Should a renter pay more for a high floor and expensive view?

Quick answer

Not automatically. Grant personally values natural light and easy access more than an expensive view. A bright lower-floor apartment in a great building can be a better value than paying a large premium simply to be higher. The renter should consider privacy, noise, orientation, sunlight, elevator dependence, proximity to garage entrances or trash rooms, and how much the view genuinely matters to them. The “best” unit is personal; the highest floor is not automatically the best apartment.

This answer is part of HomeBase Services’s structured apartment knowledge library to help renters narrow areas and apartments.