Maintenance free construction
• No render or timber windows to decorate
• Plastered or exposed brick common staircases; not plasterboard dry lining
• Damage resistant materials used in lift car interior
Car Parking
• Allocation and number of visitors spaces.
• Security.
• Enforcement and clamping.
In new developments you usually pay extra for a garage or a space in an underground car park.
The location of the apartment
Consider an apartment with a balcony, especially if there are great or potential views. This will make it easier to sell when the time comes.
How close the apartment is to the lift and the fire doors. It can be very noisy if your home is near to these.
Which floor is better?
An apartment that has others above and below it can be generally more noisy than a ground floor or top floor apartment. If you prefer an apartment above the ground floor, it will be further to carry your shopping if there is not a lift. If there are more than three floors a lift is essential. Ground floor garden level apartments and some penthouses are more prone to theft. Insurance companies may insist on extra security before they will insure your contents. Upper floor apartments may be colder in the winter and warmer in the summer but can have the advantage of panoramic views. The top floor properties should also be a bit quieter as there are no occupants above them. You may also be able to use the loft space for additional storage.
The number of apartments per floor staircase. The more apartments the more noise and wear and tear. Three or four apartments per floor should be considered a maximum.
The number of floors. Three or more floors will mean a lift is a necessity, meaning more cost in both a higher price for the property and long term maintenance charges. Many lenders will refuse a loan if the building has more than five floors. It should also be noted that the deposit required for new built apartment can be as high as 30% .
Size
This varies considerably and many newly built apartments are getting smaller, especially in London. Purpose-built studios can be less than 25m2 with one-bedroom apartments of 48m2. When assessing the value of a new apartment take into account the size and cost per square metre. Property experts recommend that studios be avoided as they are cramped and can be very difficult to sell, or obtain a mortgage on. A one-bedroom apartment with a separate bedroom will be a better investment than a studio.
Buying off plan
Previously in popular developments, buying off plan long before an apartment building is completed was the only way to secure the property. In normal market conditions the value of the property would often increase during the construction period. However, in a falling market once contracts have been exchanged, you are committed to the purchase and the purchase price even if the value has fallen. In some cases dramatic falls in values have resulted in purchasers being unable to proceed because the mortgage was reduced or withdrawn altogether, resulting in a lost deposit of £30,000 or more. Remember most apartment blocks can take as long as 18 months to build, far longer than the average detached house.
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Resale values
This is a particular problem if the Freeholder or his managing agent have not carried out regular maintenance and repairs to the property. The resale value of an apartment will depend on how well the development is maintained and managed. If the gardens are not maintained or if the walls are dirty or gutters broken who will buy your property? However, it is possible to go to the leasehold Valuation Tribunal to force the freeholder to maintain the property. www.lease-advice.org.uk A freehold apartment will always be easier to sell and probably command a higher price than a leasehold property.
Apartment blocks that contain predominantly let properties, will be more difficult to sell and command a lower price than the equivalent apartment in an owner-occupied building.
Apartments in cities are generally a good investment and have excellent letting potential, assuming that the rental market doesn’t become saturated. The best-selling apartments are spacious with at least two bedrooms and good views.
Be aware that properties on retirement developments often charge an exit fee each time the flat is sold. High annual charges can also make these more difficult to sell.
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