Apartments near the elevator raise many concerns. But why?
7:01 PM EDT, October 14, 2023
There comes a time in most of our lives when we plan to buy our own apartment. Then a lot of doubts arise. The number and size of rooms or the choice of district are just some of them. What about the case of premises near the elevator?
When planning an investment in your own apartment, there are a myriad of issues to consider. It's not just about the budget and the property's square footage, but also the distance to schools and shops. Doubts are also raised about certain floors and premises located near the elevator.
Her sounds can wake you up at night and annoy you during the day. On the other hand, such apartments can sometimes be cheaper. So is it worth deciding on a property right next to the elevator shaft?
Apartments next to the elevator raise doubts among potential buyers
In case of some properties, being situated near a ventilation shaft can indeed entail some inconveniences. This is primarily visible in the case of apartments in the secondary market.
Buildings from the 70s or 80s are considered those in which outdated technologies were used, also in the context of elevator construction.
Older elevators can still generate annoying sounds, like the characteristic grinding, squeaking, and slamming of doors - complain participants of online discussions. If you're considering buying an apartment in an older building where the elevator hasn't been modernized, you'll have to deal with certain inconveniences. Noise isn't just a result of the technical condition of the elevator itself, but also the lack of proper sound insulation in the building.
So, before you decide to buy a second-hand apartment, it's worth making sure that the elevator has been modernized. If the current residents are struggling with a noisy elevator, it might be worth getting in touch with the building manager to find out if a renovation is planned in the near future.
The elevator in the new construction has one downside
In the case of new buildings, apartments located near the elevator should not be a cause for concern. These types of properties are built to different standards, using modern technologies that provide maximum soundproofing of the elevator shaft. As a result, you won't hear doors opening and closing, or loud braking.
Potential concerns are, however, the loud voice messages, announcing the specified floor. They are not, however, used in all elevators, and therefore it's worth keeping this in mind when choosing an apartment. It's worth remembering that residents may suggest to the manager to turn off these announcements.
Remember that everything depends on the construction of the building and the renovation of the elevator. Keep in mind that a lot of potential clients are worried about loud noises that could wake them up at night, so apartments near the elevator shaft can be harder to sell.
Therefore, it is important to check if the building has additional sound insulation. It happens that the living area is separated from the staircase and elevator by fire doors, which provide an additional sound barrier.