| New York is the place to be for many people. It is | | | | even tell you that a balcony or deck is not permitted |
| not only one of the largest cities in the world in | | | | at all. Many homeowners associations even restrict |
| terms of area and population but it’s also the | | | | the colors you may use to paint the outside of your |
| home to many growing industries that are constantly | | | | unit. |
| creating new jobs. | | | | For large, external remodeling projects, other |
| The ever increasing sprawl in the Big Apple has | | | | documents that need to be acquired, and may include |
| caused cost of single family homes to be well | | | | the architectural blueprints, building contract and a |
| beyond the economic reach of the average home | | | | city's permit application. |
| buyer. This contributed to the popularity of | | | | In New York City, and most other areas, minor |
| apartment and condo complexes. Now many of | | | | condo and apartment remodeling that involves only |
| these complexes are getting older and changes may | | | | the interior, including changes in the non-structural |
| be needed. Remodeling condo and apartments makes | | | | walls, typically does not require the approval of the |
| sense for owners wanting to boost their property | | | | homeowners association or the building inspectors. |
| value and also for new owners wanting to inject their | | | | There are many things that you may do to your |
| own style into their living space as well as for those | | | | condo or apartment to match it with your lifestyle |
| who have already been living in the same condo for | | | | and taste. Since the living space in condominiums is |
| years and want something new and different, to | | | | often limited, there are certain renovations that can |
| without the hassles of moving into another place. | | | | make the area seem larger and keep things better |
| Condo and apartment remodeling is not an easy task, | | | | organized. |
| especially if you are aiming at a project involving the | | | | For example, reatively adding new cabinets can help |
| exterior. Condominium and apartment buildings use | | | | in minimizing everyday clutter. Recessed lighting can |
| and share common facilities such as heating systems, | | | | add the illusion of having a much more spacious area. |
| elevators, hallways and other areas outside personal | | | | Soundproofing an area or the whole living unit, can |
| spaces. Individual condo owners are generally not | | | | add a welcome sense of privacy. Repainting, adding |
| permitted to make any changes that would affect | | | | new and updated appliances, and lighting fixtures, |
| the common areas without the approval of the | | | | renovating kitchens and/ or bathrooms, are all |
| condominium board of directors. | | | | projects that affect your unit alone, without |
| Larger projects that involve exterior renovations, also | | | | impacting any of the common areas. You don’t |
| involve several kinds of paperwork before you can | | | | need approval from the Board of Directors or |
| get started with the remodeling job. | | | | anyone else and they can all add to your unit’s |
| First off, researching the governing rules imposed by | | | | value and livability. |
| the home owners association is vital. Since most | | | | Another important thing to consider when remodeling |
| condominium projects consider a harmonious look to | | | | your condor apartment, is hiring a reputable |
| be an important selling point, some changes may or | | | | contractor. Whether the project is big or small, letting |
| may not be permitted. Speak with your residential | | | | competent hands handle the dirty job can prove |
| construction contractor and those on the board in | | | | extremely beneficial, especially if you have no |
| your complex to see what can and can't be done. | | | | experience at all with fixing things. Money is always a |
| If you try to ignore these rules, it may lead to higher | | | | big issue, but with a good contractor, you don’t |
| costs later, to adapt the original design to the | | | | have to worry about mistakes. You get the job done |
| homeowners association specifications, or remove it | | | | right the first time, with the minimum amount of |
| altogether. For example, let’s say that you want | | | | waste time and inconvenience. You don’t have |
| to add a balcony or deck to your unit. The | | | | to keep calling the contractor to come back and fix |
| homeowners association may have specific design | | | | things that should abandon right the first place and so |
| requirements for balconies and decks or they may be | | | | you have less maintenance cost in the long run. |