Comments on: Buyers Beware: Buying ’sight unseen’ has it’s downside!

By: Miami Beach Condos Guy

Miami Beach Condos Guy — Fri, 09 May 2008 14:17:38 +0000

Wow, look at those floorplans. I would do anything to live at the Apogee. I drive by it everyday and could only imagine the view from those wrap around floor-to-ceiling windows!

By: Randy

Randy — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 01:40:30 +0000

Buyers should beware buying a condo when they have not seen the unit. A realtor should make the buyer aware they have 15 days to read the big binder that has been given to them at signing. Better yet the binder should be read before they sign as the developer usually has “hidden” things in there that they do not have their realtor disclose to the buyer. I know someone that bought from the Patrinely Group in Tampa, The Plaza Harbour Island. They are also building the South Beach Ocean Resort and Club Residences. They do not disclose information to the buyer before they sign the contract. For example, they did not disclose that no floors, no painting, no molding, no baseboards installed, no door stops and in some cases no ceiling yet they market the condos as high end. Then to make matters worse, they sell units at a preminum for the view and then once the buyers close, they plan to put up a hotel directly in front of their windows where not only the view is compromised but also privacy. It is really sad that buyers are not protected more than what they are regarding these types of things.

By: Kevin Tomlinson

Kevin Tomlinson — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 00:11:55 +0000

Hello Karim

All three of the PH’s are sold. Yes, there are higher ‘A’ units coming to market. Those units are $6M+ and for a higher floor, probably closer to $7M.

Apogee will be the most exclusive condominium in South Florida. The developers are likening it to a hip Fifth Avenue building.

By: Karim

Karim — Tue, 05 Jun 2007 15:58:29 +0000

The Apogee development looks most interesting. Any word on the availability/price of the penthouse or a Unit A on the higher floors Kevin? Are there better current/future developments that are in your opinion, a better buy? We will probably make a trip to Miami at some point in the future, currently just trying to get a feel for what options are available.

Many thanks

By: Kevin Tomlinson

Kevin Tomlinson — Mon, 04 Jun 2007 02:19:09 +0000

Mary,
Yes, watch for it. It may be something desirable for some people too! I just like to point it out and give my clients something already built to compare them to.

By: Mary Pope-Handy

Mary Pope-Handy — Sat, 02 Jun 2007 17:06:26 +0000

What a fascinating discussion. I am not aware of any flow-through units in the San Jose/Silicon Valley area (but then, the only views are really of the mountains on each side of the valley, or possibly downtown SJ). We’re now getting a lot of infill construction (tearing down old commercial stuff and putting up mixed use or strictly residential buildings). I will keep my eyes open for this type of condo to appear. If it’s popular there, I’m sure it will get here eventually.

Interestingly, my husband’s parents had a place like this in Geneva about 40 or 50 years ago. So I guess it’s not an entirely new concept!

By: Kevin Tomlinson

Kevin Tomlinson — Mon, 28 May 2007 13:50:51 +0000

Yup! In some Miami Beach condos, high ceilings make them look and feel more like a tunnel.

By: ARDELL

ARDELL — Mon, 28 May 2007 05:21:20 +0000

Sometimes clients get confused when they are ready to sign and I want them to see a reasonable facsimile first. I know that “on paper” always looks better than “in person”.

Another example of that is differing ceiling heights. You often can’t visualise the feel of 10 foot high ceiling vs an 8 foot or nine foot, and a 10 foot ceiling in a flow through can look a bit odd if the living areas are too narrow.

By: Kevin Tomlinson

Kevin Tomlinson — Mon, 28 May 2007 04:12:17 +0000

Yes, exactly! Knowing that some people need to be helped to envision what that type of unit looks/feels like is very important. People either love them or hate them BUT I like to help a client have a good idea BEFORE they buy it.

By: ARDELL

ARDELL — Mon, 28 May 2007 03:45:52 +0000

Believe it or not, we have “flow-thru” units in Seattle too Now that I see the floor plan, I recognize them well.

We had a client who had picked a flow thru on paper, but switched to the larger unit which cost almost twice as much. I was concerned for her going up that high in price.

But she is the HAPPIEST client we’ve ever had. Practically dancing in the streets at closing. She LOVES her place and is working harder to afford it, because she feels it is worth it.

She’s had us over for dinner a couple of times and I no longer worry about her. She knew the flow-thru wasn’t for her.

I think the point is that when they see it on paper they really just don’t envision it the same way they do when they see it in person. Anyone who actually likes it IN PERSON…great! But I agree with Kevin that you should make sure they know what they are buying.

I like taking them to a flow thru unit in any building that is the equivalent square footage. Let them see a reasonable facsimile of what they are getting so they can trade up before it is too late, if that is what they decide to do.