Five tips to consider when purchasing a condo in Barrie.

When doing your initial searching for condos using the Barrie MLS, you will be narrowing your search down to the right unit for your budget and using other personal preferences, but you should also think about the resale strategy for the unit.  This is where a condo real estate professional will work with you.

Functional Layouts – ask your condo professional what floor plan layouts have sold well over time in the particular condominium building you are looking at.  Certain models are more popular than others.  Sometimes this is due to the functional layout in terms of fitting your furniture into the space.  People sometimes have a hard time with non-rectangular space where they can’t fit furniture. The space becomes unusable.

Barrie Condos For Sale - Natural Light & Functional Layouts

Closet & Storage Space – choose a unit with adequate closet space that includes a small linen closet for those essential items – especially for guests.   The kitchen layout will also determine how much space you will have for dishes and glassware.  Remember that you may have dinner parties for 4 – 6 people.

Unit Location – is the unit close to the elevators or the garbage chute?  Is the unit at ground level where traffic noise can be an issue if the windows are open during the summer months?

Natural light – corner or front units provide the most natural light in waterfront condos.  Depending upon your taste, you may like morning light or late afternoon light.  An abundance of natural light, especially to a buyer during the sales presentation, increases the chance of a sale.

Views – trees, green space, city landscape or waterfront – everyone wants a great view.  If you are interested in a waterfront view, there are many condos that offer different views that include both the waterfront and our historic downtown.

All of these factors should be taken into consideration when selecting Barrie condos for sale; both personally and for resale.   Your condo real estate sales representative will work with you to identify the right unit for the right market price.

Congratulations on your decision on moving to Barrie Ontario!  Barrie is a wonderful lakeside city located 45 minutes north of Toronto on HWY 400.  The Barrie waterfront on Lake Simcoe (Kempenfelt Bay) offers five kilometers of public walking trails, multiple parks and a marina.

Moving to Barrie - Downtown waterfront view

The historic downtown has many shops, restaurants and nightlife for everyone to enjoy.  With many cultural and festival events throughout the year, you can enjoy the community with sporting events to waterfront festivals.
Because of what the City of Barrie has to offer to residents, many condos have been developed along the waterfront.  You can learn more about Barrie Condos by visiting the Barrie Condo Team website and viewing our online guide to all the condominiums in Barrie.

Nautica Condos in Barrie

Bridget Brown from the A Channel News team dropped by the Barrie Condo Team office earlier today. She is creating a segment on Barrie Condominiums – lifestyle, demographics of buyers and the buzz in Barrie.

We will be on the news tonight around 6:30 PM. Please check it out! Bridget interviewed a Barrie Condo Team client, Chris Adams and our friends over at Pratt Condos. They went over to the Pratt’s Manhattan Condos in Barrie project afterwards to check it out. Which by the way – looks really good!

You want to own a condominium in Barrie—you’ve decided that much. But you’ve still have a lot of decisions and factors to consider before you’re done shopping. Handing your wish-list over to a Barrie Condo Realtor is the fastest way to get exactly what you’re looking for.

Your first, and maybe, biggest consideration is location. Locking down exactly where you want to be is a quick way to shortlist your options.

“Maybe you just like the look and feel of some neighborhoods,” said Stephanie Adams of the Barrie Condo Team.

“Or maybe you want to be on, or close to, the waterfront. Or maybe you’re a commuter who needs to be close to Highway 400.  These are all big factors.”

Now let’s take a look at floor plans. Everyone has different architectural and functional needs, which is why most waterfront condos in Barrie have on average 6-8 different unit types, and the previous owners may have chosen different upgrade options.  This provides a lot of choice.

If you’ve found the building and the suite you like, don’t forget to ask your Realtor if the unit’s view of the lake and/or city is a factor in the price. Panoramic views are big selling features for most condos, but if it’s not a deal-breaker for you, perhaps you can get a better price on a more modest view.

Don’t forget to factor in parking. If you have more than one vehicle, make sure your building can accommodate your needs.  But bare in mind, a lot of people choose a condo in a central location so they can walk to more amenities and cut down to one car.

Also take a close look at the community that each condo offers. You may prefer a building with regular social events or parties.

