Moving Into a Condo You Own

Buying a condo means buying into a shared building with an association that governs it. On moving day that association has more say over your arrangements than a landlord would, and the requirements are frequently stricter.

Just-In-Time Moving works throughout Washington and Washington County.

Contact the association before the closing

Not the week of the move. Some requirements take time.

Is the move-in slot booked? Many buildings allocate specific windows and they fill.

Which entrance and lift? Service access is usually mandatory rather than optional, and the lift may need reserving and padding.

What hours are permitted? Restrictions are common and frequently exclude Sundays and holidays.

Is a certificate of insurance required? Almost always in a condo building, often with specified minimum limits and the association named. Ask for that requirement in writing and pass it to your mover weeks ahead.

Is there a move-in deposit against damage to common areas, and how is it returned?

Where can a truck park, and is there a size restriction?

Read the governing documents before you need them

Ownership brings rules that renting does not always make obvious.

Flooring is the one people meet later: many buildings require a minimum sound underlay beneath hard flooring, and replacing carpet with tile without approval can mean putting it back.

Also check rules on balconies and what may be stored on them, exterior alterations including window coverings visible from outside, pets, short-term letting if that is part of your plan, and where you may work on a vehicle.

Understand the dues and the reserves

Ask what dues cover, how often they have risen, whether a special assessment is anticipated, and what the reserve study says.

In a condo you share responsibility for roofs, exteriors and shared systems. A building with underfunded reserves and ageing infrastructure means an assessment is a question of when.

On the day

Protect shared surfaces. Corridor walls, lift interiors, door frames and stair edges all take damage during a move, and the association will charge the owner.

That is exactly what the mover's general liability cover addresses, and why the certificate is required before access.

Photograph the unit before your belongings go in, and the corridor route too.

Call (435) 862-3080 or email office@movingjustintime.com.