When it comes to choosing a condo unit’s location, almost every one – investors, gurus, general buyers – would rank east-facing units as top priority, north and south the second, and west-facing units the least wanted. This favoritism has increased the price for east-facing units, and lowered the price for west-facing units. While the afternoon heat is the main reason people avoid buying a west-facing condo unit, there are some unheard benefits which could change your mind. Let’s explore each of them concisely.
Inexpensive
As most buyers are not millionaires who can choose whichever condo units they want unconcerned of the price, west-facing condo units are a decent choice to save money – especially if you have already determined a fixed budget. Normally, the clearer the view, the lower the price (as there’s nothing to block the afternoon heat). However, despite west-facing units’ low prices, their values still rise through time similar to units facing other directions – a nature of fixed assets. If the view happens to be breathtaking with some high-rise buildings blocking the afternoon heat, the price would be a little higher but still less than east-facing condo units.
It is not as hot as you think
While west-facing condo units are perceived as the hottest, the heat isn’t actually unbearable as you imagined. Every developer concerns about this fact and has their projects positioned in a way which is least affected by the afternoon heat. Most projects are not directly facing the west and have their residential units positioned some degrees averted from the sun. Likewise, the room’s temperature is not so lethal in the afternoon – plus, it’s the time that you are at work. If you are worry that the room will heat up while you’re away, allow the air to flow in by slightly open the windows.
Ways to keep the room cool
As west-facing units get heated up during afternoon, there are some simple ways to keep the room cool.
1.Add window films to reduce heat – this method is cost-saving and very effective.
2.Add curtains and drapes. Many people confuse the words curtain and drape as they are often used
interchangeably. However, drapes differentiate from curtains as their fabrics are more heavy and opaque and help blocking the sunlight much more effectively. If you need the room to have some brightness without absorbing full amount of heat, add another layer of curtains underneath the drapes, which mostly are translucent fabrics and are hung down to the floor with drapes harmoniously. Curtains alone may be enough to keep the room cool during afternoon, but the light would be too bright to sleep – especially if you are a night-shift worker who sleep during the day. Therefore, adding both drapes and curtains are the two important components to deal with the afternoon heat while also getting a good night’s sleep.
Another benefit of living in a west-facing condo unit is that sunlight will help airing your room, preventing your room to feel stuffy and exude some strange smells. Open your windows for 15-30 minutes at least once a week to keep your room freshened. With all these tips, a west-facing condo unit is not as bad as we believed.
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