Pros and cons of an apartment on the ground floor

pros

Let's start by looking at all the possible benefits.

Convenience

Residents of the first floors do not know the problems with the elevator - they simply do not need it. it great option for a family with children: the child can go for a walk and play near the house - he will be visible from the window.

And if the baby still does not know how to move independently, it is much more comfortable and safer for a mother with a stroller to go out into the street without using the elevator and without overcoming several flights of stairs. Also, life downstairs is convenient solution for the elderly and people with disabilities.

• Inhabitants of the first floors save on delivery of large furniture or building materials: often getting to the apartment with the help of loaders is free, and independent - does not cause difficulties.
• If the furniture does not fit through the door, it can be brought in through the window.
• If the key is lost or a dangerous situation arises, the window opening can be used instead of the door.

Heating and water supply

Residents of the lower floors receive better utilities: they have stronger water pressure and warmer batteries... It's all about pressure - up to the apartments located upstairs, hot water flows worse, since in most apartment buildings the distribution of water to the batteries occurs from the bottom up.

House territory

Another nice plus of the apartment on the ground floor is the illusion of living in a cozy country house... If neat low shrubs, a lawn and a few trees are located next to the windows, there is a feeling of closeness to nature. The adjoining territory can be ennobled independently - this is especially appreciated by lovers of "tinkering in the ground".

A car parked under the window will always be under supervision, and if it interferes with someone, get dressed quickly and rearrange it will not take much time.

Price

Due to stereotypes about the "illiquidity" of the first floor, apartments on them are 10-15% cheaper, which means that you can save on the purchase of housing. Properties on the more popular middle floors are more expensive.

If you successfully choose an apartment with high traffic in a new area, then it can be sold at a higher price. It will be possible to make money if the infrastructure is not developed, and the object is of interest as a commercial space.

Neighbors

Another plus of the first floor - lack of neighbors from below. If flooding occurs, you won't have to pay for expensive repairs and new furniture. Also, no one will complain about the rumble from the legs of the chairs, stamping and noise: this is especially true for families with small children.

Redevelopment opportunities

The big advantage of the first floor is that there are no residential apartments downstairs, which means that the law provides for the transfer of wet areas to more convenient places. For example, if the kitchen is equipped with an electric stove, it can be arranged in a living room.

If desired, the residents of the first floor can refuse gasification altogether. Moving or expanding bathrooms also does not require taking into account the location of the premises from the bottom.

To disconnect an apartment from gas, you need to contact your gas inspector, and in order to obtain permission for redevelopment - to a specialized organization that has a license to carry out design work.

Minuses

Apart from the advantages, living quarters on the ground floor have significant disadvantages.

Damp and cold floor

An apartment close to the ground and basement can be too damp in summer, which can lead to mold. In winter, such an arrangement threatens with cold floors, so people with reduced immunity and lung diseases should not settle on the lower floor.

However, in many new buildings, these problems are already resolved - the apartments on the first floors are located higher than usual, and the communications in the basement are more modern and are repaired much faster. In other cases, high humidity can be eliminated - major repairs and floor insulation will be required.

In the event of a blockage in the sewage system, there is a risk of flooding by drains. Sometimes the proximity to the basement threatens rats and cockroaches - this is especially true for houses with garbage chutes.

The threat of robbery

Most often, criminals are targeting apartments, which are the easiest to get to. The lower floor is ideal for this. To protect themselves from burglars, residents have to take a set of measures:

• Installing strong doors and windows that take longer to open.
• Installation of grilles (unsafe option in case of fire) or roller shutters.
• The use of armored films on the glass - so it is more difficult to break them.
• Installation of alarm and video surveillance.
• Imitation of presence in the apartment using a smartphone and smart sockets, including electrical appliances.

Lack of privacy

If the apartment is located in a courtyard, a crowded place deprives its owner of privacy. On the lower floors, you can better hear the children walking on the playground, noisy neighbors during their gatherings under the window, the sounds of passing cars.

Disadvantages are leveled if the area is quiet and not crowded, but this depends only on the coincidence of circumstances. If the apartment is located near the driveway, the sounds of the intercom are added, and the proximity to the parking lot threatens with the smell of gasoline. The situation can be partially corrected by installing high-quality double-glazed windows and the correct entrance door, as well as installing sound insulation on the walls.

You can protect yourself from the looks of curious passers-by tulle curtains, mirror or frosted films on windows and even special electrochromic glasses, which at the right time become transparent or tinted.

Little light

If the windows of an apartment located on the ground floor are adjacent to dense bushes and trees, the living space does not receive enough natural light. In this case an application should be sent to the management company, which will resolve the issue with the city administration.

If the arriving specialist confirms that the light does not enter the room according to the standards, some of the branches will be cut off and the apartment will become lighter. Otherwise, high-quality artificial lighting should be provided.

conclusions

The times when apartments on the first floors were considered unfavorable are gradually fading into the past. There will never be an unequivocal opinion (positive or negative), since each of the future owners has their own preferences. Most of the problems that arise when buying a home on the ground floor can be solved.

Whether or not to buy an apartment on the ground floor is decided individually in each case. In order not to regret your choice, it is worth determining in advance which drawbacks you can put up with, and which will require special costs or refusal to purchase.