If you are thinking of buying a house, especially if it is the first time, it is necessary, if not essential, to avoid trivial mistakes that you may regret for a long time.

Buying a house is a very important step and it is therefore normal to want to pay a lot of attention.

Although it seems almost obvious to have the real estate agent on duty check the habitability, the mortgage conditions and the land registry, many people underestimate the importance of requesting the necessary information on the condominium from the administrator of the building, and to verify some fundamental elements to avoid unpleasant surprises in the future.

This information, in fact, can be absolutely relevant and can be decided for the purchase of the property we like best. It seems difficult to be able to extricate oneself between countless commitments and the thousand worries that assail us when making the decision to buy a property. Don’t worry, in the next few lines I will tell you what to ask the building administrator before buying the property of your dreams.

1. Request the Condominium Regulations

The first step to take is certainly to ask the building administrator for the condominium regulations and the latest budgets, in order to predict the condominium expenses.

The examination of the condominium regulation has a dual purpose: the first is to verify that sufficient clauses are inserted to avoid harassing or indecent destinations in the other real estate units, the other is to verify that the regulation does not prohibit the possibility of change the intended use of the real estate unit being purchased.

Another point to be analyzed well is that of the distribution of expenses, if the condominium regulation establishes that the costs of the lift, for example, are divided by thousandths and not by floors, the buyer will not be able to do anything about it, because most likely the condominiums on the upper floors will never allow the modification of the regulation.

Furthermore, the condominium regulation could contain particular provisions in contrast with one’s own interests.

2. Check if any extraordinary work is planned

Another fundamental aspect is to check whether extraordinary maintenance works have been planned for the common parts or the renovation of the condominium, such as the adaptation of the heating system or the renovation of the external facade, previously approved by the assembly of condominiums but whose works have not yet started and the installments of the expense not requested at the time of the sale.

In this case, the obligation falls on the new owner, therefore it is advisable, before paying the agreed price to the seller, to ask the administrator of the building if there are extraordinary expenses already approved. It is also necessary to inquire about the absence of overdue condominium expenses so as not to risk paying any debts of the previous owner. Secondly, it is necessary to ensure that the intended use of the house corresponds to the provisions of the building regulations.

3. Check for pending causes

Another aspect of certain importance is verifying that in the condominium where we are going to live there are no pending lawsuits, promoted by the condominium against third parties. Indeed in these cases, you could pay any debts and legal fees related to the litigation.

4. Condominium aspects

It is essential to verify the regularity of the vendor’s payments, to avoid unexpected expenses. Requesting this type of verification is certainly a good practice, with prior authorization.

If the selling party starts postponing the consultation of the payment documentation, probably not all payments are regular.

If for some reason, it was not possible to verify the regular payment of condominium expenses, it is customary to have a small release clause included in the notarial deed, in order not to be in the situation of being a defaulting condominium, with the administrator requesting us to pay the arrears of the old owner.

To this end, please note that the transfer of ownership of a property also entails the transfer of all rights and obligations related to it. Want to buy a condominium? You must see Icon Brickell Condos for sale.