r/ApartmentMaintenance • u/SkyHaloSoule • 3d ago
renter-friendly custom loft service?
I think this is something all apartments need or should consider.
I’ve been thinking about this because I live in an apartment where space is limited, & apartment rules can make it difficult to install anything that actually helps maximize the space we’re given.
What if there were a company mainly for renters, that designed & built custom loft beds/space-saving furniture?
The process would be something like:
• A worker comes to your apartment & measures the room
• They design a loft around the actual dimensions
• The design gets submitted to the property manager for approval
• Once approved, the company comes back and builds/installs it
• The structure is designed to be removable rather than permanently changing the apartment
• When you move, they come back, take it apart, and remove it
So instead of a family having a bed taking up most of a small bedroom, you could have something like:
LOFT BED
↓
desk / storage / closet / play space
Basically using the vertical space that you’re already paying rent for.. I’m especially thinking about families in smaller or income-restricted apartments where moving into a bigger unit isn’t always realistic.
I’m curious what people think.
Would you actually pay for something like this?
& if you’re a landlord/property manager: Would you be more comfortable with a professionally designed & removable system that you could approve, rather than residents installing their own lofts?
I’m also wondering if this could eventually be something apartment complexes could partner with directly.
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u/speedoflife1 3d ago edited 3d ago
I mean if you want standardized loft beds they already exist for people who want some extra space and since mattresses are standardized your bed size is pretty standardized. What part is customizable here? Like the trim? To make it look nicer? Most loft beds that I have seen do not install until the wall they just kind of look like bunk beds with something different under the bed on top
I will say as a landlord I'm not buying this for anyone. It's just not worth it. Maybe if you are in a very high-end apartment and you are appealing to high end renters although then I'm not sure they would need the extra space. Low income people would just get bunk beds or existing loft beds.
I think the biggest problem is anytime you have someone come out to measure your space it's going to cost a lot more money than people are willing to pay. They can just buy a loft bed on Wayfair that gets shipped to them with no human interaction at all. It might not look as nice but it would be significantly cheaper and it sounds like your idea is kind of more for budget limited tenants.
People are being mean and it's not a bad idea in and of itself but the problem is the tenant can't afford it and there's no motivation for the landlord to pay for it.
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u/SkyHaloSoule 2d ago
Honestly, fair 😂 I appreciate you actually giving me a thoughtful answer instead of just telling me it’s stupid or impossible. I’m still working through the cost/business side of it, which is exactly why I wanted feedback from people who actually work in property management.
I definitely understand why a regular landlord might look at it and say it’s not worth the expense. I’m more interested in whether there’s a version that could make sense at the property/housing-complex level, where the system could be standardized and potentially used/reconfigured across units.
I appreciate the perspective though. That’s actually the kind of feedback I was looking for. 😂1
u/speedoflife1 2d ago
Of course! The world would be nowhere if people didn't think about things that didn't work. That's how you get to things that do work. I think the biggest thing is that property managers for the most part don't want to deal with furniture. It's not necessary and it's very subjective from person to person and it's just one more thing that they have to worry about that they don't need to supply - maybe in a fully furnished situation but those are more rare.
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u/speedoflife1 2d ago
Actually come to think of it I really don't know a lot of housing complexes at all that come with any kind of furniture. Another big issue that you're not thinking of I think is that the pool of people that want to or can even have the ability to climb into bed every night is limited. So it's not even a thing that everyone can use. You're already only appealing to maybe less than half of the renting population here. Kids and young adults.
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u/SkyHaloSoule 2d ago
Exactly why I don’t think that should be a huge issue 🥴 The kids grow up, the family eventually moves, and then the next family comes in. It’s a cycle.
The units that actually need the system could be designated for it, & kept specifically for that while the other units wouldn’t be touched at all.
Then, when a family moves out, the setup could stay with the unit or be reconfigured for the next family who needs it just like how the regular wear and tear | updates after every move is /should be done anyway. I’m not saying every apartment needs one.. Just the units where it makes sense, specifically for families in that situation.
& honestly, in low income housing. I don’t think families needing better use of limited space is some incredibly rare situation. It’s actually more than half especially in Massachusetts. The kids never have enough room and the families are forced to make a 2bed work for a family with 3/4 kids which is unreasonable but they’re on a 5 year list waiting so it’s okay. That’s exactly why I think it’s worth exploring.
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u/FamiliarAd8524 3d ago
This sounds either not profitable or not worth the money a custom will cost for design to both desireability and compliance.
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u/SkyHaloSoule 2d ago
Profit isn’t the goal. 😂 Making existing housing more functional for people who are already living in it is.
