Philadelphia Real Estate Blog

Renovating a Philadelphia condo unit brings with it challenges that homeowners simply don’t face. Unit owners must comply with condo rules and regulations, consider how noise affects neighbors and work within the building’s larger electrical or plumbing systems. Careful planning before renovations helps prevent problems with the condo association and staff.

Unlike a house, when you purchase a condo you only own what lies within the unit’s walls. You cannot renovate public areas, other people’s units or the building’s utility infrastructure. This is necessary, in part, to ensure the building maintains its overall feel and appearance.

Check Everything

Well before you commit to any condo renovations, read over the condo association’s condo docs to find out what types of renovations are permitted. Different condo docs have different restrictions. You’ll probably need to submit a plan of renovation, in writing, to the condo association.

Generally, most condo agreements allow you to paint, install new appliances, replace lighting and plumbing fixtures and replace flooring. More complex renovations such as rerouting plumbing or electrical wiring and knocking down walls require approval by the condo association.

Renovations requiring work in adjourning units are least likely to be approved, as this inconveniences other residents. Extensive plumbing and electric work may fall into this category.

Working with Contractors

Renovating a condo often means working several stories up, rather than on the ground. This complicates materials delivery, heavy equipment transport, waste removal and even contractor parking.

Ask your condo association if they can recommend contractors with experience in condo renovations. Contractors need experience working in the tighter confines of a condo unit, and keeping noise to a minimum for the sake of your neighbors.

Renovations will go smoother if you coordinate with condo staff. Doormen and other staff need to know when contractors will be on-site, when they will be moving heavy items and your renovation schedule. Early planning and frequent updates help prevent miscommunications and hard feelings. If your renovations require access to the building’s plumbing or electricity, arrange for access well ahead of time.

Considering the Neighbors

When renovating a house, contractors usually work late into the evening, so the job will inconvenience you as little as possible. In a condo, you have to consider how renovation noise and dust affect your neighbors.

Most condo associations have strict noise regulations and limit the hours during which contractors can work. These are reasonable restrictions; your neighbors share walls, ceilings and floors with you, and don’t want to be disturbed late into the evening.

Let neighbors know your renovation plans well in advance so they don’t get blindsided by unexpected noise. Be polite and understanding–after all, you’re inconveniencing them, not the other way around. When renovations are done, express your thanks to neighbors for their patience.

Byline: Michelle is an aspiring writer with a passion for blogging. She enjoys writing about a vast variety of topics and loves that blogging gives her the opportunity to publicly voice her thoughts and share advice with an unlimited audience.

Whether you have been offered a job in a new country or are simply looking for a change of scenery in your life, moving to a new country can be a very exciting experience. Still, before you make such a drastic change, there are five major steps that you should make sure that you take in order to ensure as smooth a transition into your new life as possible.

Do plenty of research.

Depending on the specific country you will be moving to, the culture there may be very different than what you are used to here in Center City Philadelphia and may take some adjusting. By researching the culture, norms, and languages of the country ahead of time, you can avoid culture shock upon your arrival.

Learn the language.

If you are moving somewhere that has a different official language than what you are used to speaking, you may want to invest in some language classes or language-learning software. After all, the last thing you will want is to be unable to communicate with others upon your arrival in the new country.

Research immigration laws and requirements.

If you plan on living in the country long term, then you will likely need to establish residency and citizenship. Countries vary regarding how long you have to do this and what specific steps you need to take, so be sure to research this ahead of time and bring the necessary documentation and paperwork with you to make this happen.

Decide where you will live.

Consider hiring a real estate group to assist you with locating a home, apartment, condo, or other property to live at once you move there. For example, you may wish to consider the LWP Property Group, which is a reputable real estate company that can assist you in finding the perfect new place to call home. Keep in mind that living quarters can vary greatly from country to country, especially in terms of their average square footage and the amenities offered.

Plan a moving budget.

Moving to a new country can be quite expensive, which is why you should set a budget and do your best to stick to it. This is especially true if you do not have a business or company that will be paying for your move. Price different moving companies and related services to find the best deals in order to save money.

By following the above steps, you can ensure a successful move to a new country. Good luck!

About the Author: Madyson Grant enjoys spending time with her family and blogging about her experiences in her new home. Feel free to find out more!

WTF? Two Months Capital Contribution Buyers Have To Pay… Define: Two Months of Condo Fees A Buyer Must Fork Over When Buying a Condo In the old days- say 20 years ago, a Capital Contribution was a very rare line item paid by a buyer to reimburse the seller for the the contribution he or she originally made to the condo association when they first bought into any given building. Today, this fee is nearly universal in Center City, but it not longer goes to the seller- It goes to the condominium association. I think this is a great idea… You see, the more your building sells, the more money that the condo association is getting to put into their bank account. No longer does the seller get this money. The money goes to the association, and helps build the funds that will one day be needed to say, replace the roof, or do some kind of ongoing upkeep, maintenance, or repairs. I think the strength of any given condo association, and their ability to maintain a building without the need for a Special Assessment, is a function of how much money they have to fix and keep up the building- without having to go to the owners and ask them to pay a special assessment to address upkeep. So yes…if you are going to buy a condo in Center City Philadelphia, plan on having to pay two months condo fees upfront (this is in addition to the month fees you have to pay every single month) to the condo association. This fee will be on your settlement sheet, and is due the day you go to settle on your condo. Everyone pays it….so don’t think you are being singled out. And the money is not going to line someone else’s pocket- You are basically paying the condo association in which you are now a member. So cough it up…. Mark Wade www.CenterCityCondos.com

After making the decision to move out of your condo and into a new home, you have a lot of work ahead of you. Moving into a new home can be a lot of work, but proper planning on your part can help you to ease the amount of time and effort needed to relocate. Consider following these tips as you prepare to move.

