Condominium living in Orange County offers several advantages, like lower maintenance costs, access to a wide variety of excellent amenities, and a convenient location near a large number of restaurants and shops.
Yet, one of the major drawbacks is that a condo remodel can be a huge hassle. Condo owners are required to adhere to a more stringent set of rules and norms, in contrast to homeowners, who are often free to make changes to their residences.
The fact that you own your unit does not change the fact that you are a member of a community that frequently has rules and regulations to follow. Because of this, it is absolutely necessary for you to gather information before you start swinging a sledgehammer.
Your home improvement project will go off without a hitch if you are familiar with the guidelines established by your condo association. Here is a look at five things you need to know before you start a condo remodel in Orange County to help get you started off on the right foot.
Here at GreatBuildz, we speak with clients every day who are looking to find a great contractor for a condo remodel in Orange County and the greater Southern California area. GreatBuildz is a free service that connects homeowners with reliable, pre-screened home contractors, then provides ongoing project support to ensure a stress-free experience.
Know The Rules
Get in touch with the condominium board in order to learn the building’s policies and guidelines before you start planning your condo renovation. There is no universally accepted norm, and the bylaws of one condo organization can be vastly different from those of another. You should begin by having a conversation with the property manager because they will know how to put you in touch with the board.
Additionally, they may have relevant materials and forms that can help provide guidance on what changes you can make to your unit, what changes you cannot make, and what steps you need to take to get permission before you can begin renovating your condo.
If you fail to investigate these particulars in advance, it may turn out to be a logistical nightmare for you, as the work could come to a grinding halt if you did not obtain the appropriate approvals, and you could find yourself in legal trouble if you made unapproved changes to the structure.
Be Aware of Your Constraints
Before beginning a condo remodel, it is important to have reasonable expectations about what can be accomplished. In spite of the fact that you may have entertained ideas of knocking down a wall, you may be startled to realize how costly major renovations such as these may be. This is especially important to keep in mind if you will be relocating any gas or plumbing lines.
It is essential to go into the remodeling process with reasonable expectations about what you can accomplish and how much it will cost. The fact is that you may not have to rip down a wall or relocate a sink across a room, to improve the design of a place.
With a little imagination and maybe the help of a professional designer, you can get the most out of your condo’s current layout. Nonetheless, this underscores the necessity of spending time to think about your budget before you start planning your redesign. Understanding how much you can really afford allows you to develop a list of what key improvements matter the most.
Related: Renovation Budget Checklist
Don’t Let Your Fear of Color Hold You Back
While renovating a condo, here are some things you should know.
Choosing the appropriate paint colors for the various rooms in your condo can consume a significant amount of your time. Although the color of the paint plays an important part in defining spaces, many individuals are reluctant to utilize vibrant hues. People frequently worry that they will grow to despise vibrant colors in the future.
Alternatively, the worry of employing anything other than a neutral tone could negatively affect resale value. Despite this, it is imperative that you do not allow your concerns to prevent you from experimenting with daring new paint colors.
The reality is that unless you are planning on selling your home in the near future, it is highly probable that you will need to repaint it before you can sell it. Thus, don’t let a concern about resale value stop you from attempting something new. Also, you may always repaint if you do not like how dramatic a new color ends up looking.
Yet, bold paint colors can help to dramatically remodel a place without breaking the budget. During the time that you are renovating your condo, you should not be afraid to experiment with a variety of paint colors.
Related: How to Find a Good Painter in Los Angeles?
When Planning to Remodel a Condo in Orange County, You Should Anticipate Potential Delays.
Maintaining a flexible approach to the timeframe is essential for any kind of home renovation, as unexpected delays are frequently unavoidable. This is particularly true with condo renovations, as various possible complications can affect your timeframe.
The fact that many condo associations impose constraints on the times and places where construction can take place is one of the primary reasons why condo renovations might take a significant amount of time. For example, what days/times can materials be brought in? They may even impose restrictions on which elevators construction personnel may use and where they can park.
It is a fact that you share walls and common areas with other people, and the building is obligated to make sure that your neighbors are not disturbed by the construction taking place. Yet, the construction process may be slowed down as a result of these restrictions. For this reason, it is essential that you allot a sufficient amount of time in your budget for the remodeling and plan how you will coexist in the space.
Locate a Condo Building Contractor Who Is Qualified.
Remodeling an Orange County condo typically presents an additional set of obstacles that are not present in the renovation of a single-family home. Hence, if you are thinking of making modifications to your condo, it would be in your best interest to collaborate with a skilled and licensed contractor who is able to assist you in navigating this complicated process.
Therefore, it is necessary for you to locate a condo contractor who has prior experience. To ensure that your renovation goes off without a hitch and that it is completed without any issues, you will need the assistance of a trained professional who is aware of the permits that will be necessary, the potential challenges that may arise during the renovation, and who possesses the necessary experience.
When you are conducting interviews with potential contractors, you should be sure to ask them questions regarding their previous jobs.
Find out what type of experience they have working on condos. In addition, have they ever worked on projects that are comparable to yours? Be certain that the condo contractor you choose to work with is up to the task at hand.
Related: Comparing Contractor Bids for Remodeling
Find Out More Information Regarding the Renovation of a Condominium in Orange County
If you are thinking about remodeling your condo in Orange County, taking the time to investigate the rules of your building and making sure that you find a contractor with the appropriate experience can go a long way toward ensuring that your condo remodel goes off without a hitch and that you get the most out of your investment. Feel free to contact us to learn more about what you should know, and the things you should consider before you remodel your unit.
When it comes to finding the best condo contractor for your project – GreatBuildz is simplifying the contractor search in Los Angeles, Orange, Ventura & San Diego Counties. GreatBuildz is a free service that connects homeowners with reliable, thoroughly screened home improvement services and provides project support from start to finish.
Call now (818.317.3567) to chat with a real person about your next renovation project or visit our website for more information: www.greatbuildz.com.
