Up the Down Staircase: Choosing Between Upper and Lower Apartments

This article originally appeared on the Springs "You're Home Blog."

Upstairs, Downstairs was a popular British "soap opera" broadcast by PBS during the 1970s. It's also an important question that needs to be answered when you're choosing one of our Springs luxury apartment homes.

Having trouble deciding? Here are six factors related to apartment living and how they apply to ground level and upper floors. 

1. Noise

• In general, residents of ground floor apartments experience a bit more noise since they're on the same level as pedestrians and vehicles. One advantage to our Springs apartment homes is that each one has a private entry so no one has to hear their neighbors coming and going.
• Since noise tends to "flow" downward, ground floor residents don't have to be as cautious about disturbing neighbors, so if you like to rearrange furniture or do fitness DVDs, steer clear of the second floor. Of course, the flip side is that you may have to put up with upstairs neighbors who are less than considerate.

2. Security 

Community security is a priority with our Springs management teams, but if you're living on the ground floor, you do need to take additional safety precautions such as keeping your windows closed at night or while you're away. 

3. Convenience

This may be the biggest distinction between ground and upper floors. If you have a dog, carry a lot of packages and other items in and out or simply have limited mobility, you're probably better off on the lower level.

4. Privacy

While our private entries eliminate the annoyance of neighbors passing by, you may still feel like you're on display if you live in a ground floor apartment. When you're on the second floor, you don't have to worry about passers-by sneaking a peek inside your windows. 

5. Ambiance

In addition to providing a greater measure of privacy, being on the second floor sometimes offers a nicer view since there's less to detract from the scenery. 

6. Electric Bills

This one is more or less a split decision. Hot air rises, which means the ground floor is harder to heat in the winter while the second floor is harder to cool in the summer.

Have we covered all your concerns? If not, a friendly member of our Springs on-site management team will be happy to discuss any questions you may have.

Are you an upstairs or downstairs fan? Let us know in the comments!