Homes With an Open Balcony in Greater Vancouver

Compare Open Balcony Condos Across Greater Vancouver

Open Balcony homes for sale in Greater Vancouver are compared on the usable depth of the slab, the condition of the railing and guard, and what the strata actually allows out there — check all three before you tour.

Depth is what separates outdoor space from a ledge. A balcony deep enough for a table and two chairs changes how you use the residence every summer; one just deep enough for the door to swing does not, however good it looks in an MLS® listing photograph. Take a measurement at the showing, and note that this area is usually excluded from the sqft quoted for the home.

Check the Railing, the Drainage and the Weather Exposure

Look at the guard and its fixings. Rust at the base of a post, a loose section of rail or a cracked slab edge are envelope items, and on a strata property they belong to the corporation rather than to you — which means they appear in the depreciation report and eventually in your fee. Read the minutes for any balcony or membrane work already scheduled.

Then think about exposure. An open balcony high above Pacific Boulevard or facing the water takes wind that a sheltered one never sees, and rain arrives sideways here for months at a time. If you want the space usable through the year, an enclosed balcony or a covered one may serve you better than a bigger open one.

Ask What the Strata Allows on an Open Balcony

Bylaws differ building to building. Barbecues, screens, planters, flooring tiles, storage and even what colour your furniture may be are all things some Vancouver stratas regulate. Ask for the registered bylaws rather than the listing description, because the real estate marketing rarely mentions a restriction.

Then price it. Two otherwise identical condos, one with a large balcony and a city view and one with a token ledge, will not trade at the same price. Attend an open house at both, stand outside for a few minutes at each, and decide what the difference is worth before you make an offer on either home.