What Covid 19 Has Taught Us About What We Want in a Home

Real estate agents have always seen the trends in home design from year to year, but not many have been around long enough to see a trend brought on from something like a pandemic. Speaking with home buyers today about what they want is definitely different than it was speaking with them even just two years ago. So, what has the coronavirus taught us about what we want in a home? Take a look at my list of top home buyer wants since Covid19.

1. People want more space as in square footage but not so much that they have to spend all of their time or money cleaning, so the layout is more important than ever.
2. A comfortable outdoor space that is good for entertaining.
3. A home gym.
4. A home office that can be used by more than one person.
5. An updated kitchen with great storage.
6. GREAT internet service.

The quarantining due to the pandemic has caused most of us to lose our minds. I don’t mean to make light of this as many are in very bad situations, but quite honestly, there is no better way to put it. This has homebuyers wanting more space. Buyers who can afford more square footage are looking for things like home offices and gyms. They also want these rooms to be large enough for more than one person to use them at the same time. Everyone knows how important space for kids to do schoolwork became over the last year, and that space needs to be as private as an office for someone who works from home. Kids need to be able to hear the teacher on video calls just as parents need to hear clients or employers. With square footage at a premium today, most buyers need to find homes that make better use of the square footage they do have. If the floorplan doesn’t have enough rooms, this can be accomplished by creating a separation of space using things like furniture and room dividers; some go as far as lowering or raising ceiling height to differentiate space in larger rooms. Using space in a larger bedroom for a treadmill/gym equipment or a desk is another way to make better use of space. There are a variety of collapsable or wall mounted desks that make it much easier to fit two desks in a small home office. If sharing the office isn’t an option, there are countless foldaway tables that can be set up in a quiet corner. Convertible and easy to move furniture can transform a room from one purpose to another.  

We have all felt the need to get away from the house lately yet have nowhere to get to. People are looking for a great outdoor space not just for entertaining guests anymore but for a very needed feeling of leaving the house. You don’t have to completely redo your backyard to give buyers an idea of how great the space can be. Just add some comfortable outdoor furniture and maybe a fire pit or even a bar to give them an idea of how it can be used. 

An updated kitchen has always been number one or two on home buyers’ lists, but this became hyper important with the pandemic and everyone going back to Little House on The Prairie levels of cooking and baking. With people needing to store 100 lb bags of flour and sugar now, they are looking for larger pantries and kitchens that have it all. I’m joking about the flour and sugar but don’t you wonder where all the baking necessities went over the last year? I am not joking about larger pantries and great kitchens. However, with the lack of inventory right now, buyers know they may have to put some work into it to get what they want. 

Although I was joking a little when I put great internet service on this list, I wasn’t really. Although people might not actually ask about this before they buy a new home, they always wish they had known, and today people are starting to ask. This probably would not keep someone from buying a house because in most situations, the internet service can be altered enough to be suitable, but let’s be honest, we can’t have this discussion without including it. We live in a world where we have been able to do almost everything from home for the last 12 months. Obviously, this wouldn’t have been possible without internet service. We may not be able to make the service in an area perform to our expectations, but we can ask around the neighborhood about which provider people in the area prefer. One thing that can help expand the service you do get in your home is a blaster or extender like pictured here. Most people I have asked have one or two, and I can say it greatly improved the service in my own home, although it might not be a good thing that I don’t have to get out of bed to use my wifi so use at your own risk!

There are a few things not on this list that deserve to be mentioned. One thing that has always been a priority for home buyers is location. What the virus has changed about it is that people are now looking to move out of the larger cities instead of into them. People are not only looking for locations that are not so densely populated, but after being stuck in their homes and not having any outside entertainment for so long, they have a renewed appreciation for nature, and they would like to be closer to it. They want to live close enough to take advantage of it more regularly. They want to be near beaches, lakes, hiking and walking trails, parks, etc.  

Technology, specifically home technology, has also become more important to homeowners since the pandemic. People are looking for more smart home features to help make homes more comfortable, affordable, safe, and self-sufficient. Items that make it easier to keep yourself and your space clean have seen demand increases, items such as hands-free faucets and showers, robot vacuums, and smart thermostats. People are even choosing more antimicrobial materials like copper and bronze for fixtures.

If we look at history, all of this shouldn’t be much of a surprise. Home design has been known to be affected by pandemics in the past. According to Forbes magazine’s September 2020 issue, a cholera outbreak in London precipitated design changes in bathrooms, and the 1918 flu initiated the first powder rooms or bathrooms for visitors. With the cholera outbreak, the use of carpet and heavy drapes phased out, and the use of tile and smooth materials became the favored choices we still see today. It will be very interesting to see what design trends stay with us when the fear of Covid has lessened.  

If you are interested in finding a home that has these design trends or would like to buy a new build where you can make “smart” choices, give me a call to discuss what’s available.