Secure Buildings Across Greater Vancouver Listings

Check What Secure Means in a Greater Vancouver Building

Secure buildings charge for every layer of access control through the monthly strata fee, so find out what the word actually covers here before you decide it is worth the premium.

Ask the listing agent to walk you through the entry sequence. A fob-controlled lobby, a working enterphone, a keyed elevator that reaches only your floor and a gated parkade are four separate systems, and buildings advertise the word on the strength of any one of them. Watch how the parkade gate closes, since a slow gate lets a second vehicle follow through, which is the most common way a Vancouver or Burnaby parkade gets entered.

Cameras deserve a direct question. Ask whether the footage is recorded rather than merely displayed, how long it is kept, and who may request it, because a camera nobody reviews is a deterrent and nothing more. Ask the same about underground parking stalls and storage lockers.

Ask the Strata What the Fee Buys and Who Holds the Keys

Request the bylaws, the recent minutes and the depreciation report during your subject period, then read them for the things a tour cannot show. Look for entries about break-ins, mail theft, fob reprogramming and any planned upgrade to the entry system, since a full rekeying is a real expense the owners share.

Ask practical questions too. How many fobs come with the home, what a replacement costs, whether a concierge is on duty around the clock or only during business hours, and how parcels are handled when nobody is at the desk. Ground-floor homes and townhomes need their own review of patio gates, window latches and lighting, so bring that up with your inspector rather than assuming the lobby covers it.