Review Your Lease

As a first step, read your lease and take note of how much notice you need to provide to your landlord before you vacate the premises. Also, pay attention to the special move-out rules. For example, some leases may require the property to be professionally cleaned before you turn in the keys.

Consider Cleaning and Repairs

In many cases, a rental agreement states that a landlord can withhold your security deposit for any damages made to the property, so consider patching up holes, replacing burnt out lights, cleaning out the oven and other steps as needed. These efforts can take time, so you may consider getting started on some of them immediately after you provide your landlord with written notice of your intent to vacate.

Start Packing

Some people will wait until the last minute to start packing with the belief that they need everything in their place to live comfortably. In many condos, however, items like photo albums, DVDs, books, seasonal clothing and more can be packed up weeks ahead of time. Consider temporarily renting a storage unit, for example, self storage Philadelphia PA, to keep items safe and out of your way as you prepare to move in the coming weeks.

Look For Movers

One of the best steps that you can take to ease the stress associated with moving is to hire a moving company. A reputable moving company can easily relocate your boxes, furnishings and other items quickly and safely on moving day. This provides you with more time to clean your old home and start settling into your new home.

Transfer Services

Approximately one to two weeks before your moving day, contact your water company, utilities service providers, phone service and cable company to notify them of your plans to relocate. You may be able to cancel service in your existing home and schedule new service in your new home with a single call if moving inside the same city.

Contact the Post Office

You should also contact the post office with details about your relocation. You can fill out a change of address form at the post office that includes a mail forwarding service. While you want to call your car loan company, credit card companies and others who send you regular statements and provide them with your new address, you also want to ensure that mail that is sent to the wrong address is forwarded to your new home.

Because there are so many things to do to prepare for a move, it is wise to establish a schedule of to-do items now. You can work through the items on schedule, and this can drastically reduce your stress level during this busy time in your life.

Melisa Cammack

Author Bio

Melisa Cammack has been freelance writing for several years, she loves spending time with her three sons and her husband, as well as preparing for their unborn baby to arrive in mid-March.
Melisa is currently promoting Extra Space Storage – Brighton location, and wishes everyone a safe and efficient moving day.

Having lived in many many Center City Condos over the years, here is what I believe to be the case in terms of costs to heat and cool a condo-

Generally, you have someone living above you, below you, and on perhaps both sides of you, so your exposure to the elements is limited. It is not like you are living in a McMansion on the side of a hill in Ardmore. You follow me?

And heat has a tendency to emanate into your condo- you will probably be surprised how little heat you actually use. The fact that the majority of condos in town are one-level, your AC bills tend to be on the low side as well- It is not like you are trying to cool three floors. I live in a 1450 sq ft. condo in a newly constructed building here in town. My average electric bill is about $100 a month. I pay no gas, no water- both covered by the condo fees. When I lived in a 2200 sq ft converted loft, my bills were about twice that- but lower than I could have ever paid in a single family home somewhere…

Mark Wade
Berkshire Hathaway Home Services Fox & Roach Realtors
www.CenterCityCondos.com
530 Walnut St. #260, Phila., PA 19106

Buying A New Construction Condo? Get Freebies while negotiating… Many developers do not like to drop their asking price a great deal as this may set a benchmark for any buyers behind you looking to buy into that building. So developers often will want to keep the sale price as high as possible in order to delude other buyers into thinking that selling prices are falling close to the asking price. Not uncommon. But what can you get out of a developer in order to keep the charade alive? Here are some common things that I see being thrown into a deal: A free parking spot Say 6 months free condo fees Free storage area Free custom interior upgrades A seller assist ( in terms of inflating the price, and giving you $$ back) Now certainly a developer may consider the value of the freebies into his bottom line… so these aren’t really 100% free….but you may find that the closer you get to a developers asking price, the more freebies you are going to acquire in the transaction. Mark Wade www.CenterCityCondos.com

One Vs. Two Bedroom Philly Condos

 A lot of folks I have met over the past 23 years have the notion that buying a two bedroom condo is a better investment than a one bedroom condo, and I don’t think that is necessarily true. Sure, if you are looking to buy a beach house, I can see where that equation would be wholly true- as a beach house is where you will magically attract guests for weekend get-togethers.  However, in Center City, I don’t think the same is true. I think it best to judge the value or investment value of a condo based upon comparable sales, interior condition, market conditions, and the reputation of the building or segment in which you are considering a condominium purchase. Spending more money when you don’t have to is kinda’ counter productive. If a one bedroom fits your needs, then buy a one bedroom condo. I have yet to see in the past 23 years a two bedroom resell better than a one bedroom condo- If all other qualities of the purchase are the same. There is a huge one bedroom condo market for buyers in Center City. And buying into a lesser building and getting a two bedroom may not be to your advantage. Buy what you need, and maybe best not to overspend in order to fulfill the myth that a two bedroom is going to somehow be a better investment- I don’t think it is better. Nor do I think it worse- again, all within the context of the building and the market segment in which you purchase.

