Walk from the entrance to the unit
Try the entrance and elevator you would normally use.
- See the actual parking stall and locker where possible.
- Measure furniture space and cupboard clearance.
More on walk from the entrance to the unit
Listen from the bedroom and check the outlook from inside the room.
Follow the viewing with a building review
The unit’s appearance cannot tell you the building’s financial position.
- Request the current strata documents.
- Review fees, insurance and planned maintenance with the appropriate professionals.
More on follow the viewing with a building review
Record missing documents and questions before your review deadline.
The basics
Two things you are buying at once
A condo purchase has two parts. You buy the strata lot, which is your unit. You also become a member of the strata corporation, the group of all owners that runs and pays for the shared building. The viewing shows you the first part. The paperwork shows you the second.
A good viewing goes past the paint. It tests the parking stall, the locker, noise, light and the route from the street. It also collects clues about the building itself, so you know what to ask for in the strata records.
Why it matters
Why a closer look pays off
Many things that matter in a condo are hard to fix after you move in. You cannot add a window, swap your parking stall on your own or quiet a neighbour’s floor. Spotting a dealbreaker during the viewing saves you the cost of reviews on a home you would never buy.
Building clues also matter. Stains in the parkade, closed amenity rooms or scaffolding can point to repairs that show up later in strata fees or levies.
How it works
Your condo viewing, in order
Start at the street
Note the entrance, buzzer, mail room and where visitors and deliveries go. Check whether the lobby door and elevator feel secure and well kept.
Find your actual stall and locker
Ask which stall and locker come with the unit and look at them. Then ask how they are allocated, because the BC government notes that allocation varies from building to building.
Test the unit for daily life
Open every cupboard, run taps, flush the toilet and try windows and the balcony door. Measure the bedroom and living room for your largest furniture.
Listen and look outside
Stand quietly in the bedroom. Look at what the windows face now and whether a nearby lot could be built on.
Scan the common areas
Look at hallways, parkade walls, roof decks and amenity rooms for water marks, closed areas or ongoing work. Note anything to ask about.
Ask for the Form B early
The Form B information certificate is the strata’s official summary for buyers. Request it with the other records so your review is not rushed.
Avoid these
Condo viewing slip-ups
Assuming a stall means ownership
A stall may be limited common property, meaning you have exclusive use but do not own it. Others are shared common property. Read the strata plan and Form B.
Skipping the parkade
Water stains, puddles or patched concrete are worth a question. They may be harmless or linked to a known repair project.
Judging size by photos
Wide-angle listing photos make rooms look larger. Measure and bring your furniture sizes.
Forgetting the rules
A beautiful unit is no use if your dog or your planned flooring change is not allowed. Read the bylaws before you commit.
Questions to ask
Questions for the viewing and after
The listing agent
- Which parking stall and storage locker go with this unit, by number?
- Has the owner made any alterations, and were they approved?
- Is any building repair work under way or planned?
The strata or property manager
- Can you provide the Form B, bylaws, rules and recent minutes?
- Is any special levy approved or proposed?
- How is the parkade stall for this unit allocated?
- When was the last depreciation report prepared?
Your home inspector
- What can you see of the balcony, windows and doors?
- Are there signs of past leaks inside the unit?
- What should we ask the strata about common areas?
FAQ
Common questions
What is the Form B?
It is the strata’s information certificate. It lists the monthly fees, money owing, special levies, the contingency reserve fund balance and parking and storage details. The strata must provide it within 7 days of a request.
How much can the strata charge for a Form B?
The BC government says the maximum is $35 plus up to 25 cents per page for copies. Rush fees are sometimes charged when less than 7 days’ notice is given.
Do I need a home inspection for a condo?
The building is managed by the strata, but your unit still has plumbing, appliances, windows and finishes. Our home inspection guide explains what an inspector checks.
Can I see the building’s finances?
Yes. Ask for the budget, financial statements and minutes. Our strata documents guide shows how to read them together.
Should I visit more than once?
A second visit at a different time of day helps. You may notice traffic, light or noise you missed the first time.
A practical example
Bring a measured furniture plan
Choose the pieces you expect to keep and record their dimensions.
- At the viewing, test where they could sit without blocking circulation, windows or cupboards.
- Consider working from home and hosting a meal as well as relaxing.
This reveals whether the apparent open space will support your real activities.
A detail to keep in mind
A room can look spacious in a wide-angle photograph while offering fewer usable furniture arrangements than expected.
Official information
Start with these resources, then confirm the details for your property and circumstances.
BC: strata documents for buyers and sellersGovernment of BC: Form B information certificateGovernment of BC: Strata parking stalls and storage lockersReference review: October 6, 2026