by Miranda Voth

It seems at every dinner party or martini get-together I attend, someone brings up that they're in the market to purchase a loft. The condo boom has refined itself and many people don't just want a regular old apartment anymore. They want to live in a trendy, airy, open-concept living space. What’s going on here?

I decided to check in with a couple of my real estate agent girl friends to get my questions answered. What should one think about before buying? Aside from the obvious ("what's my price range?") here is a list of questions you should ask before buying a loft.

1. What are your lifestyle plans? Will your in-laws be spending an extended amount of time visiting you in the future? Lofts have fluid living areas, some without walls and doors, with the exception of the washroom. Be prepared to share your bedroom with your kitchen, living area, and everyone in it. Having any company can be an issue and depending on how private you are, you may want to rethink buying this kind of living space.

2. Do you have a pet or play an instrument? Because of the high ceilings, noise travels. If you have a loud-mouthed dog, neighbours might take issue when the sound of barking is amplified.

3. Do you love to cook potent food? My hair soaks up the smell of bacon, curry, and anything else that’s fried. It makes me self conscious so I like to stay away from the kitchen before I go out. Again, lofts are open and you have the potential to stink up everything you own without a contained kitchen. If you like to eat out or don’t cook, then this won’t be an issue for you.

4. Do you like to make your bed? Keep in mind, if someone pops by, they will be able to see how messy your room is. There’s no way to throw everything in your room and shut the door in a loft space.

5. Can you stand the heat? The larger the space, the larger the energy consumption for heating and cooling. If you're someone who doesn't want to contribute to high energy use then you may want to rethink the wide-open space of a loft.

6. Do you want to live above a Rabba, or a rock night-club? Many lofts are situated in buildings that have commercial occupants as well as residential occupants. It’s important to ensure that the companies above or below the unit align with your ideals because, essentially, they will be your neighbours.

If you decide none of those things are grounds to get an apartment with walls, then maybe the loft life is for you. Some other things to ask yourself:

7. What type of loft do you want? There are two types. Hard lofts are created out of former commercial or industrial-use buildings such as factories, warehouses, schools, and churches converted into unique residential living spaces. Soft lofts are built new from the ground up, incorporating characteristics such as high ceilings, large windows, and open concept designs.

8. Does the loft conform to city bylaws? If you go for the hard loft option, you should make sure all conversions act in accordance with city bylaws. This means the building must be in harmony with the character, health, safety, and welfare of the city it's built in.

Good luck with the hunt for your new environment.

With files from Odeen Eccleston with Right At Home Realty, and Amanda Lazeo with Royal LePage Niagara Real Estate Centre.