pre-war vs. post-war

Prewar +ves:
1) Architecture - internal & external details
2) Thicker walls
3) Higher ceilings
4) Larger rooms
5) You will often feel that you are in a much larger space because of the design
6) Depending on the building, when it was declared a co-op, etc., you may end up paying lower mtce vs cc+taxes in
a prewar apt.

Prewar -ves:
1) Outdated layouts - it can be a struggle to figure out what to do with an inconveniently located small maid's room
2) In some buildings, lack of a master bathroom
3) Plaster & lathe construction, which requires skilled craftsmen to repair properly
4) A/C placement - may be hard to install central or thru-wall A/C (not a fan of thru-wall, btw, destroys bldg's facade)
5) Restrictions on W/D installation

With pre-wars you also have to take into account that there will most likely be a lot more large repair projects (Local Law 11, pipes, boilers, etc).

When talking about HiRises, I find the the post war buildings have better sound isolation up and down, but worse side to side.

tired of prewar post war analysis...Move to Iraq!
no pre...no post just war!!!

Lots of 'fixer-uppers' for sale
High ceilings you ask? how about no ceilings at all.
Not sure if you would like it?
Spend the day in Williamsburg, stroll around, have lunch...that should give you an idea.

Postwars generally have bigger windows = more light, better crannies if you're stuffing too many people into too small a space, and better closets. Prewars are generally better built -- which means better, often prettier, detailing, and they can be much, much quieter. They're more gracious to live in if you're not cramming for space. Floors are often not flat. The bathrooms are often en-suite to the bedrooms.

ali r.
{downtown broker}

We're talking in a vacuum here. Some pre-wars are quieter than post-wars, some are not (I'm actually living in a post-war now that is much quieter than the pre-war I used to live in). Some post-wars have bigger windows, some do not. The only generally universal truism is that the aesthetic of pre-wars and post-wars are clearly different. Which aesthetic is "better" is entirely subjective. Though I prefer a pre-war aesthetic (generally), I also think it is on the bottom of my list in terms of things to consider when buying an apartment. What's the value of the aesthetic of the outside of your building when your sitting in your living room?

I vote for pre-war & the aesthetics are VERY important to me; to each his own.

Not all pre-war buildings are created equal. Remember, a lot of walk-up tenements are"pre-war" and they don't have those huge rooms, beautiful details, etc. of the Fifth Avenue, Park Avenue, Central Park West buildings that most people think of as "pre-war". Other pre-wars only have that to boast about - the rooms are small, closet space almost non-existent, often too few bathrooms for the number of bedrooms,a/c difficult.

Prewars have hallways. In postwars, they try to make every sq inch count, so you go directly from one room into another. That's why prewars feel graceful; there's a hallway to the bedrooms, so it's a separate, private space.

ppj - I would think location of the building and location of the actual unit are the most important factors when considering noise level. Unless you're more considered about noise from within the building...then it may just be case by case.

sorry, should say "unless you're more concerned...."

"With pre-wars you also have to take into account that there will most likely be a lot more large repair projects (Local Law 11, pipes, boilers, etc)."

Tell that to 77 7th Ave.