Is it worth buying an apartment on the top floor

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Buying an apartment is a responsible matter, so as not to later regret your choice, changing one home for another. Which floor should you choose for a comfortable stay with the whole family? What are the pros and cons of living lower/higher?

Rational choice of floor when buying an apartment. There is no clear answer to the question of which floor is better to choose when buying an apartment; traditionally, the first and last floors do not inspire confidence. Let's find out why.

What are the features of the first floor?
Advantages and disadvantages of the last floor
Features of apartments in new buildings on the second floor
Why are the middle floors in high-rise buildings considered the best?
You don’t care – let’s rise higher!
Which floor to choose in a new building?
What does Feng Shui technique say?
Conclusion!

What are the features of the first floor?

Many consider apartments on the ground floor to be unaffordable, while others prefer such housing for life, recreation and business. What is this inconsistency?

Negative sides:

layout – balconies are often not provided;
climate – humid, damp, low temperature;
noise - knocking of the entrance door, the hum of cars, alarms of neighboring premises, other significant inconveniences, walking under the windows, talking, crying, etc.;
safety – you need to install bars on the windows;
there is no pleasant view from the window;
privacy - from the street side, everyone can look into the apartment and see what is going on there, and therefore you need to install special blinds, buy blackout curtains;
the basement can contribute to the emergence of an unpleasant odor, dampness, fungus on the walls, and the appearance of rodents and insects.

What are the advantages of the first floor?

Low cost, 10-20% compared to other floors.
Features of marital status and health status - a good option for living for elderly people, disabled people, young families with small children, etc.
In emergency situations, evacuation is faster, fires can be extinguished without hindrance, etc.
For people who have a fear of heights, this is a great option for living.
There are no worries for neighbors - you can run, jump and no one from below will complain.
Additional features - the apartment on the ground floor can be modified, a loggia, a balcony, a personal entrance can be added, a flower bed can be planted under the window, a garden.
To create a business, an apartment can be converted into commercial real estate, sold, or rented out as an office or store.

These are the features of the first floor, but what can we say about the last floor? What are the features of this home, why you should pay attention to such apartments, and why not!

How to choose your floor?

And yet, on what floor is it better to live in a multi-story building? Let's try to figure it out.

First floor

Pros: In the event of a collapse, fire or any other emergency, it will be easiest to leave the first floor, at least if the windows are not tightly barred.
Cons: apartments located on the ground floor most often become victims of robbers. They have the highest noise level, dirty air, basement dampness, and mosquitoes in the summer.

Second floor

Pros: quite safe. Well suited for older people and young families with children.
Cons: the same as for apartments on the ground floor, perhaps to a lesser extent.

Third floor

Pros: in old five-story buildings it has always been considered optimal.
Cons: if the elevator breaks down, the first inconveniences will begin. It is not catastrophic to overcome this distance on your own, but lifting the furniture will be quite difficult.

From the fourth to the sixth floor

Pros: from an environmental point of view, they are the safest.
Cons: if the elevator breaks down, you will need to be in good physical shape to get into your own apartment.

Seventh floor

Pros: standard high-rise buildings are the golden mean. The noise level is low, the air is cleaner, and the fear of heights is not yet felt.
Cons: it is better not to live higher for people with an unbalanced psyche, as well as those suffering from cardiovascular diseases.

From the eighth to the sixteenth floor

Pros: the brightest apartments are located on these floors. Even very tall trees turn out to be shorter.
Cons: if there are smoking pipes nearby, alas, their negative impact on these floors will be most noticeable.

Seventeenth floor and above

Pros: wonderful panoramic view, clean air. Heat, as you know, rises, so these apartments are also the warmest.
Cons: during a fire, the greatest danger lurks here. In addition, toxic products also tend to spread from the bottom up.

Top floor

Pros: In the event of a fire, assistance can be provided from the roof. On the top floor you can install a fireplace or attach part of the attic.
Cons: very high risk of robbery. If the house is old, the water pressure will be weak and leaks may occur frequently.

Thus, the central part of the house is the most favorable for living. Therefore, if you are wondering which floor is better to live on in a 17-story building, then pay attention to the eighth and ninth floors.

Advantages and disadvantages of the last floor

If we talk about the disadvantages, we can note the danger of roof leakage, especially in winter, damage to repairs, furniture, etc. If there is no elevator or it is broken, it will be difficult to get home, as well as to transport furniture or equipment.

The temperature in such an apartment depends on the time of year; it is very hot in summer and cold in winter, even the heating system cannot help. There is a high probability of thieves entering through the roof.

There is often low pressure in the water supply, and in emergency situations it is more difficult to get out of the apartment; folding ladders of fire trucks have certain limitations.