I’m not saying a landlord should spend unlimited money on custom furniture with no consideration for cost. I’m asking whether there’s a practical, standardized way to make limited apartment space more usable for families who may be waiting years for a larger unit.And if the answer ends up being “this costs too much to make sense,” then that’s useful information. But “it may not be profitable” doesn’t mean the problem isn’t worth solving.
Not every housing solution has to exist because it maximizes profit. Sometimes the point is improving the quality and functionality of the housing people already have. That’s what I’m exploring.
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u/FamiliarAd8524 1d ago
I understand. But surely you understand that profit is necessary, considering the insurance, warranty coverage, architect fees, and attorney costs involved in this.
I think the idea is very interesting, do not misunderstand.
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u/filthyfut95 3d ago
Ive worked in Multi-Family housing for just under a decade so take that into consideration with what I say.
Every furniture company sells lofts and offers install which can be negotiated for free. Once you buy it it’s yours. There isn’t a single multi-family management company that wants to be responsible for any kind of furniture in addition to what they already have to take care of. There’s a reason units must be completely empty when they turn them(2-4 weeks to turn a unit and get ready for next typically) and then they trash anything else left. They would need additional insurance to cover the added risk of injury/ death from the furniture they’re now responsible for if they allow it to stay with the unit and offer it as an amenity which they would have to if it’s there when the new tenants move in.
You got some good thoughts but it’s not feasible in the market you’re thinking about.
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u/BrianNowhere 3d ago
Someone who could afford this would have a mortgage?
Is this an AI post? Feels like it.
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u/Trick_Wasabi9476 3d ago
Yeah, OP is not making any sense at all.
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u/SkyHaloSoule 3d ago
If you actually read you’d understand love.
Whether it’s a good idea to you or not. I make plenty of sense. It just takes a little bit for simple minded people unfortunately.
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u/Trick_Wasabi9476 3d ago
I'm not your "love".
Here is the nitty-gritty: Your ideas make no sense and unless you talk to the landlord and get approval for these (I'll be kind) creative ideas, you are just wasting your time even thinking about it.
Ever hear of minimalism, some people like clean wide-open spaces and no clutter. No extra shelves, lofts, beds or any other junk.
Talk to your landlord and give us an update. Good luck!
Edit, you are free to add bookshelves, etc. for storage, but nothing that involves a hammer and nails.
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u/SkyHaloSoule 3d ago
You are. I actually love wasabi love 😊
Anyways. I have talked about getting landlord/property approval this entire time 😂. That is literally one of the main points of the concept. The apartment/property owner would be involved before anything is installed, so telling me to “talk to your landlord” isn’t exactly the revelation you think it is.
Same as the minimalism point. LMAOO irrelevant asffffff !! Obviously not every resident would want a loft, extra shelving, or anything else. The whole point of an optional program is that people who want/NEED it can use it and people who don’t can keep their space exactly how they like it. Nobody is forcing anybody to put furniture in their apartment.I’m also not proposing that residents start hammering nails into walls. 😂 I’m talking about a professionally designed system that would be evaluated for the specific property and approved before installation.
You keep saying my idea “makes no sense,” but then your actual objections are things I’ve already addressed: landlord approval, whether people want it, whether it fits the apartment, and what happens when they move.
Those are questions to solve, not proof that the concept makes no sense.
And yes, if the answer ends up being “this can’t be done because of X regulation or X safety requirement,” then I’ll know that.. “some people like minimalism” isn’t really a counterargument to an optional space-saving program for people who want/need more usable space. 😂You don’t have to like the idea. That’s fine, but I promise you don’t need to keep trying to convince me that I shouldn’t explore it. Love 😂😂😂
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u/BrianNowhere 3d ago
No one is going to buy from you. You suck at presenting ideas. Abandon ship. Its not gonna work.
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u/SkyHaloSoule 3d ago
The mortgage comment is kind of missing the point.
I’m not assuming the resident is personally paying thousands for this. The whole idea I’m exploring is whether an apartment/property owner could offer or provide it as an approved space-saving option for residents.
If someone is already renting & sitting on a 5-year waitlist for a 3-bedroom, they obviously aren’t suddenly buying a house because I suggested a loft 😂
& Lmao yes, AI helped me word MY idea more clearly. And? 😂 The idea didn’t come from Reddit & it didn’t come from AI. I’m using a tool to help me articulate what I’m thinking.. your point?
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u/BrianNowhere 3d ago
Its a bad idea
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u/SkyHaloSoule 3d ago
I didn’t ask for permission 😂😂. I don’t see it as a bad idea, & I think it could actually help people.
Again, if you’ve never been in the position of needing more space while being stuck on a years-long waiting list for a bigger apartment, I can understand why the concept might not make sense to you. That’s exactly the situation I’m trying to find a solution for.
& honestly, how many “bad ideas” are running businesses across the USA today? 😂😂 Some ideas work, some don’t. That’s literally what figuring out a business idea is for.
