Prices and Negotiations are important for buyers and renters. They normally want to know how much they can negotiate a price. A general answer is that it varies between apartments and condominiums & houses.
The prices for houses and condominiums are normally negotiable. How much you can negotiate varies widely from property to property. Some landlords state the price they expect. Others pad it a little for negotiations, or are not familiar with the market price (especially during times of fluctuation such as recession).
The prices for apartments are different, more difficult to negotiate or not negotiable.
Apartments and condominiums are different by definition: Only one owner owns all units in an apartment building and standardizes on prices. In a condominium building, different units have different owners.
Apartment buildings normally will not negotiate significantly on price, if at all, because if one renter gets a better price than another renter, then the renter who is paying more will often become unhappy and feel like they were dealt with unfairly or ripped off by the owner. A lot of dischord can happen in a building if one renter gets a special price.
Apartment buildings have standard prices in writing and normally stick to them. However, for that price, you can often negotiate what is included in that price. Nevertheless, there are limits on what’s included for the same reasons — if somebody proudly brags about what they got included, their own ego massage can cause a lot of dischord to others.
Houses and condominiums are much more flexible on prices, since you are dealing with different owners, and different furnishings in style and quality.
The styles and furnishings tend to be fairly standard and very similar between different units in an apartment building, but vary greatly between condominium units or houses.
If you want furniture added, taken out, or changed, then it is easier in an apartment building because the owner can just shift furniture between units. With houses or condos, the owner must move things in or out, which they are usually willing to do, or even buy items.
The electricity and water bills are usually higher in apartment buildings, but the lower government rate for houses and condos. In an apartment building, you pay the apartment building, not the government. The apartments often add a surcharge, which varies from building to building and can be quite substantial. We always find out the price per unit at the start.
Generally, you pay more for apartments, but get a little bit better local support and service. Condominium buildings also normally have a service office and maintenance team (supported by the condominium owners association and bylaws) and things like a laundry service on one floor. Where there’s supply, there’s demand, but apartments are more centralized in management.
Condominium and house village fees are normally paid by the landlord and included in the rent, not paid by the tenant. (After all, the owner is the one responsible for their payment.) The tenant normally pays for consumption of electricity and water. Usually, the tenant pays their own internet and cable TV, but internet and cable TV can be negotiated as included in the lease since they are fixed monthly charges. You just need to choose which package (internet speed, number of TV channels).
