An independent RES exam study resource — not a Government website and not affiliated with the Council for Estate Agencies (CEA).Find My OrderHow to identify official CEA sources
← All price indices questions

In a walk-up without a lift, a higher floor commands a lower price

A worked RES examination question on price indices, from our Paper 1 bank — with the rule it turns on, and why each of the four options is right or wrong.

Paper 1Lesson 9Price indicesFree — no sign-up

The question

The two walk-up blocks have four storeys and no lift; the other two blocks are twelve storeys and lift-served. A buyer asks how floor level bears on price in each.

Which statement is correct?

  1. A. In both cases a higher floor commands a higher price, height being desirable throughout.
  2. B. In the walk-up blocks a higher floor commands less; in the lift-served blocks it commands more.
  3. C. In the walk-up blocks a higher floor commands a higher price; in the lift-served blocks the relationship is reversed.
  4. D. Floor level bears on price only in commercial property.

The answer, and why

Answer: B

The rule. In a walk-up without a lift, a higher floor commands a lower price. In a lift-served block the ordinary relationship holds and a higher floor commands more.

Why B is correct. The development contains both configurations, and the relationship runs in opposite directions in each.

The other options.

  • A applies the general rule throughout.
  • C inverts both.
  • D confines the effect to commercial property.

Exam note. The presence of a lift is the switch. The same development can contain blocks where height helps and blocks where it hurts.

Want a full paper instead of one question?

The free half-paper is 20 questions with a Section B case study, explained to this same depth. The paid sets are ten full 80-question papers across Paper 1 and Paper 2, every figure checked against the current IRAS, CEA, HDB, URA and SLA position.

Looking for past-year papers? CEA doesn't publish them — here's what it does publish.

Independent study material. Not affiliated with or endorsed by the Council for Estate Agencies. No pass guarantee — for study use only.