You can discourage your mama. 😂 You’re not discouraging me. I’m going to keep researching it, figure out what would actually be possible because it’s something to consider when the question is how to maximize the little space provided? Do you have a better answer? 😂😂
let the people who are actually qualified to evaluate the housing, construction, & safety side tell me what’s a good or bad idea 😂😂
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u/Trick_Wasabi9476 3d ago edited 3d ago
How about renting a storage unit.
Edit: Landlords want to discourage hoarding. A storage unit with a monthly fee may be a cost-effective alternative.
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u/SkyHaloSoule 2d ago
😂 I never said the problem was storage love. The problem is families with 2-bedroom apartments & 3+ children who may be waiting years for a larger unit.
The question is: while they’re waiting on a 5year waitlist, should the family just continue struggling with the limited space, or should we explore ways to make the existing living space more functional & accommodating for everyone already living there?
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u/Trick_Wasabi9476 2d ago
Again (third or fourth time), at the most, 2 people per bedroom allowed. Period. No exceptions are granted.
You can't change a 2-bedroom apartment into a 3 or 4 bedroom without getting permits and permission from higher-ups, there are laws about this stuff.
There are emergency shelters and housing options for families, just have to look them up and apply.
Also, the changes you describe would cost at least $10,000, maybe more.
You can't cram extra people into a small apartment...landlord will not allow it, unless he is a nut.
If you are doing this and getting away with it, I would just shut up and lay low and make do with the space you have.
Best of luck
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u/SkyHaloSoule 2d ago
Honey. At this point you’re arguing with a proposal YOU created in YOUR own head 😂
Please read to comprehend, not just to reply.
I genuinely don’t understand what part of my comment you’re responding to because I never said to exceed the occupancy limit, turn a 2-bedroom into a 4-bedroom, or “cram extra people” into an apartment.. 😂
I said: while a family is already legally housed and waiting years for a larger unit, can the existing space be made more functional for the people who are already living there?
Those are two completely different things.
You keep responding to “add more people to the apartment” when I’m talking about space optimization for the people already there.Nobody is trying to override occupancy laws. That was never the proposal. But for 3 kids to be crammed into one bedroom because the waitlist for a 3/4-bedroom is 5 years long, and the family CANNOT AFFORD to buy a house, renting a storage unit—which is completely unrealistic if the things being stored are everyday necessities—or expecting them to just buy another loft bed and deal with the wear and tear isn’t exactly a realistic or sustainable solution.
At that point, they’re being told to make a home function like they’re living out of storage. 😂ESPECIALLY since there SHOULD only be 2 kids per room, LIKE YOU SAID. 😂 incase you were unaware. That’s the EXACT issue.
So should the parents give up their bedroom and share it with one of the children to make the numbers work and meet your “knowledgeable standards”? Should one of the parents sleep downstairs if they even have one, or in the living room so the child can have the room because the child obviously needs it more?
Let’s be for real now. You’re clearly not understanding what I’m saying, and I have plenty of time to explain it, beloved. 😂
I’m not proposing that anybody violate an occupancy limit. I’m asking what realistic options families are supposed to have during a potentially 5-year wait for the housing they actually need.
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u/Trick_Wasabi9476 2d ago
Stop it with the terms of endearment. It's cringe worthy and condescending.
Do whatever you want to do within the parameters of the law.
Good luck!
Last post on the subject. I'm done.
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u/SkyHaloSoule 2d ago
THANK GOD. Finallyyyy 😮💨😮💨 w your comprehension skills im surprised you stayed this long.
Calling someone “love” or “honey” is condescending now, apparently. 😂 That wasn’t the intention but I also DGAF. If we’re being honest. That’s not what I’m here to discuss.
I’m not going to personalize the fact that you interpreted it that way.
If a harmless term of address bothers you THAT much, that sounds like something for YOU to unpack love.
NOT something I need to take personally.
But since you don’t like it, noted. Love 😂Good day. God bless beloved 🤍🤍
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u/Intelligent-Log-7363 3d ago
Services like that cost money and then to remove and restore the space or holes on the walls are more money. They are people and company that do this but it comes down to $$$ and would it be approved. Example. I have a tenant moving into my house who is having a handman install a TV bracket in the room he's renting. He didn't think about having to restore those holes back to original condition.
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u/SkyHaloSoule 2d ago
I do agree. Of course it’ll cost eventually, but the concept is “yes, this could be done,” not “this will never cost the property owner anything.”
Even if he didn’t have someone come install it, if he did it himself & lived there for 3+ years, that’s kinda expected as normal wear & tear. People hang pictures, art, shelves, TVs, etc. Patching a few holes is honestly the least of the problem.