As for the positive aspects of the last floor in a multi-storey building, the advantages will be as follows:

panoramic view from the window, birds singing, beautiful trees growing, sky, sun, etc.;
plenty of sunshine and fresh air;
there is no possibility of flooding from above;
compared to average floors, the cost is 5-10 percent cheaper;
the entrance is much cleaner, you can create a flower gallery, install a fireplace, and place a relaxation area on the roof.

If you have definitely decided that the top floor is not for you, then you should consider an apartment lower - for example, on the second, third, fourth... floors, they are considered trendy according to housing payback statistics.

Which floor to choose when buying an apartment?

Before deciding on the choice of floor in a new building , you need to weigh all the parameters and characteristics of each floor and set priorities regarding the composition of the family that will occupy the living space.

The first and its features

According to prevailing stereotypes , people believe that life on the ground floor is complicated by low air temperatures and proximity to the basement .

In addition, buyers are afraid of the proximity of the floor to the street .

Most modern new buildings have freed residents from the problems that existed in the past.

This is due to modern technologies and materials for housing construction.

And also access control in the form of a concierge , which increases security for the new owner of the apartment.

If there is flooding , then all the foul odors will go into the apartment. The elevator starts moving from the first floor, which will be heard during the day and especially at night.

The advantages of housing on the ground floor include:

ability to control children;
ease of moving large items;
no dependence on elevator rides;
low price.

Advantages and disadvantages of the latter

The few advantages of the upper floors include the view from the window .

The last floor is bought less often and this is due to established opinions about it.

Such doubts include the following factors:

Drafts in the apartment;
Proximity to the roof;
Low water and heating pressure;
The need to walk if the elevator breaks down.

However, the stereotype that the water pressure is somewhat weaker than on other floors is a myth , since in a new building the communications are located under the roof , which, on the contrary, increases the pressure.

The problem of drafts is easily eliminated with modern double-glazed windows .

The problem of elevator breakdowns in modern houses is solved by the fact that two elevators , just in case of such unplanned breakdowns.

Despite the disadvantages, the last floor also has its advantages:

no neighbors above. This means unnecessary noise ;
the presence of a technical floor in new buildings, which will save you from possible leaks;
better view from the balcony and windows;
environmental friendliness , that is, less smoke and dust from the street.

Second floor in a new building

Living on the second floor , compared to the first, has a lot of advantages, which include distance from the street and greater sound insulation .

We must not forget that the presence of a grocery store or dentistry, next door, can cause extra noise and nerves .

According to statistics, living space on the first and second floors is 3-5% lower than in the middle of the house.

The advantages of the second floor include the fact that an elevator is practically not needed to get to the apartment.

In the golden mean

Real estate experts note that the most popular floors are from the fifth to the thirteenth .

At the same time, every tenth buyer prefers the seventh floor.

Developers took into account the fact that middle-class apartments sell more easily and increased their prices.

Therefore, it is recommended to book and buy such living spaces in advance , while they are in stock and their prices have not increased.

As a rule, such floors are chosen by wealthy buyers whose families are not ready to put up with dust and unnecessary noise from neighbors.

Why are they considered the best to buy?

Most people prefer middle floors for a reason.

The high liquidity of such objects is caused by the following positive characteristics:

The ability to quickly evacuate in the event of a fire or other type of emergency;
Lowest degree of pollution , due to the fact that the 3rd-7th floors are at a sufficient height from the street, car exhaust gases;
Residents of such apartments practically do not experience a lack of sunlight .

From this point of view, the middle is better and is in demand from buyers, however, positive characteristics also have their drawbacks .

First of all, there is noise from the lower and upper floors . Waiting for the elevator , which takes personal time and inconvenience when it breaks down.

What to look for when buying an apartment? About this in our article.

Closer to the sky

The top floor in a multi-story building may appeal to people who do not have problems with fear of heights .

Many people love that their home receives pure sunlight , which gives the apartment additional comfort.

In addition, the views in many new buildings give these apartments a special appeal .

The noise from the lower floors is almost inaudible . Owners of such housing can only worry about the fact that if the elevators break down, they will have to cover some distance to go outside.

Floors close to the sky also complicate the urgent evacuation of residents , as well as for residents of the middle floors.

Corner apartments

Corner apartments are also reluctant to buy . This is justified by the fact that the location of the windows, even in new buildings, is designed in such a way that curious neighbors constantly try to look into them .

Another significant drawback is the lower temperatures compared to non-corner apartments.

It is believed that the higher the floor and the apartment is located in the corner, the less heat the room will receive.

In any case, prices for such real estate are somewhat lower , since there is less demand for them.

Why are the middle floors in high-rise buildings considered the best?

The golden mean is apartments from the 3rd to 7th floors, they are considered the best when choosing housing for a long time, you can live here without bothering. What are the advantages of such accommodation:

Even if the elevator breaks down, you do not feel significant inconvenience, like, for example, residents from the 10-15th floor and so on.
Comfortable conditions for people who are afraid of heights, as well as those who find it difficult to move long distances.
Good panoramic characteristics.

