While it may not seem like much, having a microwave installed above the hood fan frees up a large amount of counter space, which can be incredibly useful in the smaller-size kitchens that condos usually have. Along the same vein, with home theatre speakers in the walls, condo owners have that much more shelf space for books, DVDs or photos.

“A built-in microwave seems to be fairly common, it’s nice to have because it’s out of the way,” says Jason Meilleur, whose condo in the Copa development in Marda Loop also includes an installed home theatre system.

“The built-in speakers are nice because it gives the condo a nice look and there’s no wires hanging out,” he says. “Plus I can play music throughout the whole unit.”

One of the most common and useful built-in utilities is a central vacuum system, a feature that focuses on homeowner convenience as well as space saving. Certified Central Vacuums Inc., one of Calgary’s largest central vacuum suppliers, installs their systems for developments in Elbow Valley, Montreux, New Discovery and many other communities. Owner Elaine Coates says central vacuum systems are becoming popular with condo owners who are strapped for space, but many aren’t aware the option is even available to them.

“A condo of all places is where there’s the least amount of storage, so that’s where you want it up on the wall,” she says. “If potential condo buyers knew it was available, they’d suck it up.”

Vacuum Specialists, another central vacuum installer, supplies systems to Homes by Avi and many other Calgary builders. Store manager Jamil Elhage says they offer systems designed for condos as well.

“For a lot of these condos we have a specially designed machine,” he says. “It’s small but packed with power. We’re conserving your space for you without compromising the quality of the machine. We can put them in laundry rooms above the washer or in a closet,” making the units very versatile for smaller condos with little space to spare.

Coates says that the majority of new home and condo builders offer a central vacuum as an upgrade, but the system is usually roughed in when the home is being built so installation is easy if homeowners choose to buy one later. Most systems cost between $1,000 and $1,500.

Vacuum Specialists also sell security systems, another installed feature that many developers offer as an upgrade. Elhage says that while they don’t save the homeowner any space, they do offer a sense of safety and peace of mind. For this reason, built-in security systems are also very popular, especially with people who are purchasing townhouses or duplex units. As with central vacuums, the system is roughed in by the builder and usually offered as an upgrade. Although they may cost extra up front, built-in appliances and fixtures are well worth the money in the long run and can make condo living that much more pleasant. Meilleur says he regrets not investing in closet organizers when his condo was being built because it seemed too expensive at the time, but now realizes how much space it would have saved him.

Many condo builders have interior design consultants that can offer suggestions on ways buyers can save space by including built-ins, no matter what the budget. These options call be added to existing condos if homeowners want to increase their amount of useable space.  CL