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Whether you are buying a condo as a starter home, downsizing or if you just don’t like taking care of a yard, a condo might be the perfect situation for you. However, even with the plus of not having to maintain a yard, condos do have other pros and cons.

Low Maintenance

While you won't have to keep up with landscaping or worry about exterior tasks like washing or painting, you are at the mercy of those contracted to complete those tasks. The list of outside chores generally covered within a condo complex is long, including mowing, cleaning gutters, driveway maintenance, trimming shrubbery and otherwise keeping the landscaping and yard maintained. However, if you prefer gray paint on your house and the condo complex chooses to paint it brown, you’re pretty much out of luck. You will have to maintain the interior of your condo and make sure any shared walls are in good condition.

Rules and Regulations

Even when you buy a condo, you have to abide by the condo association’s rules and regulations. That means no pets if that is a rule, even though you own the condo. However, rules and regulations are sometimes a good thing. If you prefer enforced quiet hours or that no one has pets because you are allergic, these types of rules will benefit you.

Privacy

In a nutshell, a condo is very similar to an apartment. You share walls just as you would in an apartment. You might have people over you and under you. Unless you have an end unit, you have people on either side of you. Some may like living in close quarters with other people — they feel safer and are more comfortable having neighbors very close. But, if you want more privacy, condominium living might not be for you.

Weather

If you live in a cooler climate, you don’t have to worry about clearing snow. The driveway is cared for by the condo association, which means it is cleared and then salted so that people do not slip. If the wind blows a tree over on the property, you don’t have to wrestle with a chainsaw to clean it up or find someone who is reliable to show up to clean up the mess.

Interior

Depending on how the condo is set up, in addition to walls and ceilings, you might share an interior hallway with others. While you won’t have to keep the hallway clean, you will routinely hear the foot traffic of your neighbors. Most people who live in communities like these are mindful of the amount of noise they create within shared space. However, noise could still be a significant disruption especially when neighbors keep opposite schedules.

Want to add your condo to the real estate market? As a condo seller, you'll want to do everything possible to prep your residence so you can streamline the property selling process. Fortunately, we're here to help you do just that.

Here are three tips to help you simplify the condo selling process.

1. Conduct a Property Appraisal

What you paid for your condo a few years ago is unlikely to match what your residence is worth today. Therefore, a condo seller should conduct a property appraisal to understand the true value of his or her residence.

A property appraisal may prove to be exceedingly valuable for a condo seller. This appraisal ensures a property expert will examine your residence both inside and out and help you uncover any problems with your condo. Then, you can allocate the necessary time and resources to complete any condo repairs or mainteanance to boost your property's value.

With a property appraisal, you can learn about your condo's strengths and weaknesses and plan accordingly. You'll also be able to establish a "fair" price for your home based on your property's condition.

2. Declutter Your Condo

For condo sellers, decluttering a property is paramount. With a clutter-free condo, you can make it easy for condo buyers to envision what life would be like if they purchase your residence.

To declutter a condo effectively, you'll first want to remove any personal belongings from your property. Antiques, photographs and other personal belongings can be put in storage until your condo sells.

Furthermore, don't forget to clean your condo's interior as much as possible. A pristine interior can boost your condo's chances of making a positive first impression on property buyers as soon as they walk through the front door.

If you need extra help with condo cleaning, don't hesitate to hire a professional cleaning company. By doing so, you may be able to transform an ordinary condo into an awe-inspiring property.

3. Work with a Real Estate Agent

When it comes to selling a condo, why should you be forced to leave anything to chance? Conversely, work with a real estate agent, and you can take the guesswork out of selling your condo.

A real estate agent with condo selling experience understands what it takes to promote a residence to the right groups of property buyers. This real estate professional will go the extra mile to ensure you can move quickly and effortlessly through the condo selling process.

For example, a real estate agent will set up condo showings and open houses. These events will make it easy to showcase your residence to property buyers and increase your chances of receiving multiple offers on your condo.

A real estate agent also serves as a housing market expert. He or she will be ready to respond to any condo selling queries, at any time. That way, you can receive the support you need to make informed condo selling decisions.

Leverage these tips, and you can simplify the condo selling process.