Top or Bottom Floor?

As you tour apartment complexes, you'll undoubtedly receive options for living on different floors of the buildings. You may not be sure which of these options is the correct one to take.

The short answer is that there is no correct response. Some people prefer to live on the top floor. Others might prefer the ground level.

However, each choice bears its own set of positives and negatives. So, it's good to know those and, more importantly, which matters more to you than the other.

Top floor living

There's no denying that living on the top floor feels a bit fancier. After all, you never see a ground level penthouse. Here are some of the positives about living in a top floor unit:

• Better views - You'll be able to see more of the surrounding area than the people below you.

• No roof noise - Without a neighbor living above you, you won't ever have to worry about the booming and creaking that often comes with having someone upstairs. To paraphrase Walter White, you are the someone upstairs. Of course, you may hear the weather or the HVAC units, but it won't be the tromping of big feet.

• Architectural flourishes - In some cases, there might be some variation in the layout of a top floor apartment you won't find in the units beneath. The presence of the actual roof may lend itself to some unique lines and corners that make the apartment feel more spacious or luxurious.

Of course, there are some downsides to living at the apex of the building, including:

• Higher rent - Whether the luxury of living on the top floor is real or not, the apartment complexes tend to charge a premium for them. So, you may end up paying more for the privilege of being high in the sky.

• Likely mandatory climbs or rides - No matter what, you'll have to negotiate your way to and from ground level each time you use the apartment. If you choose a place without an elevator, you'll have to hike up several flights of stairs - and that includes when you're moving in and carrying heavy loads, like groceries.

• Safety concerns - God forbid, but if some sort of emergency were to take place at your complex, you might find that it takes longer to evacuate than if you'd lived on the ground floor. It would be more difficult for you to escape, and more difficult for emergency responders to reach you.

When you're touring: Be sure to notice whether the apartments you view have an elevator. Even if you are in great shape, you have to consider the possibility of having difficulty if you must climb the stairs several times a day. Having to go up a single flight of stairs is a challenge if, say, you have to do it on crutches - I speak from personal experience on this one.

Ground/first floor living

Ground floor or first floor units are the most likely to be the model units you tour. There's no denying that there are some major upsides to having a bottom floor apartment, such as:

• Access - You park your car, and you walk directly into your home. There's no stairs to negotiate, and it's no problem if you have to make a couple of trips.

• Potential cost savings - The rent for ground floor units can be lower. You may also save on utility costs, since your units won't be bearing the brunt of the sunshine - although the winter might be colder.

• Additional outdoor amenities - Some first floor units may offer the chance to have extended patios or small, fenced-in grassy areas as part of the unit. Top floor units simply cannot offer this same option.

Of course, there are some notable drawbacks to living on the first floor, too. It would be disingenuous not to mention some of these, including:

• Access - Easy entrance to your unit works for everyone, including those you might wish to keep out of your house. A first floor unit might feel less secure than those above you.

• Dirt and mud - Because you are on the ground floor, it is much easier for some of the ground to make its way into your unit. Living on an upper floor tends to allow those elements to fall off or never make it in the first place, but you may have to clean more often on the first floor.

• Noise above - Unless you choose an exceptionally well-constructed apartment complex, you're going to hear the people living above you move around. In some cases, it might not be much more than a faint thudding. In others, however, it can sound as though there's a bowling alley overhead.

When you're touring: Take note of your potential unit's proximity to the outside and, in particular, high traffic areas. The more popular a location, the more chance for unwanted interactions with people and/or security issues. You should also try and listen for the people above, if possible, and try to gauge the leasing agent's reactions when you ask about noise overhead.

In-between floors

The biggest draw for living on a floor in between the two extremes is the energy efficiency. You'll have insulation both above and below, which should make your utility costs as manageable as they were going to be.

You may also benefit from some balance in your noise exposure. However, you'll probably still hear people both above you and beneath you as you move around.

Garden level units

A garden level unit offers many of the same benefits of the first floor unit. In fact, it may even be cheaper than those.

However, bear in mind that garden-level apartments often deal with greater pest and humidity issues than higher apartments. You may also not like how dark and "cave-like" a garden level unit might feel, since your view outside the window is likely steps or some kind of earthen berm.

Summary

Always remember that there are no wrong answers, and you don't have to justify your choice to anyone. No choice of floor is perfect, but each one has its own benefits, too. As you consider new apartment options, decide which slate of benefits and drawbacks is most palatable to you, and go from there.