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Check Out the Board Before Buying the Condo

If you're looking for a condominium, checking out the condo board is imperative. No matter how great your condo is, the board can mean the difference between a pleasant living situation and a hellish nightmare. The board is an important part of condo life and should play a part in your decision to buy. Attending at least one board meeting is something that everyone looking at a condo unit should do before making the decision to buy.

What is the board and why do you need one? The condo board is a group of people who uphold the CC&Rs (covenants, conditions & restrictions), address rule-breakers with warnings, fines and other methods of dealing with infractions, who vote on changes to the CC&Rs, building, policies and other issues associated with the property held in common. You need a board in a condo to make decisions, through an established process, about issues arising in the condo. Whether it is deciding when to replace the roof or mediating a dispute between two neighbors, the condo board performs many necessary tasks that keep the condo running well. Or, at least, it should.

Condo board members should be happy to talk to you about the condo, events, policies, CC&Rs, etc. Be wary of board members who resist all polite inquiries concerning the board and its conduct. While you don't necessarily want a board that interferes with your daily life, you also don't want a board that is unapproachable.

How are meetings conducted? You should sit in on one and see. Are they reasonably orderly and productive, or do they devolve into arguments and name-calling? Are there clear procedures that the meeting is conducted by? For instance, one might have a number of "Old Business" issues, some "New Business" issues and a period of time where people can lay issues before the board for consideration.

If the board employs a manager to oversee the day-to-day operations of the condo, how approachable and professional is s/he? Do other residents speak well of the manager's attitude and handling of the condo's affairs? One or two disgruntled people out of ten may not be cause for alarm, but if most of the people you speak to are disgruntled about the manager's conduct, you may well have reason to reconsider having to deal with them on a day-to-day basis.

Another aspect of the condo board is the operating budget and reserve. The operating budget covers things like lawn maintenance, pool care, etc. The reserve is for repair and replacement of things as they inevitably wear out or break. A condo's reserve and operating budget should be flexible to meet rising costs and emergency issues. A condo that cuts reserve money and amenities to keep dues low may be a cheaper option, but the costs of replacing a roof with no adequate budget for it may require a large assessment from each condo owner. It's wise to avoid saving money now only having to pay an unexpected levy.

The condo board is an important part of condo life and should be taken into consideration when you are considering a condo for purchase. You could get the best condo in the most ideal location, but if you have a condo board that makes life harder, it detracts from the space that you are paying for. Time taken to ascertain that the condo board is one that you can live with is always well spent.

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Illustrated Properties is a Jupiter FL real estate company with professional, effective services to help you succeed in the local market. Visit TedSoldIt.com for information on neighborhoods and home listings, and to get in touch with an expert Palm Beach Gardens real estate agent.