Choosing a new home is not just a purchase. This process should be approached with full responsibility. A mistake in choosing can be costly. At the same time, the apartment will not necessarily be bad. It just may not suit your specific conditions. Therefore, we have prepared several tips that will help you not to miss important aspects.
New Building or Secondary Market
Both options have their pros and cons. The new building offers excellent conditions. Many companies, such as Aria Calgary offer excellent projects. These are comfortable apartments that take into account the experience of past years. Therefore, everything is done for the residents. In addition, it is nice to realize that no one has lived in this place before you.
The secondary market is attracted by its developed and well-established infrastructure, which may not work so well in new areas. In addition, you will have more information from previous residents. Of course, this option does not provide a 100% guarantee, but it is still easier to collect information.
Assess the Location of the Building
Calculate how much time you will spend on the road. After all, every day we go somewhere: to work, to school or on other business. There are two options here: choosing a house near the most visited place, for example, work, or finding the best location. This is the base. What else?
- It is essential that kindergartens, schools, and clinics are located in the area where the house is located. Don’t forget to also check if there are shops, post offices, pharmacies and banks nearby.
- A green area is also a significant advantage, especially for those who like a healthy lifestyle and families with small children. It would be great if there was a park or forest near the house, where you could breathe fresh air and run in the morning.
Look to the future and assess the development prospects of the area. Perhaps very soon, a new metro station will be built nearby, or a school that studies foreign languages in depth will open.
Choose a Layout and Floor
The location of the rooms in the apartment and the view from the windows and the floor are important. Today, many developers offer apartments with spacious kitchen-living rooms and dressing areas. Or maybe you dream of a spacious terrace? Such offers also exist.
Pay attention to the height of the ceilings. In apartments where the ceilings are higher than usual, it seems as if the apartment “breathes,” and there is more space in it. Also, look at where the windows face and whether the apartment will be light. Windows facing the sunny side, with a view of a well-kept park, immediately add 100 points to the apartment.
Look at the plan to see how many apartments there will be on your floor. The fewer, the quieter your home will most likely be. Do not forget that you are choosing an apartment in a new building, which means that even if the housing is sold with finishing, at first, you will not be able to avoid noise associated with the repairs that the neighbours have started.
Also, think about the floor. If there are elderly people in the family or you are choosing housing for middle-aged parents, it is better to look for an apartment on the first or second floor.
Examine the Building
If you have doubts about choosing an apartment in a new building, go to the construction site. It often happens that you see the house with your own eyes and immediately understand whether this is it or whether you need to look further.
Try to simulate a situation in which you seem to already live there. Go to the nearest store, walk to the bus or metro stop, evaluate the playgrounds in the yard, find out about parking – feel like a local resident.
If you are planning to buy an apartment in another city, and there is no opportunity to quickly come “for reconnaissance,” a virtual tour using Google Maps would be a good option. And if your friends or relatives live in the city where you want to buy an apartment, ask them for advice, they will certainly tell you. You can also read reviews about the house and the progress of its construction on residents’ forums or on social networks.
Cost and Conditions
The price issue is probably the biggest headache for anyone who has decided to buy real estate. Do not rush. Weigh the pros and cons. Hold a family council. Most importantly, they should carefully study the offers on the market:
- Look for information on prices, ask the developer about instalments, discounts, and promotions. Perhaps you will get more favourable conditions.
- Learn your bank’s offers regarding mortgages. It is better to know in advance how much you will have to pay.
- Remember, the closer the date of commissioning of the house and the issuance of keys, the more expensive the apartments are, as a rule. This is how the market works. Therefore, it is unlikely that you will be able to buy a ready-made apartment “cheap” and move in the next day. If you want to buy an apartment a little cheaper and are ready to wait a year or two, choose housing in the early stages of construction.
In any case, don’t be afraid to ask and clarify any unclear details. Sometimes, people miss out on good discounts and great deals just because they are embarrassed to find out about them.
It is essential to understand that you have been buying an apartment for many years. In addition, the quality of your life largely depends on its convenience. Therefore, spend enough time thinking and do not make impulsive decisions.