Planning renovations in a HOA or condo corporation can bit a bit trickier when you want to age in place where you live. Living in a Home Owners Association (HOA) or Condo Corporation owned property may come with some challenges for making your home barrier free and doing the renovations you want.
I frequently am working with clients that want to add a these to their unit or suite:
- wheelchair ramp or lift
- stair chair
- change bathtub to walk in or roll in shower
- add a hoyer lift transfer system
- move a laundry room to a different level of the house
- remove sliding balcony doors to put in french doors
- add voice controlled electronics like light or front door lock control.
Before You Buy
As a potential buyer of a property, you can add extra conditions to your sale, beyond the normal financing, property inspection or condo document review conditions. Many times I’ve helped clients navigate getting permission for renovations BEFORE they move ahead with an offer. We find out if there is rules, material costs, preferred contractors or access building systems to know what renovations are going to be permitted. This initial step in the purchase process can save a lot of headaches later.
Be Involved With The Board
This doesn’t mean you have to be a board member for your HOA or condo board – but being involved by going to the meetings, being an active homeowner, participating in social activities – all of this helps for when it is time for you to request permission to do a larger renovation project to support your aging needs. Being known and liked as someone who supports other owner projects will get you good karma as you have to ask for your projects to be approved.
Do Your Research
Before approaching your condo board or HOA board with a request for a renovation – do your research. Check your bylaws for any rules that apply (ie. they might specify the type of underlay to use beneath hard flooring to dampen sound). But also research materials and contractors. When you can present a comprehensive plan of why you chose what you chose, show you were following rules, show you have contractors with proper licensing lined up – all of that helps build your case. Be sure to include the WHY for the renovation – that it’s not just aesthetic but practical purpose of aging well and increasing independence.
Give Yourself Plenty of Time
Having to request to make modifications to your suite can take some time with a condo board or HOA involved. Making these modifications before you need them is key, so that you are never pressured for time. Some boards can promptly review your renovation requests, while other boards may meet once a month to review special requests.
Occasionally – client’s have their renovation requests denied. Sometimes what they want just doesn’t work with the building structure, electrical or plumbing requirements. When that happens, you have choices to make. You can stay as long as you can until you need those renovations, and find a new place that has them. Yo may have to learn if there is different tools or devices that can make your existing situation work.
Many of my clients have made wonderful modifications to their condos and HOA properties to better age in place and maintain independence. Renovations to support aging in place goals are worth taking on the extra work and time and commitment to get it done right.
Just take the time to do your research, complete the appropriate renovation request forms and work with your board to meet their regulations for products, contractors, work hours and more. The little bit of extra work ensures you can benefit with more years to age well where you live.
