
Finding a renovator is a lot like finding a home, which means you need to take your time rather than pick the cheapest thing out there. Chances are, you’ll get what you pay for.
 
A great place to start looking is here at www.reginahomebuilders.com under our list of RenoMarkTM renovators. The RenoMark logo requires these Renovators to agree to abide by our industry Code of Ethics as well as a renovation-specific Code of Conduct.
 
Finally, be courteous to other residents. It is not uncommon for some companies to start work at the crack of dawn, so be sure to respect your neighbours and, more importantly, the condo board by asking that your renovator works at appropriate hours.