Toronto, the city in North America affectionately and colloquially known as ‘condo-ville’, thanks to its urban development policy of mixing apartments and residential plots together. Today it is now experiencing urban and suburban sprawl just like its American counterparts.
A lot of people in Toronto left the suburbs in the previous years to live in condos located in and around downtown and other key cores of the city. Condos are located close to transit hubs and transport stations (buses, taxis, subways), have countless amenities, close to markets, schools and businesses.
Those who are thinking of selling their home and purchasing a condo from a list of Toronto Condos on real estate listings, they ought to take this step carefully because the past is long gone now. Condos are still affordable than inner-city homes as real estate in the city is more expensive than that of Vancouver.
People who move into a condo from a home are either a young couple preparing themselves for a lean city lifestyle, or kids who grew up and moved elsewhere or are looking for an affordable lifestyle in the inner city (which is now diminishing).
Downsizing in this matter has its advantages and disadvantages. Yet, condo living in Toronto is as good as that of New York, Los Angeles, Miami, Seattle, London and Barcelona.
What Can Be Moving From A House To A Condo Be Like?
Moving from a home to a condo can provide a fresh start and help residents focus on what matters the most. At the same time, it can come with really robust challenges yet planning for these challenges can help residents ensure that they make the most of a major transition in life.
Those who are moving from a suburban home to a condo, here are some things they should take into consideration:
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It Takes Time To Declutter A Home
If residents are like most homeowners, then their homes are certainly cluttered. Meaning they have a lot more junk items than originally thought. With condos not being as large as homes, clearing out stuff will take a lot of time (longer than a week).
First, residents will need to sort through their belongings and decide what they want, what they don’t want, what to toss and what items to give out & donate. They should look for a donation center that can help them in donating goods, considering whether to rent a storage space or not and look for the best way to pack and label things they wish to keep.
In all honesty, residents will probably want to set aside some dedicated time to remove the clutter. Some people need to think about it a lot and this process can take either weeks or months.
Residents Will Probably Do The Math Themselves
The costs of residents are likely to be reduced when moving to a smaller place. A condo usually has less square footage compared to a home and compared to heat and cold, as well as fewer appliances needing repairs.
On the other hand, they will need to take maintenance fees into consideration. This can be either hundreds or in thousands of dollars, as it depends on the building the settle in and the size of the condo unit.
Residents are in luck. Local real estate agents with expertise of condos can help them find a place with reasonable fees as per their budget and make sure they understand all the costs involved with living in a condo.
Everything Should Be Measured Carefully
One of the most stressful aspects of downsizing is measuring each and everything carefully. Couch, loveseat, dining room and bedroom items may not fit into the condo. This can cause a bit of a tumble in the lifestyle. Hence the reason why it is quite important to measure these multiple items.
Once residents have noted all relevant dimensions, they may want to make floor plans mirroring the condo’s rooms. Room Scan Pro and Magic Plan are apps that can help.
Other than that, residents should consider furniture spacing. This is the last thing they want to do as they don’t want to be cramped. They should measure doors, hallways and staircases the furniture will need to pass through when residents shift into the condo.
Residents Will Have More Time For Themselves
A notable advantage of moving from a suburban home to a condo is the chance to enjoy a lifestyle of low maintenance. They no longer need to rake the leaves away, mow the grass or shovel snow out of the parking way.
Caretakers handle all of this and this is what the condo residents will pay for, via their maintenance fees. However, they may need to carry out some costly repairs on their own but usually, condo complexes cover them all.
Homeowners usually get used to the amount of maintenance going on when taking care of their homes. Those who enter this camp will be surprised by the freedom they can get by owning and living in a condo.
The Purchase Process For Acquiring A Condo Is Different
Those who have purchased a home earlier might think they know what it is like buying a condo. In all honesty, there are some pretty significant differences in the processes. Knowing what they are can help residents be ready for a purchase that is smooth and seamless.
For instance, condo inspections require some explanation. New condo units are often inspected but the ones sold on resale aren’t. Buyers of older condo units prefer not to get one, given that their condo corporation will cover the cost of any major issue that arises.
Instead, what they do is that they depend upon a careful review of the status certificate of their condo unit. That certificate is basically a document offering in-depth information about the condo and the building’s financial health at its location.
Conclusion
Can downsizing be a pleasant experience? Some have found it to be that way. As long as residents work with a professional knowing the layout, the higher their readiness of moving from a home to a condo.
