Barrie Townhomes

In order to clarify things a bit for those in unfamiliar territory, here are the basic differences.

First, the easy one: ‘townhome’ or ‘townhouse’? These terms are used interchangeably, and mean the same thing, but the term I prefer to use with my clients is ‘townhome’, because it’s not just a building I’m referring to – it’s your potential new home. This building will become your personal space, where you go to escape, raise your family, and live your life.

Now for the main difference between condominium and freehold townhomes: freehold townhomes are those for which you pay no monthly fees, and are responsible for all maintenance like shovelling snow, mowing the lawn, etc. Condominium townhomes include a monthly maintenance fee, but the trade-off is that you don’t need to worry about cleaning the pool, or maintaining your driveway in the winter or lawn in the summer – it’s all looked after for you.

If you’re a professional or retiree who just doesn’t have the time or interest to invest in the upkeep of a house, a condominium townhome might be a good option for you.

Affordable luxury

Whichever you choose, both freehold and condominium townhomes usually offer upgrades and amenities that are often cost-prohibitive when looking at a detached home. Items like ceramic or hardwood floors, upgraded cupboards, granite countertops, and whirlpool tubs are just a few options that generally have a large price tag attached to them in detached homes, but are often more affordable in a townhome. It boils down to value for your money, and the lifestyle you want.

An appreciable investment

Like a detached home, townhomes are an investment that will (or should, depending on the market conditions) appreciate in value. And, again like a detached house, the more amenities and upgrades the townhome has, the higher the resale value.
When it comes right down to it, choosing a freehold or condominium townhome is simply a matter of personal choice based on lifestyle and affordability.

Published in SNAP Barrie Magazine.

Stephanie Adams is a Sales Representative at Royal LePage First Contact Realty focusing on Barrie Condo and townhome sales.

Condo Entry Access: If your condo building or unit has an alarm or access card reader, be sure to follow your building’s or security provider’s rules about sharing the entry code or card, and ensure no one follows you into the building that you don’t know. With townhomes, if you have a security system, change the code regularly, especially if you’ve had to share your code with someone. With Barrie townhome owners, it is important to note that most insurance companies offer a 5% discount on your homeowners’ insurance plan if you have a monitored alarm system.

Lighting Make sure all common areas in your building are well-lit, especially parking lots, hallways, and other areas that are frequently used after-dark. If you find that new lighting is needed or bulbs replaced, let your building/property manager know as quickly as possible.

Barrie Townhouses: Landscaping and shrubs Notify your building management of any safety concerns you may have about the landscaping, trees, or shrubs. Any overgrown foliage should be trimmed back and the property should be landscaped to allow for good visibility in the common areas. If you have a ground-floor unit, ensure any additional entryways such as patio or garden doors are unobscured.

Frank van Amelsvoort, from G.I.T. Security Systems Inc. in Barrie recommends these tips before you go away on vacation:

Before going away, test your system thoroughly and replace batteries if you’re going for longer than 30 days. Systems generally only operate for 12 to 24 hours without utility power so make sure your utilities and communications service providers will continue to provide service to your residence in your absence.

Regular periodic testing is recommended by experts and manufacturers alike to ensure proper system operation even if you’re using the system regularly.

Make certain that you leave your monitoring centre with a forwarding number in the event a serious problem occurs which you need notification of in an emergency.

Consider periodic upgrading of your security system. Advice is always free from reputable Security Companies and some new technologies may even save you money. Also, some older residences do not yet have Carbon Monoxide detectors, which can be easily added to a security system.

For more helpful tips on Barrie condo and townhouse information, visit our facebook page by searching for Barrie Condo Team.

Stephanie Adams is a Sales Representative at Royal LePage First Contact Realty focusing on Barrie Condo and townhouse sales.
Email: Steph@barriecondoteam.com
Phone: 705.716.0299

When buying a condo in Barrie, it is important to make sure you select an inspector that is knowledgeable in condominiums, since there are different areas and elements of condos that may require inspection where a house doesn’t. For example, common areas like recreation centres, swimming pools, patios, stairwells, parking garages, and other areas that are shared by all occupants of the building have special considerations that need to be addressed that someone specializing in detached homes might not be aware of.

Additionally, the very nature of the building and the systems needed to operate multi-unit climate control, water delivery and so on, are not something that a home inspector would necessarily be familiar with. Barrie condo inspectors with a commercial or industrial background or advanced knowledge with these types of building systems can come in real handy where the building systems meets with the condo suite.

Stephanie Adams is a Sales Representative at Royal LePage in Barrie focusing on Barrie Condo and townhome sales.
Email: Steph@barriecondoteam.com
Phone: 705.716.0299
Web: Barrie Condos For Sale