Are nice walk ups worth it?

YES - you totally get used to the stairs. We're in a 2nd floor walk up and I don't think twice about the stairs. It becomes second nature. Though, I wouldn't recommend if you plan on having children soon. It's also hard on company (older parents, etc) when they come to visit.

3rd or 4th floor may be different, but I suspect you would adjust quickly.

Groceries, luggage - haven't had a problem with them. You can get a good deal on walk-ups if you don't mind the stairs.

plus, maybe you could keep bike in the basement.

My first wife and I lived in the top two floors of a brownstone in Chelsea and raised two children there. We traveled quite a bit and I also love to cook,the stairs were never an issue for us. But it is not for everyone just as living in a brownstone isn't. I have moved many people out of walk ups that swore they would never do it again. I once read somewhere that people who live in walk ups have a longer life span, like golfers. No I don't use that line on my clients. :)

I'm in a 4th flr walkup... its only a pain if the laundry is downstairs and if you forget something.. might also depend on the type of stairs... a straight up stairs vs a cornered stairs would feel worse, even though the height is the same

I personally wouldn't buy a walk up unless it was the top floor and the light was glorious with some view..

OnTheMove,
sorry to spoil the party - do you like mice/rats?

btw the first red signal should be if it says "charming" walk up. (the same if it says it has "character")

All: Thanks for the input. Here's a follow up question: Do delivery guys (restaurants, Fresh Direct) walk up the stairs to your apartment or are you expected to meet them downstairs?

projects_suck: Rats? On the 3rd or 4th floor? You kidding me? I am looking at renovated apartments in well-maintained, spotless brownstone/townhouse coops. More "stunning" than "charming". As to mice, since I am limiting myself to prewar buildings, this is always going to be a risk, but not one you can't minimize by plugging up every possible crevice that can serve as an entryway (ironically, the only apartment in which I did not encounter at least one mouse was a ground floor apartment in a brownstone on W. 80th).

delivery guys will go upstairs after u buzz them in (at least they used to 6-7y ago). For other, heavier deliveries, or movers - you will likely get charged more for each floor up.

ps:
rats will be down, near the garbage bins

The answer to the OP depends in part upon the purchaser. The younger and more able the purchaser, the more a walk-up could makes sense. If more than a single flight, you have to ask how much stuff you tend to carry in and out and are you up for it. What if you break a leg--will you be homebound (after being carried in from the hospital) or will your home be unaccessible? Are your friends and family who will visit able to handle the stairs? Do you have a dog and will a walk-up impact that? When reselling, there is a more limited pool of buyers, and you'll have to be careful about not overimproving the place since walk up studios and one-bedrooms are often starter apartments that people will only spend so much for. But location will matter a lot. A 6th fl. apt. in GV on Barrow or Commerce is going to attract so many people who desire classic Village charm that I wouldn't hesitate a moment. A 6th fl walk up on Avenue C in 15 unit old tenement building? Not for me.

Realize also that in townhouse/brownstone small coop, there are fewer people to spread risk and costs among. Be ready for sizable assessments for repairs and replacement of roof, furnace, sidewalk vault, facade work, public space maintenance/renovation. Be ready to have to take a role in building management if there are few others willing. And if one person defaults on maintenance, the coop legal fees will be divided among the small number of remaining shareholders. Just as there is less risk in a mutual fund than a particular stock because the risk is spread out, risk decreases generally as the number of shareholders in a coop increases. Townhouse coops are not for everyone.

Sorry, I did not make it clear that I am looking to rent (in the UWS, preferably 70s or 80s). The reason for mentioning that the buildings I am looking at are (generally) coops was to point out that I was not looking to rent from a slumlord who allows his buildings to become rat/mouse infested, but from owner-occupied buildings that have been proudly taken care of.

That said, one of the apartments I looked at today makes your point, kylewest. It is in a 4- or 5-unit building in which one unit has been on the market for over a year and the listing implies that the seller is getting desperate. What happens to the other shareholders when the seller can't pay maintenance? As a tenant I would not bear any of the risk, and if the building deteriorates I can always walk away. But the other shareholders have to contend with putting up an extra 25-30% maintenance if they want to keep the building going without dipping into their reserves.

And projects_suck, I see your point about rodents.

Thanks again.

we rent on the fifth/sixth floor of a townhouse in the low 80s. we loved the apt until our child was about 6 months (she is now 2 and we have another on the way). We loved the apt because of its location (right next to CentralPark) and the outdoor spaces we have (tree and sky surrounded terrace on fifth floor and 300 ft roof deck on sixth). I've lived there four years and my husband has been there for 14 years. And yes I walked up the stairs pregnant. For me it was no problem except in last month, but everyone eyes seems to pop when you say it. I feel like a ran a marathon or something not just walked up a couple flights.

My point is though that it was really great for the perks we got (charming apt, outdoor space, location) before kids, but not after really. Now we are moving in the next few months. We also have a house in the country for last 3 plus years where we go weekends so this could have made it more tolerable for us. Also my husband is the type of person who will go up an down the stairs five times a day without blinking an eye and come downstairs to help with groceries etc, so maybe if I had a not so supportive hubby i would not have been so content.

Also, we get delivery everyday (you save so much on rent this is no expense at at all) Not once in 14 years has my husband had a refusal of delivery. We always tip well though.

Good luck in your search......

Wow, Misha, that's impressive! I'll never complain about 2 flights of stairs with a baby again ;)