Mark Wade www.CenterCityCondos.com

The kitchen is the room in your Rittenhouse Square Condo where families typically gather to begin their day. It’s the first room that family members visit when they return home as well. With so many comings and goings, it’s easy for the busy room to become a catchall for clutter. Items totally unrelated to cooking and eating, such as books, bills, backpacks and bags, often find their home here. A kitchen remodel or addition offers you the opportunity to plan ahead for all the activities that take place in your kitchen, with storage solutions that will make the utilitarian room as stylish as it is functional.

Because kitchen cabinets typically take up to 30 percent of a kitchen remodeling budget, you’ll want to ensure that the cabinets not only look  great but provide the storage solutions that your kitchen needs to keep clutter at bay. Pull-down shelves, slide-out towel bars and pull-out waste bins help keep frequently used items accessible. Look for cabinets with hardware that enhances functionality too, such as self-closing slides on drawers.

Consider including a zone in the kitchen’s layout for non-food-related activities.  Once you’ve designated specific areas for non-cooking activities, you can help keep the related materials organized with containers, baskets and trays. Deep trays are a kitchen organizer’s best friend. Trays not only allow you to keep an assortment of related items together but are easy to transport to and from a cabinet as well, letting you whisk clutter
out of sight quickly and easily. Trays are great for managing the dreaded “junk drawer” too.

Store the items that you use the most, such as large utensils and knives, on the counter in attractive containers. There’s no reason why storage solutions can’t add visual appeal to the overall look of your kitchen while make the heart of your home more functional too.

Author Bio
Jennie owns and manages several self storage units in Fontana CA. She recommends using Extra Space Storage in Las Vegas to her friends and family in the Las Vegas region. Away from work, Jennie enjoys spending time with her three young boys and her beloved dog Rex.

Remember the olden days when the Sunday paper would arrive and you would get our your red felt tipped marker, then circle the open houses you wanted to see?

That was so 1997….

Those days are all but gone- having been replaced by the advances in internet marketing for Philly condos. Additionally, more and more buildings around Center City are forbidding agents to hold Open Houses- ever.

It is said in Real Estate circles that open houses are NOT for sellers- they are for agents trying to pick up buyers. To a degree, I agree. More so with the fact that videos, virtual tours, podcasts, blogs, multiple photos, etc are easily found with a quick Google search. And most Realtors’ websites can give you a lot more than you can learn at an open house- think neighborhood stats, crime reports, etc. not to mention the gossip and dirt you can pick up on your neighbors house.

If someone is seriously in the market for a condo, they are going to view your listing if they are interested- Open House or not.

I usually find that Open Houses tend to cut down on the weekly traffic- the more people who see it at an open, the less weekly appointments one will find in terms of buyer traffic.

And of course, we are all aware that Open Houses usually beget nosey neighbors, passersby, and the like.

With overall traffic down on Open Houses over the past decade (in my experience)- how long before Open houses will go the way of print advertising for Real Estate?

Probably not long.

FYI-Center City Open Houses are usually ONE hour only- Get in, then get out. Suburban agents can spend 3-4 hours at one open house. How utterly boring. I think I’d rather drink bathwater than to sit in a house on a Sunday for four hours.

Mark Wade
Prudential Fox and Roach Realtors
www.CenterCityCondos.com
530 Walnut St. #260 Phila., PA 19106

What are you..new to these parts?

If you want your packages and your guests to come and go without being tortured or be put through a lengthy inquiry, then listen up-
Folks who live in Doorman buildings quickly learn that the way to get anything done through the building is through the doorman. Unless perhaps you live in Society Hill Towers (a polite jab at one of the best run buildings in town) and they quickly learn to always be polite and friendly to all doormen at all times.

From fetching your car, to walking your dog- doormen can make your life easy and they often will go the extra mile for Philly condo owners they like. And being greeted each time you come home with a smile is a nice thing. Having a doorman who doesn’t like you is not a walk in the park.  Believe me, I learned the hard way back in the late 1980’s  by being rude and pushy. I no longer live in that building, and I now treat doormen with respect. You should too. Your life will be made much easier if you never piss off your doorman. They are great for learning of building gossip too…they seem to know everything. Oh, and tipping? Should be done if they go the extra mile. AND during the Holiday season.

Mark Wade
www.CenterCityCondos.com
Prudential Fox & Roach Realtors
530 Walnut St. #260, Phila., PA 19106