Spokane 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 have the opportunity to pick a unit on the top floor or the bottom floor, which would you choose? Although the top floor is considered the ideal location, it all depends on your particular situation and needs. If you weigh the pros and cons of the top floor and the bottom floor, you can figure out which one suits your daily activities better.
Ease of Access
Access is a big factor in deciding between a ground-level rental and one higher up. Think about how willing you would be to deal with stairs or elevator access on a daily basis as a top-floor apartment occupant. Costs of moving are also usually higher for top-floor apartments since movers tend to charge higher rates for bringing furniture up and down flights of stairs. Bottom-floor rental homes are usually more convenient to access.
Safety
Safety is also a major deciding factor as you choose between the top floor and bottom floor. Since the windows are not easy to access from the exterior, rental homes that are higher up are usually more secure. But that also means it is harder to leave the home through the window in the event of a fire or other emergencies. If that is one of your main needs, you may want to choose 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. But this will not guarantee that your downstairs neighbors won’t be noisy, either. On the other hand, your downstairs neighbors might see you like the noisy one. You will have to deal with the hassle that comes with being reported to the landlord.
Natural Light
One of the benefits of living in a top-floor rental home is the higher amount of natural light. Especially if your building is surrounded by other structures, rental homes that are higher up usually get more light than those on the bottom. Bottom-floor rentals, on the other hand, have the advantage of being closer to gardens or a common yard, so if you prefer flowers to skylines, you might want to pick the bottom floor.
Cost of Utilities
You should also consider the cost of utilities. In general, top-floor apartments tend to have higher utility costs than bottom-floor homes. This is because, in warm weather, hot air tends to rise, meaning your air conditioning unit has to work harder to cool a top-floor rental home than a bottom-floor one. Since bottom-floor apartments tend to stay cooler, they are less expensive to heat and cool than those 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 Spokane 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 Spokane County 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.
