Considering a walk-up? Read this first

By Lucy Cohen Blatter | January 15, 2015 - 3:59PM

In Case You Missed It: Every so often, BrickUnderground digs through the archives to find the best advice our experts have shared through the years.

While you may prefer to rent or buy in an elevator building, your budget may not allow for that particular luxury. A walkup is one way to get in touch with your European side. (Many of those gorgeous Parisian buildings, for instance, lack a lift.) And take these tips into account:

1. Plan well. The key to surviving a high-floor walk-up apartment is leaving the house as little as possible, so make sure you have everything you need before heading downstairs (triple check).

2. Embrace the beauty of delivery. FreshDirect , Amazon Prime (free delivery), Seamless, Instacart and Fly Cleaners: These will become your best friends. Also, when you're ordering furniture, be sure to go for white-glove delivery so that they bring everything up for you. And tip well, of course.

3. When in doubt, DIY. Avoid needless trips to the Starbucks (or bodega) downstairs by buying your own coffee/cappuccino/smoothie makers. Instead of lugging cases of seltzer, buy a SodaStream.

4. Ask everyone to chip in. When visitors get ready to go, ask them to mail letters and/or toss out the garbage on their way out. If they're real friends, they'll do it.

5. Get pumped up. Some days--like when you're sick, exhausted or hungover--will be brutal. Pump encouraging music on your iPod as you crawl, lurch, or curse your way up the stairs.

For more, read "How to survive (and thrive) in a walk-up apartment."

Related:

Farm to City: I am the Stair Master

How to raise 4 kids in a 4th floor walk-up (no, we're not joking)

The ups and downs of raising kids in a NYC walk-up

Walk-up vs. doorman: why luxury isn't always a slam-dunk

How much extra will it cost to live in an elevator building?

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