Stephanie Adams is a Sales Representative at Hassey Realty in Barrie focusing on Barrie Condos, Barrie Waterfront Condos and Barrie townhomes sales.

If you’re a first time Barrie condo buyer, you may not know what a status certificate is. Trust us, it’s definitely in your best interest to find out– They’re there to protect you.

Your condo status certificate ensures all your questions are answered, and all your expectations are met. It’s a document that maps out all the operational, legal and financial details of your would-be condominium corporation.

“Most importantly, an up-to-date status certificate can help give a prospective purchaser
the peace of mind of knowing the corporations financial affairs are in good order,” said Colin Hassey, of Hassey Property Management.

Once you have it, your lawyer needs to review it to ensure that you don’t need to be concerned with any aspect of the document, and ensure that all key parts of the agreement show up in the status certificate.

“He or she will advise you to either waive or not waive that condition. Like other conditions such as home inspection, financing or sale of the buyer’s property, the status certificate condition is provided for the benefit of the buyer,” said Cesia Green, of Wall-Armstrong and Associate.

The status certificate gives you crucial information about:

Your Barrie Condo Fees: It outlines the amount payable, by unit, for common expenses. It should also tell you about any recent increases to the fees, as well as the reason for that increase.

Your Barrie Condo Corporation: You will also be warned about the status of any legal action currently being taken against the condo corporation. The certificate should also list information about any applications of amendments to the declaration or outstanding judgments.

Your Barrie Condo Culture: Your status certificate gives you a copy of declaration by-laws and rules. It should also list information about any proposed additions or improvements to the common elements.
You will also be given information like the number of leased units for the fiscal year, as well as a certificate of insurance policies.

A buyer normally asks for the certificate during an offer. Your condo corporation in Barrie is required to prepare a status certificate within 10 days of the request and at a cost of no more than $100.00. Again, the status certificate’s purpose is to protect, you, the buyer. First-time Barrie condo buyers dislike surprises. Your status certificate is the best way to eliminate any surprises, and give you an idea of exactly what you can expect, and what’s expected of you.

Stephanie Adams is a Sales Representative at Hassey Realty in Barrie focusing on Barrie Condos,Barrie Waterfront Condos and Barrie townhomes sales.

Staging condos has become an important part of the condo marketing and selling process, and there are professionals that specialize in this area. There are a few things you can do yourself with your Realtor® to stage your Barrie Condo before listing it in the Barrie MLS that will add a professional touch.

Size matters – Especially when talking about furniture and wall accessories. If your furniture or accessories are too large, they’ll detract from that open concept condo look, making the room seem smaller. When choosing furniture, select smaller-scale condo furnishings that are now offered by many manufacturers.

Make good use of space – Most condos and townhomes have a smaller living space square footage, presenting you with the challenge of arranging your furniture and lighting that will present that space in the best possible way.  If something doesn’t fit, you can always move it into your storage locker.

Art & Colour – Some design schools of thought recommend you stay with neutral wall colours throughout a condo, and others suggest painting one or two walls a different colour to help highlight and add definition to an area within your condo, like the dining or living area.  Staying with one colour has the advantage of allowing you to use artwork to highlight your walls and space.

Georgian Estates Condos Barrie - Staging

Define the space – Do you have a home office in your living room? This can detract from the overall presentation of your condo, and confuse buyers somewhat as they try to imagine themselves living in your space. A living room home office can be pulled off when kept uncluttered and well presented. Small living spaces should perform double-duty while preserving the overall feeling and appearance of your condo.

Photos – Once you have things organized the way you want them presented, then take pictures for your condo listing in the Barrie MLS. Great photos help to draw people in for showings, open houses and are proven to boost sales.

These are just a few staging considerations when getting your Barrie condo ready to sell and work with your Realtor® for listing in the Barrie MLS. If you don’t have the time, talent or inclination to stage your condo yourself, your Barrie condo real estate Sales Representative will be able to recommend a professional stager to work with you.

Stephanie Adams is a Sales Representative at Royal LePage in Barrie focusing on Barrie Condos, Barrie Waterfront Condos and Barrie townhomes sales.

