A loft for rent can be a magical place. It can also be a money pit which is not what you were hoping for. We take a look at the good, and the bad, for those looking for a loft for rent for their business.
We are RDS Real Estate, serving the Greater Fort Worth Metro area with affordable industrial space and Fort Worth commercial property for rent. Call us at 817-439-3224 for more information.
What is a loft for rent?
A loft is a living space made inside a former industrial building. Lofts feature open floor plans with concrete floors, high ceilings, and large windows for natural light.
There are two types of lofts: hard and soft. Hard lofts, also known as true lofts, are traditional loft spaces inside renovated commercial buildings with brick walls and exposed ductwork. This style of hard loft grew in popularity with artists in New York City as spaces to live and work.
Soft lofts are a style of new loft apartments designed specifically for residential use. These residential buildings feature apartments with open spaces and higher ceilings that lack some of the industrial interior design elements of true lofts.
A business loft is a completely different animal.
The distinction here is residential vs commercial; in other words, what is the primary purpose; what will be the primary use of the loft for rent? And that question begs another question: what is the zoning for that building?
There is no hard and fast rule about the zoning of lofts. It depends entirely upon the city in which the loft exists. Many cities are turning former industrial property for rent into loft apartments for rent, in which case the zoning has been switched to residential. Many cities allow for business activities in the loft, as in an artist lot and studio for rent, in which case you are good to go.
What to look for, what to know.
Many converted warehouses have a great ambiance in the loft, but they may also be showing the wear and tear of many years of use and neglect. If a leak is going to occur, the loft is the first place to look for water damage. Also look for signs of insect infestation or rodents. The point being the older the loft the more that can be wrong with it structurally.
The other point to consider, for a business loft, is the ease, or lack thereof, of access to the loft. In other words, would potential clients/customers be willing to climb from the ground floor to the loft space for your product or service? And how noticeable is your loft access from the street? You can have the most unique and charming loft in the city but if customers cannot find it, what good is it to you?
Finally, price must be a factor. A loft for rent, in most major cities, is highly sought and in high demand. Will that increased demand jack up the rental price beyond what is reasonable? And what are the leasing terms? Who will do repairs if needed? What about price increases? Gentrification is sweeping the nation; you don’t want your loft to be swept up in the movement, forcing you out on the street, in need of another commercial property.
A final word about RDS Real Estate.
A qualified and professional real estate broker will have the answers you need, and in Fort Worth that brokerage firm is RDS Real Estate, locally owned and operated, with over three million square feet of industrial property for rent and commercial property for lease. Call us today and put us to work finding the loft for rent of your dreams.