Which is it: upstairs vs. ground floor means a discount?

Question

I always thought upstairs was at a premium because you don't have to put up with noises above you, but now most apartments I want to rent are telling me ground floor is ata premium because you don't have to "move up and down a lot"

I'm thoroughly confused.

Ned Carey · Answer

I f I am a landlord, downstairs pays a premium because they don't have to climb stairs. Upstairs pays a premium becuase they get a better view. The middle floor pays a premium becuase it is the perfect compromise.

If I am a tenant the first floor gets a discount becuase. . . well you get the idea.

It's all about negotiation.

If I am a tenant the first floor gets a discount becuase.   .   .   well you get the idea.

It's all about negotiation.

Colleen F. · Answer

@Daniel R. personally I think you don't get the best of anything on the middle level you get the stairs and the noise overhead.  I used to live in a triple decker years ago and was glad to have the top unit.  Hot in the summer but my reward was not listening to anyone. I also liked the privacy, no one going past my unit but that's me.

Colleen F. · Answer

Some want upstairs, some downstairs. No one wants to pay a premium for one or the other, at least here,  they just say call back when you have a  1st /2nd floor.   Everyone downstairs wants to know who is living upstairs.  The people upstairs don't really care who lives downstairs.    I think the only floor I personally would not want is the middle of a triple decker...

Dan C. · Answer

@Daniel R. I haven't found a significant difference in how much tenants value the upper vs. lower.  You'll find some will have a preference for one or the other, but as far as establishing a rent value I haven't seen much of a difference, at least in my market.

Rob Beland · Answer

I'd say it depends on the market. In my area (Central MA) people typically don't want to walk up and down stairs so I get more for a one bedroom on the first floor than I do for a one bedroom on the third floor. In a different market with a nice view from the upper levels you may get more such as near a beach. Personally I've never had somebody tell me they want to move from a first floor to a second floor because of the noise factor.

Colleen F. · Answer

I never thought about the heat aspect.  I don't like the middle unit but it is good to think about selling points for those units you don't like yourself.

Giovanni Isaksen · Answer

@Colleen F. plus with an upper unit you have warm floors that someone else is paying to heat!

Patrick L. · Answer

You can sell that one on lower heating/cooling costs.

It's all personal preference for the tenants and some don't care and others really want the privacy of being off the ground floor and others hate going up and down stairs, especially older people or really large people. I don't discount anything and it's just a matter of finding the tenant that wants what you have.

Daniel R. · Answer

agreed

Daniel R. · Answer

Why not? If either way does not matter, logically, why should the middle one?

Which is it: upstairs vs. ground floor means a discount?

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