Demand for home office space tops buyer’s wishlist
After the COVID-19 pandemic, many people around the world have moved to work from home. Others, if given a chance, would consider switching to remote work. Previously, dedicated home offices weren’t as popular as they are today. Since April 2019, most home listings mentioning the availability of a home office have increased by 10%. Due to the sudden shift, many people around the UK are actively searching for quiet and comfortable places to work remotely. Here are some of the top buyer’s wishlists in demand for home office space.
More rooms
Top of the wish list for UK residents are homes with more rooms, say two or three bedrooms. Across the real estate industry, there has been a surge in demand for homes with areas that can convert into dedicated home office spaces and balconies, private gardens, and proximity to parks.
According to Zillow’s search, a third of the respondents working from home reported working from a home office. In contrast, others had to repurpose other areas, such as dining rooms, bedrooms, and kitchens, which didn’t support long work hours due to the distraction. When asked, many said they would consider a move due to the home characteristics.
Home updates
Although many individuals living in the city moved to the countryside, not all bought homes within the lockdown period. Many real estate businesses reported heavy inventory on the number of vacant homes. With many people moving home, there was a need to make renovations and updates to suit the new norm regarding working from home. However, as time goes by and the globe opens up due to the COVID-19 vaccines roll out, restrictions have eased, and the purchasing power of consumers has gone up.
With lessons learnt during the COVID-19 pandemic, property developers are coming up with new ways to satisfy current needs in the market. This way, clients can achieve sustainability even when they face crucial lifestyle changes.
WI-FI connectivity
Working from home heavily depends on technology, such as electronic devices and internet connectivity. A survey from PulteGroup suggests that more than three-quarters of the respondents found it “very important” to have WI-FI connectivity in their homes. The other quarter responded by saying that WI-FI capability was relatively significant. WI-FI reduces the need for physical meetings and makes it convenient to work from home comfortably.
Safety features
In addition to a dedicated home office space, at the top of many consumers’ wish lists are safety features that can help curb coronavirus spread. Among 64% of PulteGroup survey respondents indicated a concern for increased ventilation to allow for unrestricted airflow indoors. Many reported purchasing homes with open plan concepts featuring family rooms, kitchens, and dining rooms. Among other features include water and air filtration systems, contactless appliances, and easy-to-clean surfaces.
The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the globe regarding how things are done. The new norm being maintaining social distance, remote work has become lucrative hence the increase in demand for dedicate home office spaces. Although during the year 2020, the real estate industry experienced significant struggles, commercial property now shows signs of recovery, primarily due to the availability of vaccines.