Before viewing other condos in your Realtor’s shortlist, do bear in mind the following to have a productive trip:
1) Allocate at least 1.5 hours for viewing properties. It takes at least 20-30 minutes to inspect a condo. When scheduling a viewing, request to see a maximum of five, properly pre-qualifed condominiums during the first round. Why not more? By my experience, clients get more confused if they view so many units on the same day. They won’t remember what they’ve seen, or worse, they’ll fail to appreciate the good qualities of the properties due to the information overload.
2) Before entering the condo, ask the owner or tenant if you need to take off your footwear. There are some nationalities that mind your stepping into their abode in shoes or slippers. Others don’t. Be culturally sensitive.
3) Do not ask for the owner’s or tenants contact details. Realtors won’t come out with this request at all! But part of the ethics of viewing condos: please don’t request for the contact details of the owner in case you get to meet him in the viewing. And in case the owner voluntarily gives his card, accept it as part of courtesy–but surrender it to your broker immediately after the meeting. As many units shown to your are not necessarily the broker’s exclusive listing, keep the trust by dissipating any thoughts that you will contact the owner directly without your broker’s knowledge.
4) Check if the condominium property can still accomodate digital and internet lines–and if they’ll have enough allocation for you if you apply. Believe it or not, there are still some condominium projects in Makati and other areas that can no longer install a digital phone line nor DSL internet line. This is true of PLDT if you want to have broadband internet.
If they’ve reached a cap on PLDT, check with the administrator’s office which service providers do they accept. Not all condos can install Globe, Smart or Bayantel. Unless you’re willing to use a cellular landline (there have been mixed reviews about using the latest Globe Duo due to dropped calls), check out this capability early before plunking down your hard-earned money in that condo. It’s like a thread that’s waiting to unravel your entire condominium investment.
5) Check the electrical loading capacity of the unit. There are some condominium projects, especially the newer ones, whose electrical loading or breakers are underrated. Do check it out especially if you can accomodate at least the basic loads with no danger or need for re-wiring your unit. I’ve had a client do this for his Forbeswood Heights unit. Another client couldn’t even install an electrical range oven that’s more than 1000 watts due to this limitation.
Philippine Realtor, Real Estate Blogger, IT Education for Real Estate Marketing Advocate, Seminar Speaker for Information & Communications Technology in Real Estate 