Apartments on the first and last floors: their advantages and disadvantages. In which houses is such housing much cheaper than the rest, and where to look for a 20% discount? What is the buyer's gain?

Advantages of ground floor apartments

Easy access

. All floors of a high-rise building are accessible if there is an elevator (and if it is working). But in five-story buildings there is no elevator and the advantage of the first floor is obvious. Therefore, apartments on the first level of the house are most convenient for pensioners, disabled people and parents with small children.

Only on the ground floor is it possible to create a separate entrance to the apartment from a window or, more simply, from a loggia. And it is much easier to leave housing on the lower level of the house than from the upper floors if some emergency situation occurs (for example, a fire).

Good water pressure

. Residents of the upper floors of many multi-storey buildings regularly experience water shortages. But on the lower floors, especially on the first, there are no problems with water.

By the way, the quality of water heating on the first floors of most multi-storey buildings is always better than on the top. Water is mainly supplied through heating pipes from bottom to top and reaches the lower apartments the hottest.

Cool in summer

. The premises of the upper levels of high-rise buildings are irradiated by the July sun in the most merciless way - summer stuffiness is common there. And the first floors are hidden by the crowns of trees, the midday sun's rays enter their windows scattered, not hot.

A city gardener's dream

. Only the ground floor has access to the land under the windows for cultivation. You can create flower beds, plant shrubs and enjoy gardening.

No downstream neighbors

. Neighborhood noises are common in apartment buildings - children jumping upstairs, a violin playing downstairs. So - in the rooms on the first floor there is no noise from below, there is nothing to make noise there. By the way, there is also no one to complain about your noise from below.

And it is impossible to flood the neighbors from below if the apartment is on the first level. And water supply and plumbing floods always occur unexpectedly.

Market cheapness

. Since the first floor is not particularly interesting to buyers, apartments there are cheaper than market offers of a similar area. This will save personal savings and reduce the size of the mortgage.

Ground floor apartments can be conveniently converted into non-residential use, used in trade, provision of services, in organizing an office or in setting up a hostel. In this option, apartments in first-line buildings on pedestrian streets are successful, with windows facing these streets and the possibility of arranging an entrance independent of the entrance.

In relation to the “first-floor” living space of houses with elevators, the ability not to pay for the service of elevator equipment is often called a plus - this is not true. Otherwise, only the owners of the upper-level apartments would have to pay for roof repairs.

Elevator equipment is common property and therefore must be paid for by all residents of the high-rise building. Confirmation of this: the Supreme Court ruling No. 117-APG16-2.

Minuses

In addition to the advantages, living quarters on the ground floor have significant disadvantages.

Dampness and cold floor

An apartment located close to the ground and basement may be too wet in the summer, which can lead to mold growth. In winter, this location threatens cold floors, so people with reduced immunity and lung diseases should not live on the lower floor.

However, in many new buildings these problems have already been solved - apartments on the first floors are located higher than usual, and communications in the basement are more modern and are repaired much faster. In other cases, high humidity can be eliminated - major repairs and floor insulation will be required.

If your drain is clogged, there is a risk of sewage flooding. Sometimes proximity to the basement threatens to be invaded by rats and cockroaches - this is especially true for houses with garbage chutes.

Threat of robbery

Most often, criminals target apartments where it is easiest to get into. The lower floor is ideal for this. To protect themselves from robbers, residents have to take a range of measures:

• Installing strong doors and windows that will take longer to open.
• Installation of grilles (unsafe option in case of fire) or roller shutters.
• Using armored films on glass makes them more difficult to break.
• Installation of alarm and video surveillance.
• Simulating presence in an apartment using a smartphone and smart sockets that turn on electrical appliances.

Lack of privacy

If the apartment is located in a passageway, a crowded place deprives its owner of privacy. On the lower floors you can better hear children walking on the playground, noisy neighbors during their gatherings under the window, and the sounds of passing cars.

The disadvantages are leveled out if the area is quiet and uncrowded, but this depends only on the coincidence of circumstances. If the apartment is located next to the entrance door, the sounds of the intercom will increase, and the proximity to the parking lot threatens with the smell of gasoline. The situation can be partially corrected by installing high-quality double-glazed windows and the correct entrance door, as well as installing sound insulation on the walls.

You can protect yourself from the glances of curious passers-by with tulle curtains, mirrored or matte films on windows, and even special electrochromic glass, which at the right time becomes transparent or darkened.

Little light

If the windows of an apartment located on the ground floor are adjacent to dense bushes and trees, the living space does not receive enough natural light. In this case, you should send an application to the management company, which will resolve the issue with the city administration.

