A man in Hangzhou, China, has decided to sell his apartment after living on the 40th floor meant enduring long waits just to get into an elevator.
According to ET Today, the man surnamed Ma said he often had to wait more than 20 minutes for an elevator whenever he left his home, a routine that gradually took a toll on his mood and quality of life.
The apartment was once considered a highly sought-after property in the area, but Ma said the reality of living there did not match expectations.
Daily elevator waits became a source of stress
Ma moved into the apartment in 2023 and almost every day, he had to factor in extra time just to wait for the elevator, especially during peak hours.
“There wasn’t a single day I felt relaxed,” he said, adding that even at night, elevator noise could be heard from inside the unit, which affected his rest over time.
According to Ma, these issues slowly accumulated and began to impact his emotional well-being.
High expectations turned into disappointment
When the family first purchased the unit, Ma said everyone was excited, believing they had secured a property with strong potential.
However, once they started living there, the experience fell far short of expectations.
When Ma suggested selling the apartment, his family initially disagreed, pointing out that the property was difficult to secure and still considered valuable.
Despite this, Ma remained firm in his decision.
“I don’t want to keep wearing myself down emotionally. A home is meant to be lived in comfortably. Living happily matters more than chasing a popular property,” he said.
Residents share mixed experiences
Some residents living above the 20th floor said long waits usually only happen between 7am and 8am. Outside of peak hours, waiting time is often just one to two minutes.
They added that claims of waiting over 20 minutes may feel exaggerated, especially when people are rushing for time and perception makes the wait feel longer.
Residents living above the 30th floor shared that they occasionally waited between six and ten minutes, but said this was not frequent enough to be a major inconvenience.
Others pointed out that elevator wait times vary greatly depending on maintenance schedules.
Some residents said that when one elevator is undergoing servicing, the remaining elevators become overcrowded, causing delays and frustration.
“Every time I wait for the elevator, it feels like a test of patience,” one netizen commented.
