Frequently Asked Questions
How is buying a condominium different than buying a single-family house? At Redstone Group, we endeavor to select wooded sites providing a sense of privacy for our condominiums. Our floor plans and placement of your condominium home on its site are designed to take advantage of the natural environment. Many folks tell us that our sites are as nice or nicer than their current homes.
You, of course, will own the interior of your new home independent of the other residents. You own the exterior of your home, the land, and the garden areas in common with the other residents. However, the areas directly around the exterior of your condominium are described as a limited common area and are for your exclusive use. An example of this would be your driveway, sidewalk, front porch, rear patio or deck and the immediate adjacent ground and landscaping. Your neighbor, for instance, would not expect to use your driveway or rear deck.
Many folks tell us that they don’t notice much difference in condo living compared to their previous home until they arise on a snowy morning to find that their driveway has been plowed and their sidewalk has been shoveled. Another really great experience for them is when they go on vacation for the first time after moving into their new condo. They just “lock the door and leave.” They don’t worry about who will care for the lawn or plow the driveway. They have discovered a more carefree lifestyle that permits them to travel or live in the south during the winter months.
What is a condominium association and how does it work? For each new condominium community, Redstone Group sets up an association complete with a budget and bylaws under which it will be governed. When you make your purchase, this information is provided to you in your Buyers’ Information Booklet. During the construction of a community, the Redstone Group controlled association contracts with Redstone Property Management to manage the association for the residents. Each new resident becomes a member of the association when they take ownership. After you close on the purchase of your condo, you pay the monthly fee to the association.
When your condominium community has approximately seventy-five percent of the residents moved in, Redstone Group along with the residents, will arrange to have an election of officers. The first Board of Directors will be set up, and it will be comprised of owners. Redstone Group will remain a member also as long as they have at least one unsold condo. The residents will then run the association themselves. Typically, the new Board of Directors request that Redstone Property Management continue to manage the association.
What do my association dues cover? The dues are used to pay water, sewer, lawn maintenance, snow removal, trash removal, and insurance for the exterior of your condominium. A small amount is also placed in a reserve account for future repairs and maintenance.
Can my dues be raised in the future? Each year Redstone receives bids submitted to them for lawn maintenance, snow removal, etc. and a new budget is created. Thus, if they anticipate that the cost of water and sewer or snow removal will be higher, your fees could increase.
Is my new home under any kind of warranty? Redstone provides a full one-year warranty of their condominiums. A copy of that Warranty Agreement is included in the documents you receive when you purchase your new condominium. The warranty is also included in the Buyers’ Information Booklet that is available upon request prior to purchase.
May I customize the floor plan? Yes, you may. To customize your floor plan you must meet with the sales consultant and also the project manager. On condominiums that we have not started construction on, there will always be a pre-construction meeting between the salesperson, construction manager and homebuyer. At that time, those items you would like customized should be discussed. If a new blueprint is required, there will be a charge or fee that will be assessed at the time. You, the homebuyer, must approve any custom work that we do by signing a change order. If we don’t have a signature and approval, we will not proceed with any custom work. You may also be asked to pay for the customization at that time.
Will I be able to make my own selections on items like floor coverings, lighting or cabinets? Yes. Redstone Group has made arrangements with our trade partners who provide flooring, lighting, cabinets, ceramic tile, countertops, plumbing fixtures, etc. for you to make these selections. Each of our trade partners has a representative who works exclusively with Redstone Group customers. These are experienced and knowledgeable people who will assist you to make selections that will complement your new home.
Are any appliances included in the purchase price? Yes. We have a kitchen appliance package that includes the stove, refrigerator, microwave and dishwasher. You can order the standard kitchen package from our supplier, or select some other make or model of your choice. If a change exceeds your appliance allowance, you pay the difference directly to the supplier.
How long will it take for my condo to be constructed after I have signed a purchase agreement? There are several variables that will contribute to our construction time. If you select a site where we literally start from the ground up and have to dig the basement, pour the foundation etc., it will take approximately five months from start to finish. Along with the many options that we offer, we also do our best to customize each unit incorporating ideas that a buyer may bring that might alter the design. Depending on the amount of customization, the construction time may be extended beyond the normal five month period. On the other hand, if you were to purchase one of our spec units that is partially built, we could have it ready for occupancy in 60 to 90 days.
I am interested in purchasing a condo and want to be one of the first to choose a site. What should I do if my current house is not on the real estate market yet? The answer to this question depends on whether or not you need to sell your house before you can buy the condo. If not, you pick your site, we write the purchase agreement, collect the 10% down payment, and begin the construction process. If you must sell your home in order to purchase the condo, you can get your house on the market, wait for it to sell and then, if the site you want is still available, write the purchase agreement, etc.
What do I do in the case that my condo is ready and my house hasn’t yet sold? We do not sell condominiums contingent upon the sale of a buyer’s home. So, if your condo is ready and your house hasn’t sold, you must have a back-up plan (e.g. bridge loan through your lender or other resources) to close on your condo, and, until your house sells, you will own both. However, consultation with your mortgage lender can provide short-term financing options, such as a bridge loan, to cover you in this circumstance.
What do I do if my house sells in a couple of weeks and my condo isn’t yet complete? Depending on how long it will take to complete your condominium, there are a couple of options. For a short time frame (2-4 weeks), you could include, in the sales agreement on your home, a closing date that would coincide with the closing on your condo. For a longer time period, you would have to be prepared to put your belongings in storage and rent another dwelling until your condo is ready for occupancy.