Whether you’re a first‐time buyer or a seasoned homeowner looking for a change in lifestyle, there are a few things you need to research before you consider making an offer on that great condo in Barrie.

Determine what building is right for you: As the City of Barrie has grown, so has the number of condominium developments giving us a wide range of buildings to choose from. Having your real estate sales representative take time to show you the suites and amenities in all the buildings will help you decide what building is right for you.

Obtain the Disclosure Statement for new condos or a Status Certificate for existing developments: It’s important to know that when you purchase a condominium you are not just buying a new home you are also purchasing part of a corporation. Have your lawyer review the Disclosure Statement or Status Certificate. These documents will outline all the condo features, the rules and regulations and will also help determine the health of the Corporation.

Check out the building’s Rules and Regulations: Each condo is its own little community, and each has their own set of rules and regulations that they expect residents to follow. You need to be clear on these regulations to be sure that the building is going to be right for you. For example, if you have children or pets, you’ll want to ensure that the building you’re looking at isn’t an adults‐only, pet free environment.

As soon as you’ve decided on the condo you wish to purchase, it’s important to start communicating with your lawyer so they have enough time to review all your paperwork. Following these 3 simple steps and working with your Barrie condo Real Estate Sales Representative and real estate lawyer will lead to a smooth and successful transaction.

Published in September’s SNAP Barrie Magazine.

Stephanie Adams is a Sales Representative at Hassey Realty specializing in Barrie Condos and townhomes.
Email: Steph@barriecondoteam.com
Phone: 705.716.0299

Barrie condo ownership allows you to enjoy all the features of a fine home, with the added benefits of amenities, enhanced security, increased affordability and ease of maintenance. Amenities include high-tech security, recreation and fitness facilities, plus the convenience of not having to shovel snow or cut grass.

My personal top 10 Barrie Condo features – in no particular order – include:

Parking
It is a wonderful experience to park in a secure temperature controlled parking garage – with close access to the elevator. The garage is professionally cleaned and most condos provide an area to wash your car.

Storage
Having a storage unit in the lower level of a Condominium helps reduce clutter and the amount of things you need to have in your condo. Seasonal items can be easily boxed and stored for next year. Outdoor equipment can also be safely stored.

Fitness Centre
One of the many overlooked features of condo living is the fitness centre. Most condos have up-to-date weight training and aerobic equipment. You can easily work out around your work-schedule at your convenience.

Security
Peace of mind is important for everyone. Security guards not only watch who comes and goes but also manage security cameras at the garage door and underground parking.

Location
Most, if not all condos in the Barrie area are conveniently located to serve direct access to highway 400, local City bus and Go Transit trains and buses. This can allow for a more car free lifestyle.

Shopping & Dinning
Barrie’s downtown condos have the most direct access to all the downtown restaurants. With all condos having close access to supermarkets and local pubs and neighbourhood cafes.

Entertainment & Culture
With so many cultural and festival events in the Barrie area – and in all seasons – it makes it easy to enjoy all forms of entertainment. Waterfront festivals, theatre, film and art exhibitions happen all year around.

Recreation
Recreation & Entertainment Centres, elaborate lobbies and beautiful landscaping create an advantageous lifestyle. This enables you to host parties, business meetings and even movie nights with friends!

Living Environment
Condo buildings are constructed to maximize comfort with modern air ventilation systems, noise-elimination construction and noise-reduction windows. It starts with delivering fresh air to all common areas and allows for in-suite seasonal personal temperature preferences.

Community
Condos are a great place to meet friends and socialize with like-minded individuals. Many people find friends to go for walk, run or to exercise with.

When considering condo ownership in Barrie it is important to understand all the benefits that can enhance your lifestyle. All condo buildings in Barrie provide the common features but they are all different. Explore, learn and understand the lifestyle features that would suit you before you start your real estate search.

Stephanie Adams is a Sales Representative at Hassey Realty specializing in Barrie Condos and townhomes.
Email: Steph@barriecondoteam.com
Phone: 705.716.0299
Web: www.barriecondoteam.com

Follow me on Twitter
Join the Barrie Condo Team Facebook Page
LinkedIn Barrie Condo Team Profile