THE PROS & CONS OF HIGH RISE LIVING
There are many definitions for buildings which are built vertically. We could start from a “low rise” building which would be generally about four stories tall in most of the developing countries. When we refer to “low rise” buildings in the United States it would invariably stand between seven and ten stacks high. This is the classification that the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has given and is acknowledged by all those in this very important profession. It is relevant to them as they are entrusted to fight fires in all sorts of buildings.
Then we have what are classified as “high rise” buildings and they would begin with ten stories going up to a maximum of about fifty stories high like Waldorf Astoria Las Vegas. There are many in this classification and most of the high rises in the urban cities of the United States would be around these heights. This is because the land values are skyrocketing and building anything less than a high rise in a prime location would be economically non-viable.
High rise developers are in the business to make money hence they would always look at the bottom line and calculate what return on investment would be forthcoming and then build to achieve their projected returns. The next we have the skyscrapers which would be buildings which are more than fifty stacks high. They do not scrape the sky but would come close to it.
The pros of living in a high rise
Convenience would be what you should be looking at, before you would select a home in a high rise. Urban real estate is skyrocketing and becoming dearer by the hour. Buying prime land in urban areas much closer to the commercial districts in the center of the city could be exorbitant and out of the reach of an average citizen. The best choice would be to move into a home in a high rise and enjoy a better lifestyle.
The most striking aspect when you enter a high rise home would be the view which would strike you with a jolt. Depending where it would be and the direction the home is located it could keep you spellbound for a few minutes and if you happen to move into it, this daily eyeful would never bore you. You could opt which home you would like hence choosing the view that you would prefer. Sea views could be spectacular and so would city and garden views, with the preference being your prerogative. A stunning view would also be good for your eyesight because doctors do say that focusing on objects at a distance would help your eye muscles to work constantly and improve on your eyesight.
The other important advantage would be that you could just lock up and leave informing the management of the high rise that you living in that you are off on holiday with your family and would not return for a few weeks. Leaving home elsewhere could spell trouble as burglars are waiting for such opportunities but in high rises they would not stand a chance. The high rise building would invariably have just one entrance in and one out or both entry and exit from only one place. This would be manned by professional security guards who would be on alert 24x7 through all days of the year.
All amenities like electricity, water and gas would be centrally supplied to all the homes in the high rise and you would not need to bother at all. You open the tap and water would flow out and when you need to cook just open the gas in your cooker and you could light up. There are no hassles and if you have an issue, just call the management and they would ensure that you are attended to and the problem solved.
There are more advantages that you could enjoy like recreational facilities, swimming pool, roof top garden and many other plusses which all could be used by you for a monthly fee.
Homes in high rises are appreciating very fast and they are good investments too. There is a glut of homes in high rises at the moment but this trend would not remain for long and things could change soon.
Your investment would be secure as you would have collective rights to the land on which the high rise has been built with every other stakeholder who have invested alongside you.
Whichever floor you would be getting there would be easy and hassle free as there would ample lifts and all of them would be serviced and maintained by the management, for which you would pay a fee,
The cons of living in a high rise
There are few cons too which would not please you much and high on the list would be the high fees you would need to pay. This would not matter whether you live alone in your home compared to your neighbor who would have a full complement of kith and kin but still pay the same amount.
You may not be allowed to have pets in high rises because they could be a disturbance to the other residents. We also know that when one dog barks the dogs in the neighborhood joins in too. It would be devastating if all the dogs in a high rise start barking it would be somewhat of a chaotic situation.
You would have to abide by some very strict rules on what you can do in the high rise and what you cannot do. You would not be able to change them but silently fall in line. Hence it would be prudent to read very carefully all the rules and regulations pertaining to the home in the high rise before you would sign on the dotted line.
There are dangers of fires which would not be your doing and if anything happens getting out quickly could be a very difficult task.
William Margita Berkshire Hathaway 702-882-8240
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