What Are the Pros and Cons of Living on Different Apartment Floors?

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So you’re at the point where you have identified which apartment complex you want to live in, but are trying to figure out which apartment floor should you choose to live on?

A low floor or high floor?ย  1st or 2nd floor?

There are pros and cons to each…

Quick Summary Video (if you prefer) and then keep reading…

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1st Floor Apartments

There are several advantages to a first (1st) floor apartment, including ease of access and no stairs. Keep reading for a more detailed list…

Full Parking Lot | www.phillyaptrentals.com

Pros

  • No elevator or staircases to deal with – makes apartment access easier, especially when moving in or out, if you have small children, or you or a family member have a disability.
  • Access to a yard or patio – creates a seamless outdoor-indoor lifestyle.
  • Easy access to parking lots – get in and out of your vehicle quickly and easily.
  • It May be more affordable –ย  ground-level apartments are sometimes less expensive than top-floor apartments. It depends though as some ground-floor apartments may be in demand.
  • Possible Lower Air Conditioning Bills – Ground floors are generally cooler, and less expensive to heat as they typically have a conditioned (heated or cooled apartment above them).
  • Proximity to Amenities – You will likely be much closer to your mailbox, and possibly to other amenities as well.
  • Great for pets – easy to walk pets multiple times during the day without any major effort to get in and out of the apartment (only if pets are allowed in your lease).

Cons

  • View – Some would say you don’t have as good of a view as being higher up.
  • Noise – can be noisier than top floors especially if your apartment is near a common garden or park within the complex or a street outside. However, these apartment noise factors can be mitigated in a well-built apartment complex. You can also usually hear noise from neighbors above.

Second or Mid-Floor Apartments

There are several advantages to a mid-floor apartment, including views and potentially lower a/c bills.

Pros

  • Good views – better views than what you would get from a ground floor apartment.
  • Potentially Lower Air Conditioning Bills – Top floors can get the direct sun, which forces you to run your HVAC system for longer. First floors can get colder and older buildings, and may cost a bit more to heat. Middle-level apartments may have more stable temperatures, which can keep your utility costs down.
  • Easy to access – not too many floors to reach via elevator or stairs so you can get in and out of these apartments more easily.

Cons

  • Possible Noise – People are living above you so you might hear footsteps from above unless the apartment was built with sound control in mind.
  • Stairs – Still have stairs or elevator to take to get out of the complex into your car or mailbox.

Top Floor Apartments

The main advantage of a top floor apartment is the views and privacy.

View From Apartment Window | www.phillyaptrentals.com

Pros

  • Excellent views – you can often get sweeping views of the city or greenery around you, which you generally wouldn’t get with lower-floor apartments.
  • Quiet and private – no one lives above you so it’s generally less noisy. Plus, any amount of noise on the ground level will be dampened by the time it reaches your higher-floor apartment.

Cons

  • Higher utility bills in summer – harder to cool down in summer, which can push up your energy bills.
  • Harder to carry things to the apartment – especially if you have heavy grocery bags and accessories like bikes
  • Costlier – higher floor apartments are often priced more to rent as they are considered more desirable.

How to make a decision?

So, which apartment floor to live on? It is a matter of your preferences and needs. If your priority is a great view, then a top-floor apartment might be the right choice. If you prefer a garden-style apartment, then ground floor apartments are usually better. Factors to consider include:

  • How far do you want to be from amenities like common gardens, pools, and barbecue
  • Your budget for an apartment
  • The lifestyle do you want to lead
  • Sound control should be considered regardless of your floor choice

Make a list of everything that you want in an apartment and its location before deciding which floor works best for you and your family.

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