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by Susan Mack
We've all been here: you're looking through apartment ads, and when you see a house you like, you start looking at its merits critically. What's the cost? Is the neighborhood safe? What's the state of facilities and public transportation around the apartment complex?
Unfortunately, we frequently forget to consider the floor the flat is on. And when you do consider the apartment's floor, it is usually a question of two levels; the top floor or the ground floor. But what about the middle floor? Have you ever thought about it?
In this guide, we will discuss the important things you need to consider in an apartment, and highlight why renting an apartment on the middle floor is your best option compared to other floor levels. We'll also give you tips to make your new apartment feel more like home. Let's dive in.
Essential Factors to Consider Before Choosing an Apartment Floor to Live In
The decision of which floor you should reside on is often based on several requirements. Some may choose depending on the needs of the family members. Others may also consider the needs of their pets.
While these are valid factors to consider, others are of a higher priority. They include:
- Heat and Light: The greatest view is always found on the highest floors of a high rise, adding to the grandeur of the flats. Sadly, the upper floors absorb heat fast, which means increased energy costs, especially if you reside in a warm city. So, even if it's not a high-rise, avoid picking the top level.
- Security and Safety: When selecting a new apartment, security is frequently front of mind. Security levels differ from floor to floor. For instance, the first and second floors of a residential building are usually the targets of crime as they are easily accessible. Higher floors, on the other hand, are more at risk in the event of a fire or other disaster since the rescue crews find it challenging to get to them.
- Noise: Higher levels are better if you like quiet settings free of hustle and commotion. This will reduce outside sounds, especially traffic noise.
- Price: Apartments are priced differently on each floor depending on the demand and the view they offer. The topmost floors rent at a higher price due to their exotic views. Additionally, the price increases if the building is next to a famous monument, a river, or the sea.
Why You Should Choose a Middle-Floor Apartment
Before choosing to move into your new middle-floor apartment, you need to know what you are getting for your money's worth. Since this is a long-term commitment, you wouldn't want to move and later regret it.
Well, a middle-floor apartment has many advantages. Some of them include:
1. Better Views
There is little doubt that the views from the middle levels will be superior to those from the first and bottom floors. What could be better than soaking in the city's sparkling lights while sipping on a nightcap or having sundowners in the late afternoon and evening?
2. Consistent Utility Bills
If you prefer that your utility bill remain relatively constant throughout the year, then a middle-floor apartment is the right choice for you. Here's why: The intense light exposure on top levels makes you operate your HVAC system for longer.
On the other hand, the ground and first floors in older buildings tend to grow colder and may cost a little more to heat. Apartments on the middle floors usually have more consistent temperatures, which can save your energy expenditures.
3. Easier to Access
Although the middle floor has neighbors from the top and bottom floors, getting there doesn't require a steep climb. Additionally, if the apartment has an elevator, the issue of accessibility becomes almost irrelevant.
4. Fewer Pests and Dust
Apartments on the ground floor could have more bugs than those on the middle floors. A middle-floor apartment might be preferable if unwanted birds or animals bother you. Also, middle floors have far less dust as they are farther from the ground, where vehicles and people move dust, while upper levels deal with more wind, which tends to move dust around.
5. A Healthier Alternative
Research shows that taking the stairs is healthy for the human body. Even if you venture outside once a day, your health would considerably benefit from living in a middle-floor apartment, especially one that needs a stair climb. You'll get light exercise without exhausting yourself as you could in a top-floor flat.
6. Better Emergency Exit
It would be simpler to exit from a middle-floor apartment in an emergency than to escape from a top one. Obviously, a ground-floor apartment would be the simplest, but a middle-floor apartment would not be too challenging.
Tips for Living in a Middle-Floor Apartment
Now that you know the benefits that a middle-floor apartment offers, there are a few tips you can use to make your new apartment feel more like home. They include:
- Consider your furniture: Check to see whether you can move your furniture inside the apartment because stairwells often have tight turns and are relatively narrow.
- Get to know your neighbors: When living in a middle-floor apartment, you often see your other neighbors, especially those that live on the floor above you. It would be a good idea to familiarize yourself with them to avoid awkward lift rides or hallway encounters.
- Know the Exit Plan: Get acquainted with the building's safety evacuation strategy. It will help you get to safety much faster in an emergency.
- Due Diligence: If the thought of using the stairs keeps you up at night, make sure the building's maintenance staff is aware of it as well.
Find a Place to Call Home
There are many factors to consider while selecting the ideal apartment for your requirements and those of your family. But it all boils down to your preferences and pressing demands. Ultimately, the middle-floor apartments may offer a suitable compromise between the extreme cons of top and ground-floor apartments. You'll have a predictable bill expectation and reasonable access to the outside world as well as your home.
Are you searching to rent a studio apartment in Baltimore, Chicago, or Indianapolis? At Pangea Real Estate, we are prepared to put an end to your home search right now. We provide clean, reasonably priced middle-floor apartments that are easily accessible in the cities mentioned above. Feel free to contact us for more information on how to find your next apartment.
Are you still having trouble deciding which apartment to rent? We've got your back! Check out our blog series where we dive into the pros and cons of garden/basement, first-floor, and top-floor apartments. Don't miss out on these helpful insights!