Every apartment floor comes with its fair share of pros and cons.
Therefore, it is impossible to objectively say which apartment level is the best. It all boils down to what the renter prefers.
When you’re apartment hunting, it’s essential to know what each floor has to offer. It will help you make an informed choice.
In this article, I have split the floors into the top, middle, and bottom floors. So if you live in a high-rise apartment with 20 floors, you can consider the bottom five in the bottom category, 6-15 floors as the middle, and 16-20 as the top. Again, this is just my take, you can categorize these the way you want.
Which Apartment Floor is the Best – Factors to Consider
An apartment building has different floors, each with its own pros and cons. They are typically categorized as top, middle, and ground floors.
Depending on the size of a building, it can have numerous floors. Here’s what each level features.
Top Floors
Top floors are often the most expensive of the lot, usually because of the stunning view they offer.
What’s Good About the Top Floor Apartments
People living on the top levels get a perfect view of the skyline from their windows. They can look over the entire city.
They also don’t have to bear unwanted noises coming from residents living above them, as there are none (or less).
Top floor units get the best flow of wind. They are also flooded with comforting natural light.
Top-level apartments remain warmer, making it easier for the inhabitants to get through the winter months. People on the top floors don’t have to run the heater for long hours.
As a result, their utility bills don’t go soaring up in the winter season.
The chances of burglary and break-ins are greatly reduced as you go up the floors of a building.
In simple terms, if you live on the top floor, you are likely to feel safer as burglars will be unable to access your unit.
Lastly, if you are afraid of rodents getting into your apartment, opt for a unit in the upper section of an apartment complex. Rats and mice will hardly be able to climb all the way up!
Drawbacks of Top Floors
Top floor apartments are the priciest of all units. They are also hard to get.
It has also been noted that top apartments often develop drainage and seepage issues. These aren’t just difficult to tackle but can also be quite costly to fix.
These apartments heat up pretty quickly during the summer months. Therefore, residents end up running their air conditioners for long durations, which results in increased utility expenses.
People living on upper levels have to wait for elevators and cannot just take the stairs. This means that if there is a queue outside the elevator, they will have to wait no matter how urgently they have to go up.
Similarly, residents in top-floor units require considerable time to get down to the ground floor. If you’re picking up deliveries or receiving guests, it can be quite a hassle.
One of the biggest disadvantages of living on upper levels is the time it will take for the inhabitants to evacuate in case of an emergency.
Apartment complexes are notorious for having fire breakouts that require people to evacuate immediately.
Should this happen, people residing on the top floors would be the last to get out of danger.
Also read: 7 Easy Ways to Keep Top Floor Apartment Cool in Summer
Middle Level
Some might say that a middle-floor unit is not the best option to choose as a home.
You would be stuck between two levels, resulting in compromised privacy.
However, there are some advantages too.
What’s Good About the Middle-Level Floor Apartments
A perk of choosing a middle-floor apartment is getting relatively better views than the bottom level. However, they cannot be matched with what you get at a top-floor unit.
The biggest appeal of a middle-floor apartment is the average-priced utility bills you will get throughout the year.
In the summer, top-level units get incredibly hot and uncomfortable. On the other hand, during winter, bottom-level homes are the coldest.
But, during both of these seasons, apartments on the middle floor remain comfortable.
Unlike apartments on the top levels of a building, middle-floor units are considerably cheap.
You can also say that living on the middle level doesn’t require you to wait for the elevator. This is a major problem for those living on the top floor. You can just take the stairs.
Another advantage of choosing a middle-floor apartment is the ease of access to the main door. In case of an emergency, you can easily evacuate the building within a few minutes.
Lastly, you can also get to your deliveries and guests faster without having to wait for the elevator.
Drawbacks of Middle-Level Floors
Middle-level residents have to bear unwanted noises from the homes above them. Moreover, they need to make sure that they keep their sound levels down, so people residing below them aren’t disturbed.
There is relatively less privacy on the middle floor than on the ones above it.
Middle-floor units can often feel suffocating. They are not the best for people who have an issue with congested spaces and need thorough ventilation.
While the odds of robberies or break-ins on middle floors are comparatively lower than on the bottom sections, they are still considerably high.
Bottom Floor Apartments
Bottom-floor apartments are ideal for people with young kids as they minimize the risk of any unpleasant accidents or falls.
What’s Good About the Bottom Level Floor Apartments
Bottom units are the easiest to evacuate in case of a fire or any other crisis. They also don’t require taking elevators or climbing up the stairs.
These apartments have the best access to the main door of the building. You can haul big bags of groceries, carry your kids without trouble, and get to your deliveries and visitors in no time.
As you move further up in an apartment complex, the price of rentals increases drastically. That means choosing a ground-floor unit is the most affordable and budget-friendly choice.
Lower floor units are often readily available, but there could be exceptions to that based on the neighborhood.
People who are adamant about residing in a particular locality might end up picking a bottom-floor rental as their last resort.
Ground floor apartments typically have decks and patios. So, if you have kids, you can let them make the most of this outdoor space without having to leave your home’s premises.
Drawbacks of Bottom Level Floors
The biggest con associated with bottom floor units is the increased risk of theft and break-ins. Since they are easy to access, thieves can enter easily.
Another disadvantage is the lack of scenic views. If you enjoy looking at the sky and having a cup of evening coffee with views overlooking the city, the ground level is not for you.
Lower floor rentals also receive the least amount of natural light. They have the poorest airflow.
They also lack privacy as everyone going up passes through the bottom floor.
Many tenants complain about having to deal with seepage and drainage problems in ground-floor apartments.
Your ceiling may even start dripping toilet water due to plumbing issues in the house above yours.
Another major drawback of living on the lower level floors would be the infestation of rats and roaches. Since the lower-level apartments are easily accessible to bugs, rats, and lizards, your apartment is likely to have this issue a lot more as compared to people living in the middle or top floors
Lastly, you will have people living above you, so be prepared for lots of undesirable noise. You are likely to hear furniture being dragged, kids running around, and much more.
Ending Note
Each apartment building floor has advantages and disadvantages. So, be sure to carefully consider them all before you make a decision.
At the end of the day, the choice should be based on your preference, as you are the one who will be living there.
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