Skip to Content

Apartment Living: Top Floor vs. Bottom Floor

Leander Apartment BuildingMt. Pleasant rental homes come in many different shapes and sizes — and elevations. In many cases, rental homes and apartments have units directly above or below other units. If you could choose to live on either the top floor or the bottom floor, which would you pick? While many people consider the top floor the ideal location, it all actually depends on your particular situation and needs. When you weigh out the pros and cons of the top floor and bottom floor, you can decide which one suits your lifestyle better.

Ease of Access

Access is an important factor to consider as you choose between a ground-level rental and one higher up. Top-floor apartment dwellers have to deal with stairs or elevator access on a daily basis. It can also be more costly to move in and out of top-floor apartments as haulers often charge more to carry furniture up or down the stairs. Bottom-floor rental homes generally have more convenient access.

Safety

Safety considerations can also influence your decision to choose between the top floor and the bottom floor. Rental homes that are higher up often have more secure windows that are not easily accessible from the outside. This also means you will have difficulty leaving the unit through a window in the event of a fire or other emergencies. Depending on what you need, you can decide on a rental home location that puts your security first.

Noise

When choosing a rental home, noise levels are often an issue. As a general rule, top-floor apartments tend to be less noisy than those below. However, this doesn’t mean you will not have noisy neighbors below. And, since you live above someone else, you could be considered as the noisy one. You might have to face the hassle of being reported to the landlord and dealing with the complaints.

Natural Light

One major advantage of top-floor rental homes is the greater amount of natural light. This is especially felt in buildings surrounded by other structures as rental homes that are higher up usually get more light than those on the bottom. Bottom-floor rentals, on the other hand, are closer to the garden, so if you prefer flowers to skylines, you would be better off picking the bottom floor.

Cost of Utilities

The cost of utilities should also be a big factor in your choice of rentals. In general, top-floor apartments tend to have higher utility costs than bottom-floor homes. When the weather is warm, hot air tends to rise, meaning your air conditioning unit needs to work harder to keep a top-floor rental home cool compared to a bottom-floor one. It is less expensive to cool and heat the cooler bottom-floor apartments compared to the ones on the top floor.

At the end of the day, your priorities and preferences will determine which one is best for you. But if your current Mt. Pleasant rental isn’t ideal, maybe it’s time to find a new place to live. If you are in the market for a new rental home, Real Property Management Distinguished Care can help! Visit our website to check out our listings, or give us a call today!

We are pledged to the letter and spirit of U.S. policy for the achievement of equal housing opportunity throughout the Nation. See Equal Housing Opportunity Statement for more information.

The Neighborly Done Right Promise

The Neighborly Done Right Promise ® delivered by Real Property Management, a proud Neighborly company

When it comes to finding the right property manager for your investment property, you want to know that they stand behind their work and get the job done right – the first time. At Real Property Management we have the expertise, technology, and systems to manage your property the right way. We work hard to optimize your return on investment while preserving your asset and giving you peace of mind. Our highly trained and skilled team works hard so you can be sure your property's management will be Done Right.

Canada excluded. Services performed by independently owned and operated franchises.

See Full Details