Walk Up Apartment – Pros & Cons of Renting Walk Up Apartments, To Move or Not To Move In?
By: ROS Team
Not everyone can afford a luxurious apartment in the heart of Manhattan or on the riverside. Many New Yorkers look for a cheaper living option to have a few dollars under their sleeves and that’s where Walk Up apartments come into the picture.
In NYC, where rental prices are going higher with every passing day – the pandemic crisis is an exception here – it’s hard to find an affordable living place. But the city of dreams also embraces middle-class New Yorkers with cheap living options. Yes, we are talking about Walk Up apartments.
If you haven’t heard the word before, don’t worry, at the end of this read you may be looking for a Walk Up apartment in your surroundings.
Walk Up Apartment
As the name suggests, Walk Up apartments are located in buildings that have no elevator and one has to use stairs for up and down movement in the building.
There are multiple variants of such apartments like studios and multi-bedroom and such apartments are often located in dense and old areas.
The normal height of these buildings is 6 floors and you would have an easy time going if you are looking for a Walk Up apartment in NYC.
Are Walk Up Apartments Right for You?
The answer is quite personal and varies from a person to person. Only you have an idea of your family and only you can answer questions like: is there any old member in the family? Will your kids survive going down and up for school daily?
However, regardless of these questions, if your only aim is to save money then Walk-Up apartments are a brainer for you. To have a better understanding of these efficient apartments, we recommend you have a look at their pros and cons.
Pros of Renting Walk Up Units
Affordable
The obvious advantage of living in these cheap apartments is their affordable rent. If you can’t afford to pay $3000 per month, Walk-Up apartments are an ideal choice. And if you can get hands-on on a lower floor, it would be the icing on the cake.
Privacy
As discussed before, Walk-Up buildings have no more than 6 floors and they are smaller than their counterpart urban buildings. Smaller buildings mean fewer tenants and this leads to more privacy.
Health Benefits
If you are on a tight diet plan and looking to lose fat, climbing 20 stairs twice a day will do all the good for you. You will lose calories without doing anything special as walking up and downstairs will be a routine matter for you.
Disciplined Life
Living in a Walk-Up apartment will make your living routine disciplined and organized – who wants to go 20-stairs up again for a lost item?
Cons of Renting Walk Up Apartments
Difficult Up and Down Movements
Making your way to the 6th floor twice a day is a challenging task and if you are a 9 to 5 employer, your tired legs will be souring when you will knock at the door.
Shifting Headache
One of the worst things to face while living in Walk-ups is moving in and out. You may damage furniture and appliances while shifting and depending upon the location of your walk-up building, the moving company may charge a premium amount.
Grey Haired Building
Most of the walk-ups in NYC were typically built before World War II and you can’t expect anything but noisy walls and outdated appliances and amenities.
Facts to Know About Walk-Ups
Couriers
Walk Up buildings have no doormen service, you have to pick up the parcel yourself. This is one of the reasons the rents are low in such units.
Perfect For Homebodies
If you are working for a remote company and you sit at home from 9 to 5, believe me. Walk-Ups are a perfect match for you as you don’t need to climb up and down stairs daily.
Kids, Groceries, and Laundry
Prepare yourself for multiple climbing sessions for taking groceries and laundry up to the apartment. Wait a minute, where is your toddler who was accompanying you while you were at the building entrance? Yes, he is crying over there, go and get him up.
Older Pets and Older People
The duo can’t survive a day with 20-stairs up and down. If you are planning to bring any of these, think twice.
Which Neighborhood has the Most Walk Ups?
Visit Park Slope, Cobble Hill, and Bed-Stuy for the affordable units in Manhattan. You can have a look at the Upper West Side and the Upper East Side.
Endnote
Walk-up units are a supreme choice for someone who is looking for a cheap option. However, they come with pros and cons. If you are comfortable paying more for the moving company and your family has no older members. Shifting to a walk-up unit may be a good option.
Weigh up the pros and cons of these units and determine whether they are the right choice for you.
Additional Considerations for Walk Up Apartments
You now understand the benefits and drawbacks of walk-up apartments, but there are a few other factors to consider that are frequently overlooked.
How about your Deliveries?
Doormen do not accept packages in walk-up apartments. This is also why the rents in these buildings are lower.
On the other hand, delivery people are not fond of multi-flight walks up to the top of your walk-up apartment. You should expect to tip your DoorDash delivery person for walking up multiple flights of stairs.
How Convenient is Staying at Home?
Walk-up apartments are ideal for homebodies or those who work from home. A non-existent commute means you’re not tiring yourself out by going up and down the stairs several times a day.
How about your Groceries and Laundry?
Bringing up laundry, groceries, and children can be a difficult task. It’s possible that you’ll have to make several trips just to get everything to your walk-up apartment.
What About Your Sports?
If you enjoy cycling, you may find it difficult to drag your bike up and down the stairs to your walk-up apartment. Find out if there is on-site storage or how you can transport your bike without having to climb multiple flights of stairs.
Final Thoughts – To Move or Not To Move in?
A walk up apartment can be just as good as a “condo” for its affordability because you have the stair climb incorporated into your daily routine, and yet they tend to be somewhat more intimate. However, there is no denying that walk-up apartments are older, more challenging to navigate during a move or with heavy packages, and exhausting. Assess the pros and cons to see if a walk up apartment is suitable for you.