Is it all right if I visit the model a number of times before making my decision? Not only is it all right, it is encouraged. This is a big decision! Not only is this a positive lifestyle change, but you have to be sure that your favorite pieces of furniture will fit in just the right spot. We hope that by the time you decide to buy, it already feels like home!
I love to garden. May I plant flowers or place decorative pots with flowers on the front steps? Presently, in the Redstone Group communities, many residents have received permission from their association to add flowers (annuals) to the garden areas landscaped by the developer. Additionally, the association has been permitting homeowners to place flowering decorative pots on the front steps and back decks.
I have never owned a condominium. If I buy a condominium what restrictions will they place on me? Each condominium association will have individual bylaws concerning what residents may do. When you buy a Redstone Group condominium, you receive a copy of the bylaws. You may then review them to see if you will be comfortable living within the regulations set forth.
What if I buy a condominium and then don’t like some of the regulations? When you buy a new condominium in Michigan, the Michigan Condominium Act requires developers to provide a complete set of documents to you. You have nine business days to review the documents before you are committed to the purchase agreement.
Before you buy, you also may request a copy of the documents to see if there are some restrictions that would not be compatible with how you live.
May I wash my car in my garage or in my driveway? In the Redstone Group communities, residents are permitted to wash cars. Of course, residents are expected to clean up afterwards and not leave any dirt, etc. on the driveway.
I have a pet. May I bring it with me? In the Redstone Group communities, the bylaws state that residents may have pets with permission of the association. Presently, at all our communities, residents are being granted permission to have pets. However, the pet must be an indoor pet. When your pet is outside, it must be on a leash with you. It may not be tied up. You also must clean up after your pet.
May I park my boat, trailer or recreational vehicle at my condo? You may park your trailer or recreational vehicle inside your garage provided that the door can be completely closed. Larger vehicles must be stored off site.
I use my recreational vehicle on many of my vacations. How can I pack if I can’t park it at my condo? You may park it for a reasonable period of time in your driveway to prepare for vacation or upon your return from vacation. In the Redstone Group communities, this time period is approximately 72 hours. This would be one of the things you would check in the documents of the condo where you are going to buy.
I run a business and drive a truck with my company name on it. May I park it at my condo? You may park it in the garage provided that the door can be completely closed. Only non-commercial vehicles may be parked outside in front of your garage.
We have four vehicles. We have two children who will live with us and both have cars. Where can we park them? In the Redstone Group communities, you may have a total of three vehicles. Two would be parked in the garage. You may park one car permanently in the driveway in front of your garage. If you need to park an additional car outside, it is possible that the association may give a temporary waiver for an extended period of time. This may be to accommodate an adult child who is attending university and living at home.
How far does my yard extend? Where does my neighbor’s yard start? In condominium ownership, all exterior spaces are owned by all of the residents in common. You don’t own a yard. However, the areas around the exterior of your condominium are described as “limited common areas” and are for your exclusive use. An example of this would be that your driveway, sidewalk, front steps, rear patio or deck and the immediate adjacent ground and landscaping are for your use. Your neighbor would not expect to use your driveway or rear deck.
We are considering buying a condo and want our parents to live with us. Can two families live in a condo? In the Redstone Group communities, the bylaws permit four people to occupy a condo. There is no restriction on the relationship of the residents.
I want to build a condo. I have my own floor plan. Will you build it for me? Over the past five years, Redstone Group has undertaken market studies and has used architects to develop condominium designs to blend with our various sites. Our plans have been received enthusiastically by over 500 residents in our developments located throughout western Michigan. Many of these residents brought ideas to us that we have incorporated into the condo we built for them. In fact, some of the options we offer were developed when our residents brought an idea to us and we helped them incorporate it into our floor plan. Visit one of our condo models and ask our sales consultant if your ideas may be blended with our floor plans.
My brother is an electrician. May he do the electrical work for my condominium? Redstone Group has experienced, qualified and dedicated subcontractors who work with our project managers at each of our condominium communities. They are committed to Redstone and thus we feel an obligation to be loyal to them, permitting them to be the only contractors who work for us. In turn, we are able to commit to our buyers a high level of quality, workmanship and a timely completion date.
May I make a couple of selections relative to my landscaping around my condominium or meet with the landscaper to discuss my thoughts? No. We attempt to maintain a uniform consistent landscaping plan. Homebuyers may not make selections or give direction to the landscaper. You may, at your cost, plant additional flowers, plants and bushes within existing flowerbeds after you close on your condo, seek permission from the association, and pay for such additions.
May I have a satellite dish installed on the exterior of my condominium? Yes, you may. The association will review your situation on a case-by-case basis. The association cannot restrict your use of a satellite dish but they do have the right to determine where it will be placed. You will receive, upon your written request to have a satellite dish, a written response from the association telling you exactly where the satellite dish should be installed and that the installation needs to be in accordance with the parameters established by the association.
Does the association pay for pest control? It depends. The association is responsible for those types of pests that can cause structural damage to the condo such as termites and carpenter ants. The association is also responsible for pest problems on the exterior of the condo or common elements such as a hornet’s nest or a woodchuck burrowing under a deck. Other pest infestation within the walls of the condo is the responsibility of the homeowner.