By continuing you agree to eChinacities's Privacy Policy .
Sign up with Google
Sign up with Facebook
Q: Ideal floor and window direction for an apartment?
I still have a few months left on my current lease, but I'm already starting to think about moving to my next apartment. I was rushed into renting my current place, and it is just okay and not very sunny at all. I'd like to start early this time so I can maximize my apartment positioning with the next move. I would like to know what everyone thinks about the ideal floor and window direction for apartments, and any other conditions I should consider. Is it better to live closer to the ground (so you don't have to wait forever for an elevator) or higher up (better air? less bugs?). Thanks
I'd say higher up is better. Rats don't climb very well.
I generally think higher up is better: More light, more air moving etc. sadly it doesn't help very much on the noise.
Also, in very humid parts of the country, lower floors are more likely to get issues with water on floors and walls
I don't like west facing windows as it heats up the apartment in the evening. My girl friend says that north facing windows have warm floors in winter, I would think the reverse, or tat nothing keeps the floors warm in winter and thats in Guilin.
I like a higer floor in a building with an elevator. Western toilet is the most important thing
Horizontal floor, vertical walls and windows, are a good start. 
Higher the better (but they get more expensive the higher you go) the locals (Nanning) are all of the opinion that mosquitos don't fly high but I am very skeptical of that claim (I've been bitten up mountains a LOT higher than my apartment). Ideally you want an apartment with windows / balconies facing different directions but which direction depends on where you are, as northern places are bloody cold in winter and souther places are bloody hot in summer so it depends on your location and preferences.
Scandinavian:
We're 20 floors up and rarely have mosquitoes. Other flying crap do visit a lot, but only when the wind direction is favorable. None of these bugs have a natural interest in flying high. When you are in the mountains you are still at ground level (seen from a bugs perspective)
We have friends close by who are only on 10th floor, their mosquito-situation is far worse, in similar conditions (both buildings have water and park around it)
Going for a walk outside out building at 10PM this time of year is the certain way of getting numerous bites, so the bastards are out there.
lower floors ( 5 is best ---25) to avoid extreme elevator waits and jostling........... must be able to see the sky at 122 degrees S/E, from somewhere in the apt..... for the satellite dish....western toilet(
.... running water ( not the kind you "run and get") .... electricity ....
..close to a park/greenspace
Ideally, the floor should be under your feet and parallel to the earth. The windows should be around one meter higher than and perpendicular to the floor, with opening windows made of see through glass in a frame. Most windows face outside. Doors are useful, try to have one or more included at no extra charge.
Good luck!
Totally, completely, utterly depends on two things: your budget and your personality. If you're in a crappy building, as one poster said, you want lower floors so you don't have to wait for the elevator and have the option of using the stairs. But if you're in a decent building you'll not have to worry about that. If your windows are garbage and there's no insulation, you'll be freezing or roasting and spending a fortune to heat and cool the place. If you get a place with at least decent windows and doors, it'll be better.
And then personality: I like it cool, and I do not like the sun. I prefer north or east facing rooms, because they don't heat up like an oven. But some people can't function unless they've got their afternoon sunspot to soak in. So that is up to you.
As for other considerations, I'd also prefer higher floors because the air is marginally cleaner, there are fewer insect issues and you don't have to worry about street noise so much. I highly recommend checking out the checklist given by a very long-term resident with lots of apartment hunting experience, here:
http://www.thebeijinger.com/forum/2012/10/29/apartment-rental-checklist-...
My apartment faces South, and I do get sun on my eastern windows in the morning, and on western side on afternoons. If it faced north will be the reverse. And I am quite happy with the set up, it does meet my needs.
You should pick one of the top floors anything above floor 6 or 7. You want to make sure whatever floor you are on you get good sunlight. We have windows on two sides of our apartment. One facing the North and the other facing East!
