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Apartment Living: Top Floor vs. Bottom Floor

Cutler Bay Apartment Building

Cutler Bay rental homes come in a variety of shapes and sizes — and elevations. In many cases, rental homes and apartments have units directly above or below other units. If you had the option to live on either the top floor or the bottom floor, you might be wondering which one is a better option. While the top floor is usually seen as the ideal location, it actually depends on your particular situation and needs. After weighing out the pros and cons of the top and bottom floors, you can choose which one fits your daily life better.

Ease of Access

Access is a primary consideration when choosing between a ground-level rental or a higher one. Top-floor apartments have to deal with stairs or elevator access every day. 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 have the advantage of easier access.

Safety

Safety is also a major deciding factor as you choose between the top floor and bottom floor. Rental homes that are higher up often have more secure windows that are not easily accessible from the outside. This same feature also makes it more difficult to leave the home through the window during a fire or an emergency. 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 does not guarantee that you won’t get noisy neighbors below. This also means you could be the noisy one for those living below you. In that case, you could be reported to the landlord and would have to deal with that complaint.

Natural Light

One major advantage of top-floor rental homes is the greater amount of natural light. In areas where structures are surrounded by other buildings, rental homes situated higher up tend to get more light than those on the bottom. However, bottom-floor rentals are usually nearer to the garden, so if you prefer being in close proximity to flowers rather than viewing skylines, the bottom floor might be the right unit for you.

Cost of Utilities

You should also factor in the cost of utilities as you make your decision. 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 have cooler temperatures, they are less expensive to heat and cool versus those on the top floor.

Ultimately, your needs and preferences will determine which option is best for you. But if your current Cutler Bay 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 Dade can help! Visit our website to check out our listings, or give us a call today!

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