What's The Stigma Against 1st Floor Apartments?

>Any suggestions?

Make reference to ADA compliance
Call it perfect place for the elderly
Lower the price

Is your outdoor space private? Is it quiet? what was the flooding situation during Sandy? Rodents? Bugs? Is it in Columbia County?

I live on the 1st floor, don't have an outdoor space but I love it as well. My prior apt was a top floor apt and got really hot in the summer. 1st floor apts don't get as hot, you can make all the noise on your floors and not have carpet, no elevator. As long as it's not facing a noisy street I don't think you can beat 1st floor. So much easier and faster to come and go, especially with bags.

I would say safety and privacy are the two biggest detriments.

Some people are afraid of the street noise and possibility of the apartment being very dark.

If it's any consolation, I was selling an apartment on a low floor of a 30 story building and ran into the same problem. A lot of people were interested based upon the photos of the apartment. They turned up their noses when they found out it was numbered as being on the 6th floor.

It was really on the 8th floor of the building and was on a the apex of a hill just before a sharp drop to the avenue below with only 3 low brownstones all around. You felt as if you could see forever and the view was very nice.

The bottom line was that I found someone who didn't like being on a high floor, just like me.

We've lived high in a modern high rise and now live on the first floor. Both are great for different reasons. We do love our first floor, but living high up is addicting. We used to stop what we were doing sometimes just to watch the sun set over the river and the bridges, and watch the city light up. But rent was too high ;)

First floor is much more house like and since many buyers grew up in one family houses, that might be worth a mention. Definitely helpful when hauling groceries and such.

If privacy is a daytime problem, tell buyers you can install solar film that makes your glass into a one way mirror during the day. We have it and it's fantastic.

Also, some people think vermin are worse on the first floor. But our co-op building in Manhattan had a serious roach problem on our floor, 9th floor, owing to neighbors who were very dirty. I never saw a live roach in our place by neighbors on both sides of us were complaining about roaches climbing their walls.

The point being, vermin can go to any floor. People may feel inhibited to ask about this, so make it easy and tell them you have no pest problems.

Mostly they are trying to get you to lower your price. In this market, since you posted 4 weeks ago, you've probably got an accepted offer already.

When showing the apartment, it is important to do all you can to counter the concerns listed above that most buyers will have. I love the idea of emphasizing in the listings the easy accessibility without the need to negotiate any steps if that is true. Make the apartment as bright as possible when showing it. Keep the lights on; if view isn't nice, invest in a translucent shade rather than block the light with a curtain, etc. If building trash is kept no where near your unit, be sure the broker's point how quiet the apartment is away from the hubbub including being far from the super's daily chores. In sum, think creatively about counter-ing the preconceived negatives potential buyers are expressing.

It is truly amusing how this issue can be a big deal in NYC, but then you go to a place like C0lumbia C0unty, and the 1st floor is the place you want to be. Imagine having a 2nd floor barn, getting the pigs and cows and sheep and chickens in at night with you and your spouse... what a pain!

fieldschester: You are ultra fab. LOL..............