If the arriving specialist confirms that the light entering the room is not according to the standards, some of the branches will be cut off and the apartment will become lighter. Otherwise, high-quality artificial lighting should be provided.

Disadvantages of ground floor apartments

Note that most of the shortcomings listed below can be solved by the good work of the management company and therefore are absent in well-maintained houses.

Attackers

. Of course, it is easier for criminal elements to penetrate into the premises of the first level of a high-rise building than into the upper floors. Window bars and blinds, unbreakable glass and special double-glazed windows will serve as protection against ordinary thieves. An alarm system will help protect against more “skilled” attackers.

Humidity and cold

. The location of the basement under the floor and the proximity of the ground contribute to the development of dampness on the lower residential level of an apartment building. Major thermal insulation of floors solves this problem, but costs money.

Lack of loggia

. In old Khrushchev-era apartment buildings there are usually no balconies on the first floors. This reduces the usable area of ​​the apartment.

Noisiness

. Street and yard noises in the rooms of the first house level are clearly distinguishable, since their sources (cars, children playing) are close. The problem will be solved by high-quality double-glazed windows.

Another noise source is the front door, which “bangs” every time you enter and exit – you need a door closer. As for the elevator, its movement creates the most noise on the top floor, where the electric motor is located.

Foreign animals

. Basements are tempting to insects and rodents, especially in winter. Their invasion is more likely the closer the garbage bins are to the high-rise building.

Daylight

. Apartment buildings are being built on accessible plots, so the windows of the first floor apartments do not face south, which limits their insolation. In addition, keeping the windows uncurtained means enduring the curious glances of passers-by. Although the problem of insufficient privacy is solved, for example, by day-night roller blinds.

View from the window

. A wide view from the windows of the first level of a house in the city is impossible. Although in urban areas and from the upper floors the horizon is limited - there are houses and parked cars all around, or traffic flow on the street - but you can look down from above.

On the other hand, owners of “ground-floor” premises (and only they) can independently improve the view from the window by arranging a green area in the front garden.

Some homeowners organize a cellar under the loggia-balcony on the first floor by punching a hatch in the balcony slab and digging out a burial pit under it, followed by a brick lining. Rumor has it that such cellars are among the advantages of housing on the first level of an apartment building, but this is an absolute disadvantage.

It is impossible to legalize a homemade cellar under the first floor balcony. Its unauthorized construction grossly violates several norms for the construction of apartment buildings. Unauthorized expansion of the apartment area, digging of the foundation, damage to the balcony slab and illegal use of the land are prohibited.

While it is possible to legalize the redevelopment or reconstruction of an apartment, it is impossible to approve a cellar under the balcony - this is a reconstruction of the building, the unauthorized implementation of which is not allowed by law.

Utilities and cost of transporting furniture

Utilities are a separate issue, although this no longer applies to every apartment building. Taking into account the peculiarities of the operation of engineering networks, namely heating systems, as well as hot and cold water supply, residents of the first floors receive better services. So, on the first floors the water pressure is better, and the water, which serves as an energy carrier in the heating system, is hotter than on the upper floors.

As a bonus, it can be noted that in the case of the first floor, the services of movers will cost less (in the absence of a freight elevator in the house), when there is a need to bring large furniture and household appliances into the apartment, and, accordingly, remove old household items.

First residential floor in new buildings

When designing modern residential high-rise buildings, developers often place the first residential floor on the second level of the building, separating its first level for commercial premises (street retail). Those. in fact, housing on the first floor of such a new building is located on its “second floor”. This means that the disadvantages of “first-story” housing in Khrushchev-era buildings are completely excluded from its characteristics.

Of course, the demand for commercial premises for social and service infrastructure is not observed in every location where a new building is being built. When located deep in the yard, and even more so in an infrastructurally developed residential area, there is simply no need for additional commercial facilities.

But even then, most developers do not dare to equip the first levels of high-rise buildings being built with residential apartments, preferring to place utility rooms there, for example, for storage rooms for future residents. Other liquid options for “first-floor” housing in new buildings are one- and two-level apartments with adjacent plots of land that are sold as property along with these apartments.

However, in comparison with the disadvantages of the first floors in Khrushchev buildings, apartments on the first level of new buildings have more advantages:

• a different layout, which is why the “first-floor” windows in them are located much higher than in the old housing stock;
• modern entrance doors with closers that prevent the entrance from cooling down during the cold months;
• planned parking spaces in the local area. There are practically no cars left under the windows of new buildings; there are neat flower beds and lawns;
• Communications in the basement technical floor of the new building are new, there is no constant dampness or humidity. And repairing pipes in case of leaks is carried out quickly, because... communications have not yet worn out or rusted.

