There are a lot of decisions to be made when buying a house. When you decide to buy a unit in a high-rise development like an HDB flat or private condo, there’s an additional choice that you have to make, and that is, which floor do you want to choose. High, low or middle?
Sometimes, the choice is made for you. For instance, there are only a few units left for you to choose, so after considering factors like budget, unit layout and facing direction, you’re left with only that particular unit on that particular floor.
But how about when you really do have a choice? Which floor is truly best for you? In reality, whether high or low, there are pros as well as cons. Let’s look at some of them.
Pros of living on a high floor
There’s always a premium placed on height. Generally speaking, the higher the floor is, the more expensive the unit is. Why is this so? Several reasons come to mind.
On a higher floor, you enjoy a better view, cooler breezes and more natural light; provided that your unit is not blocked by a bigger structure, that is. At a higher altitude, the air is usually cleaner too as it’s away from ground-level pollution like exhaust fumes.
Good views, cooler and cleaner air, peace and quiet… that’s generally what you get from a higher floor unit
Higher floor apartments are also perceived to enjoy more peace and quiet. But that also depends. If you happen to live on the floor right below the sky deck, this may not be so. Or, if you choose one of the high floors but not the highest, you may still have a noisy neighbour staying right above you. Therefore, it all boils down to luck.
But one thing is certain: staying on a higher floor means you don’t have to contend with ground level noise like traffic and the passing of MRT trains every few minutes (if your development happens to be near an overhead MRT track).
Having an MRT close to home is convenient but not hearing it pass by every few minutes
Another thing that you wouldn’t be having the displeasure of having are unwanted guests like cockroaches, lizards, rats and mosquitoes. These household pests tend to be “stationed” on the lower levels. But, mind you, this doesn’t mean they don’t go upwards either. The key is to keep your premises clean and tidy regardless of which floor you’re at.
For investment motivated house buyers, a higher floor unit also tends to enjoy better capital appreciation and higher rental rates because of the same reasons mentioned above.
Cons of living on a high floor
How about the disadvantages of living on a high floor? For one, you most likely have to pay more for your unit. Setting aside more funds doesn’t stop there though. If you choose to reside on a higher floor, you may have to pay more for your electricity and to movers too.
Sure, you may enjoy a nice breeze on a higher floor, but hot air rises and the sun is nearer. You may need to cool down your house by having the air-con switched on more frequently and at a lower temperature. This is compensated by lower use of artificial lights if your unit basks in natural light during the day.
Some bulkier furniture doesn’t fit easily into lifts and are difficult to disassemble and reassemble
It’s easier to move bulky furniture to a lower than a higher floor. Big objects, such as grand pianos and sofas that cannot fit into an elevator, need to be craned up. Just imagine if you live on the 27th floor!
A long wait for the elevator can be tiresome especially if it’s on a daily basis
If you live on a higher floor, you need to be more patient too (or at least, you shouldn’t be in a hurry most of the time). This is because you need to wait for the elevator, be it on the way up or down. Will you get all hot and bothered when the elevator stops on every floor for your neighbours to get in during the morning rush hour? If that’s you, you’d better think twice about choosing a higher floor unit.
Lastly, if you choose to stay on a higher floor, let’s hope that you wouldn’t have to deal with leaks from a rooftop water tank. And God forbid, using the stairs during an emergency or lift breakdown!
Pros of living on a lower floor
The advantages and disadvantages of living on a low floor are basically the reverse from that of a high floor.
One of the most welcomed advantages of a lower floor unit is the lower price tag. With a price increase of between $1,000 and $50,000 or more per floor, the price difference can be substantial. All the savings that you enjoy can be channeled towards other departments of life. For instance, you can afford to splurge on the interior décor or go for exotic holidays.
You also enjoy shorter waits at the lift lobbies. This can be a big plus if you have elderly or disabled persons living in your household. During emergencies, it would be easier to evacuate them too.
Save on air-con usage on a lower floor
On a lower floor, you may not need to have your air-con switched on so much because you enjoy more shade from trees and other surrounding blocks.
However, this may mean your unit doesn’t enjoy so much of natural light, so you have to keep lights on more often.
Units on the ground floor may also come with a small yard, so those of you who enjoy gardening or desire a little outdoor play area for the kids will welcome this.
Cons of living on a lower floor
Now, we’ve come to the part about the disadvantages. Basically, what you enjoy on the higher floors, you don’t enjoy on the lower floors. You don’t get the bird’s eye view. You can’t see the other parts of Singapore (or Malaysia or Indonesia) from your balcony. You don’t get as much cool breezes and cleaner air too. Expect some creepy crawlies coming your way, so get those insect repellants ready. Burglars tend to prefer the lower floors too as these levels are more accessible and easier to make their escape.
On the lower floors, you may not enjoy so much privacy as well as peace and quiet. Depending on your distance from the road and MRT track, you may have some disturbance coming your way from these sources.
Everybody hates a leaking ceiling
Typical of lower level units, you run the risk of having residents up above dropping some objects, such as flowerpots, accidentally or otherwise. And of course, there’s the question of the upstairs noisy neighbour or overhead leaks that will be the bane of your life.
All in all, there’s no complete advantage or disadvantage in choosing a high or low floor. If you want to strike a balance, how about choosing a middle floor?
In this article, we’ve highlighted the pros and cons of living on a high or low floor of a flat, apartment or condo. If you want to know more, schedule a visit with us or book a free consultation with our trusted and renowned representatives.
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