Some fees cover all utilities and services and others cover only certain ones. Determine the value of the fee by comparing it to the cost of those same services and utilities if you were to pay for them directly. Condominiums that include utilities in their fee will cost you more than those in which the owners pay for their own utilities. That's because buildings with flat fee utilities have as much as 20 to 25-percent higher utility use than buildings where each unit is individually metered and billed. Also, ask when was the last fee increase and how much it was.
Some buildings levy annual increases with no appreciable service improvement.
Also, check the entire building or townhouse complex. Look for evidence of needed repairs. Knock on some doors and talk to the occupants. Ask about the condition of the building or complex. If the condominium plans to do major repairs, it could increase the fees or demand a special assessment.