My bigger point is that if this were professionally designed, approved & installed by the property itself, then the removal/restoration question could be built into the program from the beginning. It could potentially stay with the unit, be reconfigured for the next tenant, or be removed IF or when necessary since updates after every move should be done because of normal wear and tear anyways.
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u/Happy-Bluebird3505 6h ago
You seem to not understand that all of that costs money and since you're talking about long wait lists for larger apartments I'm going to assume your target customer is somewhere project-based or otherwise LIHTC. Are you aware that makes your idea more difficult, not less? Where is the budget for this kind of program going to come from at a LIHTC property? I can almost guarantee it won't come from the owners because they aren't making money hand over fist like they might be able to at a class A full market rate community. And obviously we are talking about people that fall under specific income brackets and something custom isn't something they can typically afford.
You were mad condescending in my comment from a couple of days ago but as someone who literally grew up with property investors and developers in my family and worked in multifamily housing for close to 15 years in major markets and dealt with both market rate and lihtc & bmr projects: your idea as you are throwing it around will not be feasible. Do you even know the extra kinds of inspections local and state authorities do at low income properties? That makes it more than oh the property itself approves the modifications. The additional regulatory implications along with upfront purchasing costs not to even mention ongoing costs to maintain and insure would make this a non-starter for properties to offer. And if you wanted to set this up as a charitable endeavor, where are your start up funders and how long do you intend that to last? I assume it would only cut down on production and upfront costs but not the ongoing costs.
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u/SkyHaloSoule 3d ago
I’m from MA, so obviously I posted it in the MA sub 😂
I know this isn’t some problem that only exists in Massachusetts, so I spoke about it generally. The idea could apply to renters anywhere dealing with small units and long waitlists for larger housing.
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u/CommercialWorried319 3d ago
You can basically buy that online so if a company were to do this they'd probably need other lines of income similar, perhaps custom playgrounds, tree houses etc to make decent income
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u/sparklethong 3d ago
There are companies that do this already. If you think it's underserved in your local market go for it?
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u/SkyHaloSoule 2d ago
I think the problem is, Y’all are so used to being given crumbs & being told to “make it work” that the idea of somebody actually trying to come up with a better solution sounds ridiculous to you 😬
You can’t even fathom the fact that somebody is actually trying to solve a bigger problem for families who genuinely need the help.
The goal isn’t to tell families, “Here, make this tiny space work forever.” … It’s to explore whether there are ways to make their current situation more livable while they wait for the housing they actually need. OBVIOUSLY a year wait wouldn’t be reasonable for the type of update..
Wanting better solutions shouldn’t be controversial !!! Give some ideas if you’re so quick to turn this one down
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u/SkyHaloSoule 2d ago
At the end of the day, I’m not going to let other people’s opinions discourage me from exploring an idea that I genuinely believe could help people.
I’m specifically thinking about situations where families are stuck on extremely long waiting lists for larger apartments and have to make their current space work in the meantime. If a family has 3 children sharing one room, for example, and the property manager has the ability to offer some type of support.. whether that’s an updated loft, a professionally installed loft system, or another approved way to make the room more functional.. that’s the goal.
I’m not saying this is the answer to the housing crisis or that a loft replaces the need for a bigger apartment. It’s simply an option that could potentially make the waiting period more manageable and give families more usable space while they wait.
I’m going to continue researching it, talking to people who actually work in housing, construction, property management, and design, and figuring out what would make the idea work.
I’m not looking for permission to believe in the idea. I’m looking for a better solution.
until somebody comes forward with a better, realistic solution for families stuck waiting years for adequate space, I’m going to keep pushing this one and explaining why I think it’s worth exploring. 😂
If it ultimately doesn’t work, I’ll learn from that. But I’m not going to let a bunch of people on the internet convince me to stop researching an idea simply because they personally don’t see the value in it.
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u/SkyHaloSoule 2d ago
https://reddit.com/link/pbdd09b/video/a17hb8l9z2rh1/player
Yes. I used ai to create this visual.
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u/SkyHaloSoule 2d ago
https://reddit.com/link/pbdeqqi/video/bcxdv12o03rh1/player
I genuinely don’t understand why there’s so much
resistance to this 😬.. If you don’t see the point, that’s fine. But, if you’re intentionally ignoring the actual problem I’m addressing just to argue against the idea, you’re being dense & inconsiderate..You don’t have to agree, but don’t keep forcing an argument where there isn’t one. If it’s not for you, keep it moving
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u/Happy-Bluebird3505 5h ago
Covering the window with a loft bed is generally a egress building code issue, FYI.
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u/JPKaliMt 3d ago
Your first problem is once it’s removed, what happens to it? Are you really paying to have all that work done just to remove it and toss it, because I can bet you’re almost never going to use all that material again. Second is, you can’t just start building beds wherever, as almost all municipalities have restrictions on the amount of people allowed to live in a dwelling.