Living in an apartment or condo can be a rewarding experience and you can truly be happy with a lower cost and little work. However, a condo is more than a financial commitment; it's a social commitment as well. In this article we'll examine these considerations to make sure that your new condo life is a great one.
 
When you're in buying mode, it's common to think only in terms of dollars and cents. But it's essential not to forget the social aspect of living in a condo. Different complexes work well for different kinds of people, so get to know your complex as well as your prospective neighbours to make sure that they're a good fit for you. If you're easing into retirement, it might not be a great idea to buy a condo next to a bunch of hard-partying college kids or vice versa.
 
When you live in a condo you have to share walls, ceilings, floors and common areas with neighbours. All of this means keeping close quarters with your neighbours. While that is not a big deal for those who have lived in apartments, others will have to get used to that level of close proximity to their neighbours.
 
The key to happy condo living is keeping your neighbours happy too. Respecting your neighbour’s right to the quiet enjoyment of their home is part of the arrangement. Your neighbours will appreciate, and hopefully reciprocate your efforts to lower the volume, walk quietly, and limit your vacuuming and entertaining to reasonable hours.
 
Another big issue in condominiums is pets. Most people are good about looking after their dog, but some people who exercise their pets will take them to the courtyard and not clean up after their pet’s mess.
 
A little flexibility is important too.  If your neighbours are willing to turn down the volume for you and keep things as quiet as they can, perhaps you can be more understanding to their situation as well.  They’ll really appreciate the give-and-take relationship.  For your neighbours with children, try to remember that kids will be kids.
 
You need to remember that a condo living is a community, so you need to deal with your neighbours as community members and try to resolve the issues together. If that fails, the board will then intervene.  For the most part, condo boards will ask people to resolve most issues themselves.  They will recommend going to the neighbour and sitting down to talk with them to work things out.
 
Before you make a condo purchase, knock on a couple of doors and introduce yourself as a potential buyer. Ask your future neighbours questions about the complex that aren't being answered by the real estate agent, or ask the same questions again to get a different perspective without the sales pitch! Not only can you learn a lot about the people you'll possibly be living next to, but you can gain insight into how much they enjoy living in the complex.