Owners of apartments above the “commercial” first level of a new building are faced with only one significant disadvantage - noise penetrating into the premises through the floor slabs. However, the problem of the noise of the “commercial” neighbor below can be solved if he soundproofs the ceiling on his side. But it’s still more rational to look for new buildings where the first floors were not originally designed for street retail.

The icing on the cake: income from commercial real estate under lease

Actually, now it is worth mentioning the main advantage of the first floor, which is also due to its proximity to the surface of the earth. If it is possible to equip a separate entrance, the apartment can be converted into a non-residential property and rented out to commercial enterprises, and in the case of this option for using the space, the income will be significantly higher than with regular rental housing.

By the way, in the case of renting real estate as housing, without additional redevelopment and re-registration of documents accordingly, the profitability will be lower not only in comparison with renting out premises for an office or workshop, but also in comparison with the same apartments on other floors. The first floor is less in demand by both real estate buyers and tenants, due to a number of disadvantages, which we will also talk about now.

Is it easy to sell an apartment on the ground floor?

Among homebuyers in multi-storey real estate, levels from the third bottom to the penultimate top are consistently popular. The first floors are more uninteresting to the mass buyer than attractive. However, owners preparing to sell their “first-floor” apartment should not be disappointed in advance.

Yes, the demand for the first floors is low and yes, with equal characteristics, apartments on the third and fourth floors are 5-10% more expensive in the real estate market.

However, buyer interest is only based on the number of floors, layout and condition of the housing - the buyer always makes the final decision, guided by the individual characteristics of a particular apartment and the area where it is located. The criteria influencing the buyer's choice of housing are examined in detail in this article.

Remember that you purchase residential real estate for years. The purchasing decision requires special attention and consideration. Consult with experienced realtors, consider the pros and cons of all options on the market.

The need for good sound insulation

The ground floor area is not only a kind of “lobby” for the owner of one of the apartments on the floor, but also part of the entrance group, where people move to the elevator and flights of stairs throughout the day. At the same time, various noises are created, ranging from the slamming of the front door and elevator doors, to the stomping of winter feet shaking off and the cheerful chatter of a tipsy company closer to the night. Additionally, you can add noises that are present in the local area - this is a child’s cry from the playground, the sound of running engines of warming up cars.

Which floor is good to live on?

Which floor is better to live in the city? Let's look at each floor separately:

1. Living on the ground floor, you can find the key to solving many problems in your life and get rid of negative emotions. By destroying destructive attitudes, you will step on the path of renewal and progress.
2. On the second floor you won’t be able to escape problems – you will have to solve them, proving your importance and capacity every day. Talk less, work more.
3. Residents of the third floor will have to learn independence, become faster, taller, stronger. Learn to overcome obstacles and you can strengthen your will.
4. Those who live on the fourth floor will need the ability to listen and hear those around them, to establish friendships or at least just good neighborly relations. Uncommunicative or, on the contrary, overly aggressive and conflict-ridden individuals will be forced to reconsider their communication policy.
5. If you want to improve your destiny, then, living on the fifth floor, you should not focus exclusively on home and family - social activities are shown. And then you will understand what the harmony of life is.
6. Living on the sixth floor, learn to get rid of various kinds of addictions and try to earn your own living.
7. The seven-story workers face a difficult path of spiritual self-development. You need to try to harmonize your own energy, which will certainly lead to improved circumstances.
8. The residents of the eighth floor can only be congratulated: they have no serious karmic problems. There is only one bad habit - negative thinking. Learn to have a positive outlook on current events, and then everything will be fine.
9. Nine-story people often have the gift of a fortuneteller: it is important to develop it in order to comprehend the laws of the universe.
10. The tenth floor is simply created for leaders. If you show passivity, unrealized energy will inevitably lead to illness. The only caveat: despite your authoritative position, do not turn on the tyrant - lead people behind you gently and from the heart.
11. On the eleventh floor you need to stimulate your brain activity. You don’t have to study science, but you must train your mind.
12. Residents of the twelfth floor can achieve a lot if they take control of their irrepressible temperament. Become the master of your own life and choose the right path.

If we talk about the length of the house, then it is best to choose medium entrances. Corner apartments contain the least amount of total energy in the house.

Thus, according to Feng Shui, a house is a living organism, the energy of which accumulates inside and dissipates on the sides. But whether this energy will have a plus or minus sign depends only on you.

Well, now you know which floor is better to live on in a high-rise building. However, do not forget that when constructing new houses, all modern trends and building codes were taken into account, which means that many of the problems we discussed in this article simply will not exist. Therefore, we advise you to rely on your own taste. Happy Staying!

