Should I Do This?

dusty said:
I have always lived in nice homes. Never an apt. I am cramped too. The worry about the third floor is that I will be away from things. I mean, nobody goes to the third floor unless they need to. Any I won't be able to see the flowers under my window like I can now.
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How long have you been living there? Maybe you got used to it. Nice neighbours? How about the new place?
 

New place sounds like an improvement to me. Mail accessibility is relatively unimportant compared to all the other things you mentioned. T he only thing that would make a big difference to me is the surroundings, like one of them having a much better view, but it sounds like the outside surroundings are pretty similar in both. And you don't have a pet and don't plan to get one. I'd advise getting the new one. It sounds a lot better.

One other factor: as we get older, moving gets harder and harder. Think about putting off all the hard physical work until you are 10 years older.
If you feel the desire to move, do it now.
 
hollydolly said:
I would take the 3rd floor... all the postives you mentioned.. as well as an elevator.... and IMO... there's a much better view from a higher position...

In fact it's what I'm hoping that I;ll get myself before too long....
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Better the 3rd floor than the 1st. I had a flat on the campus as a student on the 1st floor, directly next to the elevator. The patter of feet and the noise from the elevator lasted long after midnight.
 
For me, the central AC would be big as I like it very cool (60F) at night for sleeping. With central AC you generally can control how each room is cooled and for me I would have that AC running full blast in the bedroom. But that might not be such an issue for you.
 
Sounds to me like your only real concern is the 3rd floor issue.
The new place sounds much better by far and away! The only question the YOU must answer for yourself is whether the 3rd floor thing is a deal breaker or not.

For me it would be a no-brainer - the new place wins out!!
(Carpet in a kitchen o_O)
 
My vote is on the new place. If the maintenance is lagging on the old place, it's probably not going to improve soon.

I like the security of upper-floor apartments (as long as there is an elevator). You can keep your bedroom windows open at night safely. As someone said earlier, there's less traffic outside your door.

The only drawback to an elevator building is what if the elevator breaks and isn't available for use for a considerable period of time? Can you use the stairs if necessary or for an emergency?
 
Your request for practical opinions.

Quote
"I have been thinking of moving for the last few months and finally found a place I can accept."

It comes down to the reason you were looking to move.

Pro
New place has a big kitchen with a lot of counter space and outlets along the backsplash
new place has no carpeting which is a good thing
new place s 700 sq ft.
Affordable
elevator
close to The outer things like Instacart, housekeepers and pharmacy are all very close

Almost double the living spce that is affordable with a better view & less likely to have security problems due to being on 3rd. floor.

Seems like you have your answer.
 
Being Debbie Downer, the first thing I thought of is that in a multi-story building, you cannot use the elevator during a fire.

So, were I you (or anyone) I would not assume anything. I'd want to see the most recent fire inspection reports. You may have to contact the nearest fire department to the building.

The important thing, aside from the above, is that in case of an emergency, can you get down the stairs fairly quickly. Remember, in an emergency, people will literally knock one another down and walk or run over them. Think worst case scenario and be prepared for it.
 
dusty said:
I have put in work oeders for the old place re thekitchen as the drawes don't tight, and the floor is becoming slightly nlevel. I need a new vanity for the bath and I put in for it but they said I needed a DR oder which he sent but the office here claims they never got the faz...3 different times. I do not want to care for a pet any more, not fair to the pet.
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This would be one of the major deciding factors to move for me.
 
When we were first married, we rented an apartment on the middle floor in a block of 3. All went well for the first 3 months
then somebody in the apartment on the 3rd floor was up all night getting sick in the bathroom above our bedroom. Not a
pleasant sound also every time they went for a pee and the flushing was too much to take, we never renewed the lease and found a home instead.
 
For whatever it's worth, I live on the 5th floor, and have been happy here for over 10 years. I have a container garden on my enclosed porch, a little room which is kind of an extension of the living room, with a sliding glass door in between. My flowers are lovely, but I found that I couldn't grow vegetables in pots out there, because the porch is screened, and no insects were coming in to pollinate. I think the lack of insects is a much bigger plus than the lack of home-grown vegetables.

But there certainly is no lack of people. Any time I feel the need for company, I hop on the elevator and go down to the lobby or the patio in back. There's always someone to talk with. This is a very friendly building.

About the elevators, we have three. So there are usually 3 in service, definitely 2. In the event of a fire or other emergency, we would have to walk down, the same as in any other building with elevators. If you can't walk down from the third floor, the emergency workers (firemen, EMT's) would help you. Same is true of a medical emergency. But those events are fortunately so rare, or nonexistent, that I don't plan where I'm going to live around them. I'm more interested in the everyday pluses and minuses.

Does the new place feel homey and cheerful? Is it light enough, at least for part of the day? Is it reasonably quiet? (I once knew someone who bought a beautiful condo which turned out to be next door to a cafe which was popular with the biker crowd. Every night she had motorcycles roaring about 1 AM when the place closed!)

From what you've described, it sounds like moving would be an improvement in your quality of life.
 
dusty said:
no, and I hadn't thought of that. Good point,
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If that is a worry then there are kits you can buy that contain a ladder that you throw over the balcony wall and climb down.

As you say the building has an elevator, it must also have stairs, and if the elevator isn't working at least you can make your way down the stairs. Just make sure you keep a bright torch (flashlight) near the front door, and if you're really worried, keep a gas mask of some sort near it as well. That way if a fire does break out, you can don the mask, take the torch and make your way to the stairs to get down and out of the building safely.
 
Thanks to you all for the great insights and advice! First off, neither has a porch or balcony, old place faces south which is important to me for the sun. New place I don't know yet. The old place has leaking windows while the new place was just built last year. Brand new. I guess the third floor is the one thing holding me back.

More mulling to do.
 

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