3rd floor flat, no lift. Too high?

Fraise

The problem with having lots of stairs to climb, is that you don't know what's round the corner. Even young people can become ill or infirm, and most older people tend to find stairs a problem - hence why they opt for bungalows. Besides things like arthritis and general stiffness, people can get weak and suffer chest/heart complaints leaving them breathless etc, so I think it could be a real turn off.

You also have the problem of carrying your shopping up flights of stairs, not to mention getting new furniture up and down...taking down the rubbish....

Becky_Boo

I used to live in a 3rd floor flat with no lift and I have to say, you just get used to it. Perhaps not for a 'forever home' as I imagine it would be difficult for families with pushchairs etc but for physically able people it's not really a problem. It certainly keeps you fit! I now live in a 3rd floor flat with a lift and to be honest I hardly ever use it.

Also, given the choice I'd prefer to climb 3 flights of stairs - than to have noisy neighbours above me!

jessbailey

For walk ups, 1st floor is the premium floor.
3rd floor will reduce the resale value and more importantly: it will take longer to sell.
1. Yes viewers are put off, especially if they visit in the evening, when they are more tired (morning viewings are best!)
2. Limits you to selling to those with children above 5 and those who aren't looking to have kids
3. Caps the maximum age of potential buyers
Benefits:
No noise from above! However, be wary of a flat roof above.. if it leaks, you get the worst deal.

Fraise

Top floor will have no noise from above, but you may still hear noise from below or next door (music, shouting etc), that's providing there's no soundproofing etc. Anyway, most flats nowadays have strict regulations about noise from above, so all owners/landlords must either have soundproofing or impact underlay and carpet to absorb noise from footsteps etc.

Some people can get worried about fire safety and escaping if up on the top floor, although that's an issue whether you have a lift or not I suppose.

I do know someone who bought a 3rd floor flat and their neighbours below cooked curry every night of the week, and as cooking smells tend to rise they could never open their windows in the summer.

I think young families wold be put off (lugging pushchairs up and down stairs), and people who are middle-aged and thinking about the stairs when they're elderly. Plus, the infirm and unfit.

Three flights of stairs with no lift will limit the number of people who would be interested in a flat

19lottie82

I love in Glasgow where 3 storey blocks with no lifts are the norm. I live on the third floor and its not a problem. Its a bit of a PITA carrying your supermarket shop up alone but you soon get used to it!

Kayalana99

19lottie82 wrote: »

I love in Glasgow where 3 storey blocks with no lifts are the norm. I live on the third floor and its not a problem. Its a bit of a PITA carrying your supermarket shop up alone but you soon get used to it!

I take the two comments from people who have lived in a 3 storey apartment were single?

I think it basicly as people has said - rules out couples who want kids, couples who have kids, older generation.

So basicly you have singles probally under about 40/50 - a highly limited market but still sellable.

That said, is it already priced to reflect on this anyway?

Personally I wouldn't buy it even if I was a single, but Id be to lazy to carry shopping/rubbish. Lift would be a must have.

silvercar

That said, is it already priced to reflect on this anyway?

It isn't at the moment, it is priced slightly higher than those that sold on floors 1 and 2 (it has a small south facing balcony), but it is the last in the block to sell, so some negotiation must be possible.

lostinrates

Fraise wrote: »

The problem with having lots of stairs to climb, is that you don't know what's round the corner. Even young people can become ill or infirm, and most older people tend to find stairs a problem - hence why they opt for bungalows. Besides things like arthritis and general stiffness, people can get weak and suffer chest/heart complaints leaving them breathless etc, so I think it could be a real turn off.

You also have the problem of carrying your shopping up flights of stairs, not to mention getting new furniture up and down...taking down the rubbish....

Tescos used to bring all the rubbish up for me, and a small carrier bags of rubbish can be taken down onto her trips, not dedicated ones.

In some cases care can provide them.

I absolutely agree none of us know what's coming.

I actually think those stairs were a big part of what helped me get a lot better.

LondonDreamer

I'd be most worried about resale, since it will be a limited market as others have mentioned. But another practical thing to keep in mind is deliveries. I lived in a second floor flat with no lift a few years ago and while it never bothered me, I got no end of complaints from delivery men because of the stairs. Particularly as it was a new build, they all assumed there would be a lift.

rs65

Becky_Boo wrote: »

I used to live in a 3rd floor flat with no lift and I have to say, you just get used to it.

We (couple with no kids) used to live in a 3rd floor flat - 66 steps. Moved to a house with 2 steps from the driveway into the house. I used to be a lot slimmer when I lived there.

Supermarket deliveries were a godsend although we were never popular with any delivery drivers.