Apartment dwellers.. Is 3rd floor a problem? (apartment complexes, tenant, carpet)

[wannabeaTexan]

Sometimes I look at the ceiling and wonder if there's an elephant stampede or something going on, but it doesn't happen very often. It doesn't really bug me...I would pick that over all the stairs leading up to a 3rd floor unit, but I'm lazy sometimes.

I personally think that with all the decisions that come with moving to a new apt, choosing the second or third floor is not that big of a deal. I'd be more worried about how many shared walls I have.

[suzeeq521]

I live on the third floor. Technically.

In hilly western Pennsylvania, you aren't always the same number of floors from the ground in the front of a building as you are in the back (because the buildings are built into the hills.)

So, by definition, I'm on the third floor. And I go up two flights of stairs to get there, from the front door. But if I use the back door - I enter the building on the second floor and go up only one flight to get to my place.

Average day - come in the front. Grocery day - sure do come in the back.

This is a very old building and I really like the way it was built. It has 10 units (all second or third floor - empty retail space on the first) and yet there is not one instance of shared walls between any of the apartments. There are "cut-outs" between the apartments, so I actually have windows on all four sides of my apartment - they might face across to another apartment, but they do let in light and air.

[nlblueyes]

I currently live in a 3rd floor apartment -- there is about 30-35 steps between my door and the ground. It is truly a pain when moving and with groceries, cases of bottled water or firewood for my fireplace. however, I have always lived on the first floor before and it is a wonderful experience not to hear people above me. As with another poster, I have vaulted ceilings and the stairwell can be stifling hot during the summer as there is no ventilation in the stairwell. BUT I love the 3rd floor as it is more private and I can leave my windows open when I leave the house. It is quieter, more secure, more private, and encourages more exercise

[lovethegreen]

Oh Victoria please reconsider! In the beginning of my rental life I just happened to live on top floors, and I never comprehended what it truly meant to live under someone. It can be very, very bad. Now if your building is very well built and the people above you are light footed it might not be that bad, but those are both "ifs" that will not be answered for you until it is too late. Consider that in my current second floor apartment I actually hear my upstairs neighbors peeing in their toilet - no I am not exaggerating. I hear every footstep, and I hear conversations and all the rest if they occur near the plumbing. You may think it's not so bad, for a day, for a week, if they are nice folks, but after a while....well you get the idea. I would go back and choose third floor any day and I'm not even that athletic.

[Eastern Roamer]

I rented a condo on the third floor and there was a company that collected trash nightly from a bin by the door. Hauling things up and down was sometimes a hassle, but I'm able-bodied and the exercise didn't hurt.
The trash pick-up service was wonderful, though.

[suzeeq521]

Actually, even being on the third floor, I can occasionally hear my downstairs neighbor. Like OntheGreen said, near the plumbing. Actually, in my case, only if I'm in my bathroom the same time he is in his bathroom. I'm sure he hears me too.

In the case of sound traveling through plumbing, it seems the sound goes both ways.

[censusdata]

I prefer the basement because it's cooler and has less steps to go up

[littlelou]

OOOOOOH go for the third....I too lived on the first floor and never again will I live where someone is above me. I had a "Corporate apartment" above me on the 2nd floor and it was empty for 14 months....they never used it!! BUT I could hear the punks on 3 all day and night, of course they were the neighbors from Hell. trash, cigarette butts, beer cans, etc. But I could also hear everything they did. When someone did move into the second floor apt. the boys were gone quickly, between me and them complaining, they finally refused to renew their lease.

Back on subject, when I left that complex, I moved into a 3rd floor and LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!! The trips up the stairs with groceries, cat litter and down with trash can be a hassle. I haven't noticed any drastic heat problems in the summer, but noticed I don't have to set the heat as high as I did at the first floor apt. the luxury of no one above me is wonderful and I've spoken to both my downstairs neighbors (recently moved in) and they say they can't hear anything "unusual" I apologize to both of them, the 30 lbs of cats running over their heads during "night crazy" times drive me crazy. It's sooooo quiet up here.

the best bet is to talk to people who live in the buildings....they know!

[sonarrat]

Originally Posted by suzeeq521

Actually, even being on the third floor, I can occasionally hear my downstairs neighbor. Like OntheGreen said, near the plumbing. Actually, in my case, only if I'm in my bathroom the same time he is in his bathroom. I'm sure he hears me too.

In the case of sound traveling through plumbing, it seems the sound goes both ways.

My downstairs neighbors are OBNOXIOUS. I know whenever they do anything. They have the only unit on the first floor (a 2-bedroom), and they take it as license to do whatever the hell they want. I'm actually moving TO a ground-floor apartment somewhere else to get away from the noise! (How do I know it won't be noisy? The landlady lives on site and she's tough..)

[recycled]

I live on a second floor. I carry my bicycle up and down the stairs several times a day, it would be a bigger hassle from a third floor. The apartments above and below me insulate my place from temperature swings outside. I almost never use heat or AC, although the mild weather in southern cal helps in that department too.
Before moving to an apt that has a unit above, find out how soundproof it is. Go into the second floor unit while there are people above in the 3rd floor unit and see if you notice people walking around. I rarely hear any noise at all from the 3rd floor above me, but every place will be different.