If you’re out apartment hunting there are a dozens of things you probably need to focus on before settling on the perfect apartment for your needs.
This can range from the location of the apartment to the type of floorings inside, facilities offered and convenience to all your necessities. However, for renters, making a decision on the right floor is of utmost priority.
This might seem like a simple decision, but it can actually a tricky one, as living on different floors has its own advantages and disadvantages.
Lower Floor Apartments
Pros
- Easy Accessibility: The lower floor apartments are positioned very much close to the entrance and exits of the building. You can quickly get in and out of the apartment and can have a better access to the swimming pool, parks and clubhouse.
- Convenient While Moving: In lower floor apartments, it’s much more convenient when moving in and out. Not only do lower floor apartments making moving in and out easier, it makes any trip easier — including grocery shopping or when having large items delivered.
Cons
- Lack of Sunlight: These apartments are not suitable to lease in at the time of winters as there is inaccessibility of sunlight and results in higher cost of heating. As accessibility to natural light is lesser during the day time, you might end up by being dependent upon lamps or other kinds of lighting.
- Security or Privacy Concerns: Living on the lower floors means that you will not have the privacy or security that apartments much higher offer. If your apartment is in a higher crime area this could be a big deal.
Middle Floors Apartments
Pros
- Cooler during summers: No doubt, these apartments have accessibility to sunlight but not as much as the upper floors. Hence, this is the reason that middle floor apartments are cooler during the summer time and helps in cutting down on the utility bills and consumption of AC.
- Security Concerns: The middle floors are less prone to the burglary and pest attacks.
- Less Time and Energy to Climb Stairs: If an elevator isn’t working (or isn’t available) a couple flights of stairs isn’t too bad.
Cons
- Upstairs Neighbors: More noise produced by the upstairs apartments is of a major concern for the renters.
- Disturbance and Noise: The middle floors are noisier in respect to traffic and are closer to side driveway, which implies that lights of vehicles shine into the living room.
Upper Floors Apartments
Pros
- Added Security and Privacy: Generally speaking, you have less concern of burglary and having your privacy violated the higher your apartment is.
- Exclusivity: Living on the top floors permits you to enjoy constant and elite views of skyline. Also, there will lesser noise experienced from the street traffic by renters.
- Health Benefits: Upper floors have great accessibility to fresh air and natural sunlight. Both of these are good for your health.
Cons
- Reliance on Elevators: Depending on how many floors your apartment or condo building is, you may have to rely heavily on elevators to get to and from your apartment. While this isn’t necessarily a bad thing, there is some convenience associated with this as regular maintenance and waiting for the elevator can be frustrating.
- High Electricity Bills: With large exposure of sunlight, your rental apartment will become warmer during summers, and hence, you will more rely on air-conditioners. Drawing water by making use of motor pumps can also lead to high electricity bills.
How To Decide Which One is best for you?
Prior making decision for which floor option you must opt for your Rental Apartment consider the following factors and decide which one suits better as per your lifestyle.
- View:
Obviously, the upper floors have better views, particularly if any tower is situated towards a scenic place. If this is important to you, then must opt for the upper floors.
- Energy Consumption:
Generally speaking, middle and upper floor apartments require more energy — heating and cooling to run. Apartments closer to ground floor benefit from a sort-of insulation effect, and will have lower utility bills (not always, but usually).
- Access:
For most of the people, waiting for the elevators is a time-consuming task. For them, choosing to live on lower or middle floors can be comfortable as compared to the upper floors.
- Family Consideration:
If you are living with your children and elderly parents, it’s good if you rent an apartment on lower floors. Besides safety, it is more convenient. Additionally, if someone in your family or even you has fear of height or suffers from mobility impairment, it would probably be preferable to live on a lower floor.
- Privacy:
In the overcrowded areas, however, renting an apartment on the lower floors is not a good idea as these do not offers much privacy. If your concerned about and love your privacy, renting an apartment on upper floor may be a better option for you.
- Noise:
The upper floor apartments are best for the tenants who want to avoid the noise from the other people in the building or even from street-level noise.
- Security:
Lower floors have are more inclined to risk as it is easier for criminals or other “ne’er do wells” for breaking into lower or middle level floors. Depending on the location and the security setup of the building, this could be a non-issue.
- Light and Ventilation:
Lower floor apartments have controlled light ventilation in comparison to middle and upper floor apartments. So, those who want that their rental apartment must have access to this feature should prefer for the middle or upper floor.
- Water Seepage:
Generally, it is seen that the lower and upper floors may experience water seepage and drainage problems. Yet it is dependent upon the sanitary and drainage mechanism. If you want to avoid any such issue, you can go with middle floor apartments.
Hope that these factors will help you in making a right decision for your Rental Apartment.