You finally made up your decision of purchasing your dream apartment. That is undoubtedly exciting, but, there are a couple of things that you shouldn’t overlook in order to make a wise, responsible decision.
First of all, purchasing an apartment typically implies living in a community. Consequently, you’ll have to abide by a set of rules, as every member of the community has a range of rights and responsibilities. For instance, let’s say that you are the owner of a pet. A lot of apartment blocks do not allow for pets. So, you might want to get acquainted with the set of rules the building has, as you certainly don’t want to let your beloved pet out of the picture – surely he/she is part of the family!
Apartment strata inspection
Leaving all the moving excitement aside, the first thing you should do is have your apartment properly inspected. This procedure is in order not only when purchasing a house, but when buying an apartment as well. A crucial aspect is inquiring whether there are particular financial issues the building may be dealing with. Additionally, strata inspection will check whether the insurance policies are up to date, and will reveal several important aspects concerning the present state of the building you plan to move in.
Levies
When moving into an apartment, another aspect that shouldn’t be overlooked is the levies. You will imminently be required to pay a tax. Generally speaking, levies are due for payment quarterly. They usually cover the maintenance and up-keeping of the area surrounding the building, including the lobby, garages, gardens, and, if available, the pool and gym. Plus, the levy encompasses the costs associated with insurance, which is compulsory for community properties.
Apartment plan
You certainly don’t want to end up being disappointed with the apartment you purchase. Thus, checking the apartment plan is a must and, if possible, assessing 3D images and a display apartment which a lot of developers now provide.
Get to know your neighbourhood
Liking the building in which you will be spending most of your time for the upcoming years is crucial. However, it’s equally important to get to know your neighbourhood. If you don't pay increased attention to this tiny detail, you are prone to be disappointed right after you move in. What does this mean? Well, you should take notice of the traffic in the area, the crime reports, whether there are high or low, whether the area is safe or not, etc. This is a must, especially if you plan on having children in the foreseeable future.
Establish how much it will cost you to purchase the apartment
Not all first-time apartment buyers know that the initial purchase sum includes more than the down payment. For this reason, don’t forget to take into consideration the inspection costs, application fees, insurance and so on and so forth. All of these charges will eventually add up, so you need to determine whether they fit within your budget or not.