You shouldn't worry about something you can do nothing about. Any good realtor wants to get the highest price she can for your unit when selling it; leave the comps to her. Let it go. This truly is a molehill; the mountain may never come.

There's nothing you can do about it unless he's breaking some rule of the condo corporation - and that won't apply to any of his indoor/decor changes. (Maybe the window air conditioners. Maybe). So don't sweat the small stuff.

Forget about what he is doing. The things he is doing will never create a great opportunity for resale and he will have to live with that.

All that aside - I lived in a condo and were were allowed to replace windows but they had to match all the other windows no matter what. As far as the central air, not sure if it is individual to his unit or is it a part of your system. You may want to call your board or hoa and see what the rules are.

Just think about it - if your units go on the market at the same time - bonus for you! And even if he sells before you, you have more to offer - hardwood floors, central air, mare cabinet storage, etc.

Good luck!

I've never heard of anyone being able to change the exterior appearance of their windows without being in violation of HOA bylaws. Changing from central air to window units is certainly an unusual decision, and since window units change the outside appearance, they are probably forbidden as well. Although who would have thought to forbid them! You can't do anything about the interior and you shouldn't worry about it. Anyone will be able to look at listing pictures and see the differences. At least he's a nice person!

I was just reading my new condo documents. I'm on the first floor and according to the new rules, the folks above me can't replace their floors without installing board-approved-in-writing soundproofing. None of us can change any windows without board approval.

The condo rules stipulate that you can’t make any changes to the exterior without approval, but I think he was sneaky about it. The woman who owned my unit rented it out and took very little interest in the property. The windows on my unit are of the 6-lites over 1 lite variety (6 little panes of glass over one large pane of glass, if that makes any sense). He replaced his windows with ones that have no lites because he wanted “unobstructed views.” I’m not sure the owner of my unit even knew about it or cared. It looks absurd though. If i go to replace my windows I’ll have to go with the no -lite kind in order to match his.

do you have an HOA? I suggest you involve them and inquire, especially about the windows.

don't worry about paint colors or cabinets.

why on earth would he remove central air and put in window units? Does he have mental issues? I'm pretty sure the HOA will not allow window units!

maybe you can try and talk to him about some of the choices he's making and how it might affect HIS resale value, and possibly yours. The colors and tiles he can do, but tell him that wood floors have a higher resale than some weird looking linoleum. Ditto central air. Maybe he's just clueless.

Are your two units the Only units in the condominium total? If so aren't you two the board, and wouldn't you have to reach some sort of agreement?

You’re worried his drab unit will bother your value and you have good taste. Great - it’s a good time to move! Your great taste will lead you to greener paths.

Are yor windows with permant grills vs pop out?

Permanent.

What do you mean when you say condo? It sounds like duplex with individual ownership.

Your fear seems valid to me. However, hopefully if you sell after he sells the pics of his will remain for buyers to see that it is not a fair comp. I just put deposit down today on a co-op. The decor choices and adjustments to the unit are coo-coo for cocoa puffs! I was able to get 10% knocked off the price because I could show her that the other units that sold for what she was asking were so much nicer than hers. I think you should be able to do the reverse when it comes time for you to sell yours. Just because units are in the same building does not make them an apples to apples comp and I'm sure you'll be able to prove that.

"If i go to replace my windows I’ll have to go with the no -lite kind in order to match his."

I doubt anyone house shopping will notice the difference in window style.

"The condo rules stipulate . . ."

"I think he was sneaky about it"

So I guess the OP Nelly is now HU-xx158? Anyway, doesn't matter when he did what. If he is in non-conformance, the HOA can bring the hammer. And you don't have to continue his choices for your unit, you have to abide by the HOA regulations.

Yeah that’s weird that my screen name changed. I’m supposed to be Nelly.

I would not worry about any changes to his unit unless they impact the shared exterior (such as windows or exterior paint). Become familiar with your CC&Rs/condo docs and know what is and is not allowed so that you are prepared in the event that he decides to make further exterior changes. And if he does, go immediately to your HOA for help resolving the situation. I wonder if window A/C units would be included since those would presumably be visible from the exterior.

In terms of interior finishes, it probably does not have a substantial impact on your home value. There should be more comps than just his unit if he does sell. And condition and finish level (such as hardwood floors) would generally be taken into consideration at least with a sale. Some people have bold (and sometimes poor) taste and there's really nothing you can do about it. Inside of his unit is his home and if he wants to renovate to his own weird taste, you really can't stop him.

You have a condo documents right? It spells out, clearly, what can and can't be done.

Why didn’t you question the window disparity when you prepared to buy your condo?

"If i go to replace my windows I’ll have to go with the no -lite kind in order to match his."

NO YOU DON'T! Why would you do that?

Can you please answer a question - how many units are in your development? Can you post a picture from outside so we can all see what you are talking about?

Thanks!

It’s just two units. Used to be a single family and then it was made into two condos. I own the bottom unit. Note the difference in windows. The building was already devoid of any architectural interest snd then he went and had generic windows installed.

Sadly I didn’t notice the window thing at first bc the listing photo I kept referring back to had the old (matching) windows in it. I visited the place 2 times before I bought it and I honestly wasn’t paying attention. I was more focused on the interior and the backyard (which was a whole other debacle). The condo docs explicitly state that owners must be in agreement about any changes to the exterior. Since this was done before I moved in, I had no say in the matter. The woman who owned my unit did not live in it—she lived in a different city and rented it out. I can’t imagine that the guy upstairs shared the specifics of the windows with her—or if he did, maybe she brushed it off and instead just focused on unloading the place.

