In an apartment building, sounds from lifts, entrance gates, parking ramps and stairwells can become part of your everyday soundtrack. If your bedroom wall is right next to a lift shaft or directly above a main entrance, you might hear doors opening, engines, or people talking at odd hours.

When you view a flat, listen carefully near these areas. Do lift doors slam loudly? Does the gate make a metal screech every time it opens? Is there an echo when people walk or talk in corridors?

These small noises may seem harmless during a short visit, but repeated many times a day – and at night – they can wear on your nerves.

If you’re sensitive to sound or have babies/elderly people at home, this becomes even more important. It’s easier to choose a quieter unit now than to fight building acoustics later.