Build a building file alongside the unit file
The unit file covers layout, condition, inclusions and any parking or storage rights. The building file covers governing documents, budgets, insurance, meeting records and disclosed assessments. Ask who will provide each document and which professional will review questions outside an agent’s expertise. An answer from another unit or building should not be treated as the answer for this purchase.
Normalize the fee before comparing it
List what the charge covers and what the owner pays separately. Convert different payment periods to the same monthly basis, and show temporary assessments separately from the base charge. A $500 fee plus a $400 monthly assessment installment costs $900 during that installment period. That hypothetical arithmetic says nothing about a building’s overall financial health; it simply prevents a misleading comparison of advertised base charges.
Connect the documents to the way you will use the home
Check the actual provisions for the intended occupancy, pets, leasing, alterations and access. Ask the lender about the project review required for the proposed loan. Visit from the unit door to the street or parking space, including elevator and entry arrangements. The floor plan may suit you while the building’s ownership or access conditions do not.
Sources & further reading
- Contact Gary Ashton's team checked 2026-09-26
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