Choosing The Right Floor In A High-Rise: Top 10 Factors To Consider

Many times a buyer is confused as to which floor is the best for home. Most of India's cities are now growing vertically, as the population in cities is rising and the space to accommodate the growing number remains limited. So, real estate developers in India are developing high-rise projects, both in luxury and affordable categories, to reach out to a large number of home buyers across different income groups. 

 One of the world's tallest residential tower 'World One'. (TheWorldTowers.com)

So, if you are a home buyer and want to know which floor to choose and buy in a high-rise residential apartment project or the best floor to live, read on.

High or low, each floor has its own advantages and disadvantages. Before you make a decision, weigh all the factors involved and decide what suits your lifestyle better.

PropGuide lists some factors to assist you in your home-buying experience:

View: Obviously, higher floors offer a better view, especially if the tower is located close to a scenic place. If this is important for you, go for higher floors.

Top floor view from Keerthi Gardenia, Bengaluru. (Wikimedia)

Rental returns: Property surveys have proved that lower floors command better rental returns, as Indians generally have an affinity for staying closer to the ground. If you are buying a property for an investment purpose, the ground floor is the best floor in high rise building for you. People, especially in Mumbai and Bengaluru, prefer upper floors, while buyers in the Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR) and Chennai prefer ground floors. Climatic differences could be cited as a reason the difference in choice. For more information on property in Mumbai and Bengaluru, click here and here.

Privacy: In congested areas, however, living on the lower floors might not offer much privacy. If you love solitude and wish to avoid any kind of unwanted intrusion, a higher floor might be better for you.

Noise: Many home buyers prefer higher floors to minimise street noise or to avoid the noise coming from other occupants walking through the common passage. However, if the ground floor flat is not located in the common hallway and is also far from the elevators, staircase or clubhouse, then the noise would not be an issue for you at all.

Energy consumption: Power consumption increases as you go higher. It is so because you need to run your air-conditioners (ACs) for a longer time during summers. Also, drawing water using motor pumps could be another heavy power consumption task.

Security: Ground floors pose a comparatively increased crime risk, as it is easier for anti-social elements to break into lower or sub-level apartments. Overall, it also depends on the structure of your high-rise and the security measures adopted by the management of your residential society.

Also Read: Should You Buy In Highrises Overlooking Slums?

Access: For most of us, waiting for the elevator can be time-consuming. Choose to live on the ground floor or sub-floors, so you can comfortably take the stairs.

Family consideration: With children and elderly parents around, it is always good if your home is on a lower floor. Apart from the safety point, it also adds to the convenience factor. In addition to this, if you or someone in your family suffers from mobility impairment or has the fear of height, you should prefer living closer to the ground.

Light and ventilation: Apartments on the ground floor have comparatively limited light and ventilation when compared to the upper ones. Not only this, upper floors don't face mosquito intrusion as well.

Water seepage: It is observed that generally the top floor and the ground floor suffer from water seepage and drainage issues. It also depends upon the drainage and sanitary mechanism of the residential complex.

We hope these tips will help you make the right choice.