You can transform a cookie-cutter condo unit into a home with more flair or make some adjustments to suit your personal preferences. To do so, you’ll have to deal with renovation which can feel like a daunting task. Renovating your condo unit comes with certain limitations and requirements. For example, unlike a stand-alone house, you can’t simply knock down walls to make a new room.
To make your condo renovation easier, here are five important tips:
- Learn the rules
Get to know the renovation rules of your building’s association. Condominium buildings have their respective sets of requirements such as the type of material you can use, the way your condo unit should look, or the days and times you can renovate.
Some condo boards may also require permits or design approval, so look up the building’s rules well in advance so that your renovation timetable will not be severely delayed by setbacks caused by ignorance of said rules.
- Temporarily move out
With all the materials, debris, and the smell of paint filling your unit, arranging a temporary residence or staying with friends and family until the renovations are over will be a good idea. If you’re lucky, your condo building might even have guest suites that you can stay in so you won’t need to go far. You’re working with a small space so temporarily vacating the area will not only keep you away from the stress but will also ensure that you don’t get in the way of construction.
3. Paint
This is possibly the easiest and most inexpensive improvement to do to your condo. Add color to your home to make it come to life. A fresh coat of paint can also make your home seem much newer. Walls aren’t the only thing you can paint. You can also paint cabinets or mirror frames to match the new colors of the room or for contrast.
- Flooring
Another common renovation is changing your flooring. As one of the most noticeable and important parts of any home, updating flooring can raise the resale value of your condo in the long run.
Laminated flooring is the cheapest option and can also be laid on top of existing flooring without the need for any hacking, but is not as durable as other materials. Tiles are more scratch-resistant and are perfect for rooms that need waterproofing such as the bathroom; however, the grout lines between tiles require frequent maintenance. Meanwhile, natural stone adds beautiful texture to your home although using this material may cost more.
- Think about the space
You’re working with limited space that is adjoined to others, barring you from making too many drastic changes. Build around what you have if you can’t change that feature. For example, if you can’t change your door frames, you can use back banding which is a molding layered over an existing frame.
Bypass your design limits by unifying the design so that rather than making big construction changes, you can lead people’s eyes to where you want them to go. Make some features blend in and others pop out to control where people’s eyes will be drawn to. For example, rather than sink money into changing your shower completely, try painting your bathroom white and adding a clear glass door to the shower. Get colorful by using bold designs that will pop out against the white.
Lastly, make sure that all your additions don’t end up cluttering your unit. Limit the number of cabinets and lighting figures. After all, having a room that feels spacious will give a stronger selling edge than having more cabinets.
Contact us at Windseeker Realty today and call 715-779-5000 or e-mail agent@windseekerrealty.com. We will guide you through local real estate listings until you find the condo that best suits your wants and needs.