Location? Check. Project development? Check. Apartment floor? Hmm.

Whether choosing between two resale apartment units or selecting the best, available unit - many property buyers and investors face a dilemma deciding whether to aim high or go low - in terms of high or low floor apartments, of course.

To set the record straight, we consider low floor apartments to form the bottom half of any housing block, and high floor apartments to constitute the upper half. Say, in a block of twelve floors, low floors range from floor one to six, and high floors from seven to twelve.

In this article, we highlight the pros and cons of living in high or low floor apartments to help you make an informed decision when choosing between the two.

High Floor or Low Floor Units: Pros & Cons

High-floor units tend to command higher premiums, but low-floor units tend to offer greater accessibility. Below, we explore some important considerations to look at when considering which level to live on:

1) Price

Units located on higher floors offer perks like better views, fresher air, and reduced noise levels. However, they also tend to come with higher prices!

As a broad guide, homebuyers can expect to pay a premium of 0.3% to 0.5% per floor level for private, non-landed residential properties in Singapore.

Viewed from this perspective, which apartment floor to live on will clearly depend on the amount of money you are willing to fork out for your new home.

2) Noise

If you enjoy living in a lively environment, low-floor apartments will certainly offer you some of that action, be it peals of laughter from the children’s playground, the humdrum of nearby traffic or twittering from birds.

On the contrary, high-floor apartments, elevated from the hustle and bustle below offer greater privacy, and a more serene and peaceful home experience.

Which floor to live on then, will depend on your preferred lifestyle and tolerance towards noise.

3) Accessibility

When it comes to lift breakdowns, it’s almost always a matter of not if, but when. Given these conditions, residents living on lower-floors need not worry as much in the event of a lift malfunction or when it goes under maintenance.

In particular, those with mobility issues or physical disabilities might want to opt for a lower floor unit as it allows them to evacuate quicker and through a smoother process during emergencies.

Meanwhile, for high-floor residents, moving to safety in the event of an emergency can pose a greater challenge, especially when lifts are affected and are not to be used.

4) Cleanliness

Mosquitoes, cockroaches, lizards and rodents. Low-floors residents can experience more brushes with vermin due to closer proximity to ground floors or nearby green features. In addition, as communal rubbish chutes accumulate junk on the ground floor, a growing pile of trash naturally attracts pests, which can lead to secondary infestations in one’s home. Help!

In summary, there are several factors to consider when choosing the ideal floor for your dream home. Some factors are unique, while others have been examined in this article.

What is most important is that you make a balanced decision between these factors to find a best floor-fit to suit you and your family’s needs. Hope we shed some light on whether you should aim high or go low when picking the right apartment floor and - happy house-hunting!