Ground Floor Flats?

happy_2008

Hi all
Just wondered if ground floor flats are harder to sell? Looked at a property over the weekend which was ground floor but we was just wondering if ground floor flats are harder to sell then others?

Also, the flats is completely electrical which would affect the resale value right? Tbh I'm not the biggest fan of these storage heaters

Peterxxxx

does it have a garden? If so, probably easier to sell, I would think. If not, depends -- some people don't like stairs, others don't like noise and so prefer top floor and some might think that ground floor is less secure. I always think something in the middle is probably hardest to sell, though in some mansion house flats they have the grandest rooms.

Slinky

Depends very much on the block. We just sold one on the top floor of a 3 (2 floors and ground floor) storey block, with 20 other flats in the same building. Would not have bought on the ground floor as too much noise with 20 other occupiers going through the outer doors. Plus tend to think ground floor is easier to break into (ours wasn't always occupied so this was a major consideration). However if it is a ground floor flat in a 2 storey building with only 2 flats in total, plus the ground floor flat has a garden, it's a very different proposition.

Too hard to generalise really without knowing a bit more about the rest of the building.

Eenymeeny

A landlord told me that he only looks at ground floor flats (if buying to rent) Less problems for people with children, buggies, shopping etc or older people with limited mobility.

bristol_pilot

I've owned and rented several ground floor flats without issues. I don't think that would be a problem re-selling. But all-electric flats with storage heaters - I'd never have one of those again. Definitely detracts from the value, but presumably reflected in the price you pay in the first place.

happy_2008

Yeah I really dislike those electric storage heaters! Expensive to run and really ugly!

termie

Hi
you could put in an electric boiler with central heating. We have this and it doesn't cost too much compared to people i know who have electric and gas. i don't know if this would make a difference to resale value though.

hazyjo

There are rules and regs about gas in flats - don't know the ins and outs, but if you're looking at flats in blocks, it's unlikely any will have gas. As mentioned, you can have an electric boiler with central heating - or there are other options these days, although usually expensive to install (underfloor heating, skirting board heaters, etc - not sure if any use gas. Not a gas expert!).

It is mainly the security issue with ground floor flats that make them less desirable and, as mentioned, you'll get all the noise from the stairs/doors, or even the car park if there's one outside.

Jx

LilacPixie

hazyjo wrote: »

There are rules and regs about gas in flats - don't know the ins and outs, but if you're looking at flats in blocks, it's unlikely any will have gas. As mentioned, you can have an electric boiler with central heating - or there are other options these days, although usually expensive to install (underfloor heating, skirting board heaters, etc - not sure if any use gas. Not a gas expert!).

It is mainly the security issue with ground floor flats that make them less desirable and, as mentioned, you'll get all the noise from the stairs/doors, or even the car park if there's one outside.

Jx

weird i live in a block of 6 and all flats have gas in the building.

Personally I would not buy a ground floor flat based on my evperience of this building and my own perceptions. Ground floor here is smaller as they have the main foyer, access to rear etc. Windows literally on street level, we are a quiet road but still a fair amount of passing foot traffic literally inches from windows, possibly same for traffic noise?? all visitors to other flats in building pass the front door, post man/parcel force seems to like to delivery all packaged for the building to ground floor resident even although apper floor residents are in to avoid the walk up stairs. noise from above.

dizziblonde

I rejected places outright with storage heaters - just a personal prejudiced based on having to live with the world's worst ones in the past! (Knew we wouldn't have the money to get them replaced if we bought the place)

hazyjo

LilacPixie wrote: »

weird i live in a block of 6 and all flats have gas in the building.

It depends on the size and age of the block. If the block's all electric (as stated), the chances are it's bigger or of a different age to yours and gas wouldn't be allowed.

Jx