Main disadvantages

The very first and main problem is that everyone living in such a house does not like the fact that anyone can look into the windows. Of course, this can be solved with thick curtains and blinds, but in the daytime it will be disturbed not only by the looks of passers-by, but also by noise.

Noise insulation

Yes, you can perfectly hear everything that happens on the street, just like outside you can perfectly hear what is happening within 4 walls. An additional irritant is the sound of the constantly opening elevator and entrance door. So sound insulation is the weakest point of such an apartment.

External environment

Almost every house (especially Khrushchev-era buildings on the secondary real estate market) has trees growing, blocking the sunlight for residents of the lower floors. In special cases, even during the day you have to turn on the lights, and this is an extra waste of electricity.

If, in addition, the windows look at the road, then the “bonus” will be constant dust on the windowsill and not only, as well as exhaust fumes and car noise. This point needs to be thought through in advance, because the hum of cars and constant dust can drive all apartment owners crazy, regardless of the number of floors, if there is a busy highway nearby.

So when buying a home, it is important to clarify where exactly the windows face. Otherwise, the problem of exhaust emissions will concern not only the first floor.

Useful material : How to invest money in building an apartment?

Safety

Security is of great importance, so all residents strive to install bars on their windows. This is the only way to protect yourself from burglars, but in return you can get the constant feeling that you are looking at the world through bars.

Residents are outraged by the fact that they are close to the basement and sewer system. Hence the constant dampness on the walls, ceiling and even in the closets. Unpleasant odors may occasionally disturb you; the cold floor will need to be additionally insulated. It is also possible that various insects or, in particularly advanced cases, even rodents may appear.

View from the window

Fans of panoramic views will have a hard time; you won’t be able to see the sunset from the window, because the maximum available view is to the nearest yard. And only if there are no tall trees near the window. And a number of other important aspects:

1. Floods. There are high chances that anyone can flood you, because the entire riser is above you. Even if there is a leak in an apartment on the 6th floor, there is a chance that it will all come down to you;
2. Proximity to the basement. Everything is clear here, but in addition to dampness a constant unpleasant odor can be added. In such conditions, fungus can quickly spread in the bathroom, which is unacceptable for allergy sufferers;
3. The presence of a garbage chute. This point applies only to old Khrushchev and Brezhnevka buildings, because in modern new buildings the garbage chute is rarely placed inside the entrance. In summer, such a neighborhood is fraught with an incredible stench; these are excellent conditions for mice and rats;
4. Usually there are no balconies or loggias on the first floors. For some people this may be a big deal.

In fact, these are the main problems that you are likely to encounter. But everything is not so bad; housing on the ground floor also has advantages. This is especially true for young couples with a child, elderly people and disabled people. For them, this choice will definitely be optimal.

We recommend you the article : Buying an apartment in installments.

As the floor goes up, the air gets better

1. First – fourth floors. There is an accumulation of exhaust gases, whose maximum concentration is at the level of the third floor. However, there are trees outside the windows. But the grass in their shade grows so poorly that often the lawn under the windows is not an aesthetically and environmentally attractive object, but only a dusty surface.
2. Fifth – seventh floors. Exhaust gases do not reach the fifth floor, but from the seventh and above, harmful substances accumulate from the pipes of enterprises.

Seventeenth floor and above. There is constant electromagnetic radiation here. Since the house is a reinforced concrete structure, electric waves are not transmitted, but circulate throughout the apartment, while part of the background extends to higher floors. The intensity of the overall background depends precisely on the height of the floor, which is why the upper residents more often suffer from bad mood and headaches.

Thus, the optimal choice in terms of air purity will be apartments located from the fifth to seventh floors. However, others should not panic buy gas masks, because by following certain sanitation rules, you can significantly improve the air quality in your apartment.

Air purification methods

1. Don't smoke in the apartment.
2. Clean your hoods regularly. As a rule, due to accumulated dust and dirt, they do not allow air to pass through at all.
3. Get rid of excess carpet. Not only are they a relic of the Soviet past, but they are also real dust collectors, which are very difficult to thoroughly clean.
4. Plant several plants about half a meter high. The gold medal for oxygen production belongs to Sansevieria (other names: pike tail, mother-in-law's tongue). Also remember that moistened leaves absorb carbon dioxide much better than dry leaves.
5. Ventilate your apartment often, even if the house is located directly adjacent to the road. This will significantly reduce the concentration of harmful substances in the air.
6. Regularly carry out wet cleaning in the house.
7. Wash curtains and curtains periodically, because they accumulate a lot of dust, especially if they are made of synthetics.
8. Install plastic windows. Due to good insulation, they allow much less dust and dirt to pass through.
9. Buy special air purifiers.