If you want to live high, then you can consider apartments located above the eighth floor level, such premises are good for health (fresh air, the higher, the more of it), however, if there is an industrial zone nearby, then all emissions will be concentrated at the level of these floors.

Apartments from 8th to 16th floors:

no noise from the street;
there is a nice view from the window.

But at the same time, a breakdown of the elevator causes enormous inconvenience, it takes a certain time to go up and down, the difficulty of evacuation, and the manifestation of fear will certainly make itself felt.

You don’t care – let’s rise higher!

If you want to live closer to it, then the top floors are just for you. In new buildings it is possible to equip an attic floor. The apartments are valued for their extraordinary views, fresh air, and healthy housing.

Water most often circulates from top to bottom, and therefore you should not expect weak pressure. Such apartments are the best, and therefore expensive. As for the disadvantages of the last floors, it is worth noting the high probability of leakage from the roof, noise from the elevator, etc.

Why is it worth buying an apartment on the top floor?

The advantage of purchasing an apartment on the top floor in a new building or on the secondary market will be:

no neighbors above;
fresh air;
absence of problems and noise from communications (in particular from sewerage);
favorable price (on the secondary market such an apartment is always cheaper);
Possibility of converting housing into a two-level one.

When buying an apartment, for example, on the 9th floor, if the elevator fails, you will have to go up and down the stairs on foot, and this is a daily exercise and cardio exercise. Many experts consider the biggest advantage of high-rise apartments to be the absence of neighbors, because in this case several problems disappear at once: there is no noise from above, from stomping neighbors and running children. You will not have to deal with a breakdown of communications from above, and the consequence of this - a flood in your apartment. No one will throw rugs onto your balcony or throw garbage from above at night - this advantage will also please many.

As for communications, almost all residents of the middle floors know what sewer noise is. Residents of the upper floors are not in danger of such an unpleasant sound - it simply does not exist.

One of the significant advantages will be the opportunity to convert the apartment into a two-level one. This can be implemented in 2 ways at once:

buy an apartment with a technical floor;
buy a penthouse in a new building.

If you are not inclined to buy a newly rented property, contact specialists and select an apartment with a technical floor that can be easily privatized. This way you will immediately receive additional space not only for technical needs, but also for living.

The cleanest level for living will be floor number 9 and above. It is here that there are no exhaust gases, and other concentrated odors, such as cigarette smoke, are no longer bothersome. If you are concerned about your health and want to improve your physical fitness, you can't think of anything better than walking around the floors. Even for residents of small five-story buildings, daily walks will be extremely useful. If you purchased housing even higher, you can walk part of the way and only then take the elevator. This exercise will keep your muscles toned and train your respiratory and cardiovascular systems. One cannot help but take into account the fact that for many, the main advantage of an apartment on the top floor will be its cost, and it is often significantly lower than that of similar housing in the middle of the house.

What does Feng Shui technique say?

What does Chinese teaching tell us? Each floor is a kind of harmony and state of health. Which house should I live in? Low or high? The method of choosing housing interprets such dogmas.

Attention: the most favorable from an energy point of view are houses with 3,5,7,9,12 floors.

And four-story, eight-story, thirteen-story and higher are considered unfavorable. People often feel uncomfortable living on the top floors; they may experience a feeling of weightlessness in space.

Main factors for choosing an apartment in a new building

Regardless of where you purchase an apartment, it is important to pay attention to a number of factors: the location of the house, the infrastructure of the area, the cost of real estate. If you want to purchase housing on the top floor of a high-rise building, it is extremely important to consider the following:

The presence of a technical floor will provide a comfortable microclimate in the apartment. In summer it will not be hot here, since the sun-warmed roof will be separated from your house by another floor.
Roof condition – leaks are likely in cases where the roof has not been repaired for a long time. You can independently find out about the condition of the roof by examining the condition of the ceiling and walls on the floor - if there are greenish-yellow streaks on them, this may indicate serious problems with the roof. To be sure, you can contact the condominium association, housing office or any other service organization that can provide reliable information about the condition of the roof.
How long ago the house was put into operation - problems with the roof and communications are much less common in new houses. If the house was built a long time ago, it is better to check the status of all important communications with the realtor and the service organization before purchasing.
Condition of ventilation – the presence of high-quality ventilation in a building is very important. If there is mold on the walls on the top floor of a building, there is a high probability of problems with it. Ventilation failure is a very common problem in resale homes.
The remoteness of the elevator - if it is located close to the apartment, and the main mechanisms are concentrated not on the technical floor, but on your floor - you are provided with round-the-clock noise from the elevator shaft. In addition to unpleasant sounds, the elevator produces strong vibration and buzzing.

If all of the above features are taken into account, you will most likely be able to protect yourself from purchasing an apartment in an unfavorable location. Such housing not only gives owners an amazing view from the window, but also a number of other advantages.