It would not have even occurred to me to be bothered by the unmatched windows. I guess those kinds of details don't really matter to me. It's an ordinary looking house.

I don't think that the windows are so different in this case that it is a real negative, nor would putting the single lite windows in your unit when the time comes have much of an impact on your unit, in this case. His interior versus yours should not be too relevant, comps wise because they will use neighborhood comps, not just the other single unit in your building.

Houzz purists aside, the windows won't put buyers off. But an air-conditioner hanging out a front window is another matter.

OTOH, I'd hate to get in a war with the guy upstairs trodding on my head day and night!

It looks fine. The windows are fine.

If he is really planning on putting in window ac units, express your concerns to him and maybe talk to the board about that.

But the bottom line is: You are living in very close quarters with this neighbor, and it is just the two of you in this house. I personally would be more concerned about having an amicable relationship with the neighbor and not so much concern about future resale value.

There are lots of people these days that are taking over spaces and turning them into grey zones. And this is still happening even though the grey fad is essentially over. They are showing up here on Houzz everyday - asking about what are the best grey wall paints, grey cabinet paints; they want to install grey wood floors, grey tile, etc., etc. They are actually very late to the everything grey party - but they just don’t care. They want to live in a grey world. And there is no way to stop them.

When your apartment sells, it will sell to someone who is interested in your apartment - not his. And that is all that it is.

But if you are going to lose sleep over what this neighbor above you is doing with his apartment and decor - consider selling and moving now. And I am telling you this because the road you are on is basically a dead end - and I don’t think it is going to be positive for you or for him if you continue with this line of thinking. You cannot control what he does in his space - for the most part. And if this is going to cause you a lot of grief, you are in the wrong place. It is just the two of you there. You really cannot afford to have a war with him.

And I just re-read your post and I see that it is not just grey. He’s got blue/turquoise in a bathroom and he wants two shades of peacock green in another room. So this is really about personal preference - and with all due respect, it is none of your business.

He has an absolute right to like the colors that he likes and to use them in his space, whether you like those colors or not. It sounds like his personal taste is very different than yours, but not sure that it is completely ”dreadful.”

Worry about your own apartment. Really.

Exactly what freedom just said above.

You take care of you or move on. I would not do anything just because you feel like you have to match his. Even you said you didn't notice the windows.

Good luck!

Yeah I think I’m done worrying about it. I care more about having an amicable relationship with him. He and I don’t have the same contentious relationship that he had with the prior owner and I’m grateful for that. Thank you for all the advice!

Just adding that the windows work together because you have bay windows so that they already don't match.

The only thing to worry about is if the windows weren't installed properly and so they cause leaks.

There is no point in going after him for the windows at this point unless they leak or are causing structural damage because under the circumstances they would be "grandfathered in" because no one objected when they were installed.

Under the circumstances since there are only two of you, the most important thing is to keep a good relationship and don't sweat the small stuff. You should schedule friendly meetings on a regular basis because surely there are issues that need to be dealt with like exterior maintenance; roof; garden any common area stuff like pipes in the wall etc.

How do you handle maintenance monthly fees and do you have a reserve account set up for larger repairs?

There is a theoretical issue regarding how a low comp for his unit might impact you since often a mortgage lender will assess based on comps and not take into account the aesthetic desirability of a unit. I live in a 122 unit condo and some units are original or really old and need a gut remodel and others have been renovated with high end finishes and exquisite taste so there can be a $300,000 unit between the same units - e.g. same footage and layout.

How on earths blue heaven would a buyer touring your unit know what color walls are in the upstairs unit, or how tall the cabinets are????? NO ONE WILL KNOW. But wait - yes they will because of this thread!!

Valid point about the bay windows. I certainly hope prospective buyers won’t see this thread ;-).

The only thing I'd be concerned about would be the air con units. And maybe the flooring. But what does your condo agreement say, assuming there is one? I know when I lived in a condo, there were very strict rules about getting approval for things that would affect the property as a whole, or other residents of the property (ie noise abatement, structural changes). No one cares about wall color inside an individual unit, nor should they.

Since the windows were done prior to the current owner, OP owned the unit, it's likely the previous owner either agreed or at least did not disagree with whatever he put in. It's an association of two and it sounds like they just have to give each other the okay. It's likely you actually have zero control over what the inside of the unit looks like cosmetically as long a structure is not altered. I have only ever been aware of One building that had controls over what could be done inside the units cosmetically and it specified the kitchens only. That was a coop, not a condo, so a shares-in-whole building situation, and it was also when units were never sold on the open market. Now that they change hands on the open market I wonder if those rules have been relaxed, because in the listings the kitchens are no longer nearly identical, as they used to be.

The windows look fine--like Helen pointed out, bay windows can be different. They often have a little extra fair on them.

Linoleum (if it's actually linoleum) is not a low-end finish and probably helps with sound dampening.

I think the only thing that's relevant to your unit is the A/C. You didn't mention whetherthe two units share HVAC or have separate systems. If he's just turning off his zone or has a separate unit, it may not make a huge difference, but if he's actually talking about "getting rid of" it, that may impact your HVAC. If it would impact your HVAC, you would have a say ... he can do what he likes in his apartment, but he shouldn't directly impact yours.

As for window units, that could be viewed as an exterior change (albeit impermanent), so you would potentially have a say in whether he could install window A/C units.

Paint, tile, cabinets ... all up to him. Flooring is only relevant if it impacts sound between the units: the finish, color, etc., is his choice.