Is a 4th floor appartment (without elevator) worth investing in?

[Maxime70]

Hi everyone,

My girlfriend and I are facing a real dilemna here, as we've been looking for a good property to start our Airbnb business, and we may just have found the right place;

The flat is gorgeous, pretty much all is recently renovated, the building itself is well maintained too. It has a very nice seaview and is situated right in the center, by the bus/train station which is really ideal here. Icing on the cake, it's also rather cheap and fits our budget.

Now the one thing wrong with it is that it doesn't have an elevator, and it is 4 floors that you need to climb... And we just don't know yet how much of an issue this might be for potential guests.

Any thoughts on this one? Does anyone have any listing similar? How well does it do?

Thanks,

Max

[Marit-Anne0]

@Maxime70

Will you be there to meet your guests and help them with the luggage ? That might help the situation a bit. 

The older generation will not be keen on all that climbing though.

You will have to be very clear in your listing about this disadvantage to avoid bad reviews. It may be mentioned in the reviews anyway. And send a reminder directly after the booking so that they have a chance to cancel quickly without loosing the admin fee. Many do not read the listing before booking.

You may have to set your prices lower than you would like.

[Branka-and-Silvia0]

@Maxime70 when we were buying a property for ABB we didn't even look anything above the 1st floor . If it would be an elevator then maybe... but it is questionable how neighbours would look at your guests with suitcases using the elevator... ?

[Monika64]

@Maxime70 I'm telling you from experience: even if you put something in your listing 3 times and send text messages about it your guests will STILL complain, you'd be lucky if they don't leave bad reviews. People will NOT READ the details of your listing, will NOT READ House Rules (even if they have to sign off on them) and WILL NOT rememeber that you mentioned that there is no elevator. You'll have MAJOR problems with complains all the time and there is no going back once you've invested. I honestly wouldn't do it. Just my personal experience and opinion, no offens to anyone with flats without elevators.

Also, I stayed in 2nd, 3rd level units many times before (without elevator) and while I didn't complain to the owner (it was my choice so I accepted it) it's a HUGE pain in the #$% to stay in a place like this, especially with small kids (strollers, anyone) and staying for more than 1 night (carrying food up, heavier suitcases).

[David126]

It would be fairly unusual for a building like this to have a Lift, other countries much more likey to have one or maybe new developments.

But you are presumably looking to rent short term to a variety of guests, some of who will have issues.

[Henry219]

Hi Maxime, what did you do at the end? How did it work out ?

[Rick3145]

Curious about this as well @Maxime70 🙂 

[Bronwyn100]

We definitely wouldn't book it. Also how wide are the stairs for carting large suitcases.

[Aadarsh0]

It’s true that climbing to the 4th floor might pose a challenge for some guests, especially the elderly, physically disabled, or families with small children. This could potentially reduce the number of attendees. However, if the location offers other favorable aspects, such as convenience, beautiful surroundings, or accessibility in other ways, it might still be worth considering. Ultimately, it depends on balancing the pros and cons, but if the location has significant advantages, you can move ahead with confidence.

[Aadarsh0]

"It’s true that climbing to the 4th floor might pose a challenge for some guests, especially the elderly, physically disabled, or families with small children. This could potentially reduce the number of attendees. However, if the location offers other favorable aspects, such as convenience, beautiful surroundings, or accessibility in other ways, it might still be worth considering. Ultimately, it depends on balancing the pros and cons, but if the location has significant advantages, you can move ahead with confidence."

Aadhish HomeStay

Sakshi Bansal

Varanasi, India

[Oksana127]

Hey @Maxime70 ,

Congrats on finding what sounds like an amazing property! From my experience as a host, I can tell you that the most important factor when it comes to short-term rentals is Location, Location, Location. And it sounds like you've got that covered – central, great view, close to transport – all huge pluses!

I've found that guests tend to prioritize a great location and key amenities over things like a lack of an elevator, especially if the place itself is beautiful. My most successful listing is a two-bedroom apartment in the city center, where I can host up to 6 guests, and it's on the 4th floor too (no elevator). The key selling points are the location, space, and view. If your apartment can host groups or families, and it’s priced competitively, the lack of an elevator becomes less of an issue.

A few things you can do to mitigate concerns:

1. Be transparent about the stairs in your listing, and even add a bit of humor or positive spin on it – something like "get your daily exercise in with a quick climb!"
2. Highlight all the great features (view, central location, renovation) to really sell the positives.
3. Consider offering to help with luggage for older guests or families – it’s a small touch that can make a big difference.

In short: if the location and the rest of the apartment are perfect, the stairs will likely not be a deal-breaker.

Good luck!